Is Technology Enslaving us?

Technology that set out to be a boon for us is proving to be a bane, cautions Priyanka. A Different Truths exclusive.

A very interesting question we might ask ourselves, is technology liberating us or are we being mere slaves of the technological advancements and exposure? How much is too much for us? Today, when every information is available on our fingertips, the whole world is summed up at our palm’s size. Aren’t we losing the human touch? Personal touch? That effort which we used to make in order to get a piece of information, to stay connected with people and socialise in a healthy way keeping aside our mobile phones. Today, if I ask someone for a recipe or a tip, they simply direct me to Mr. Google, and I feel so outdated. But I just try to keep that personal touch alive.

It is said that all good thing comes with its own disadvantages and loopholes. On one side, where Internet or Social Media has become the need of the hour to suffice business, educational and promotional needs, on the other hand, it is becoming unruly.

Too much of exposure to the screen time not only affects our eyesight but also disturbs our sleep pattern and leads to stress.

Too much of exposure to the screen time not only affects our eyesight but also disturbs our sleep pattern and leads to stress. The mobile phone has become a quintessential of our day to day life. From the first thing in the morning to last thing before we sleep is checking various app notification, binge watching of the video trails one by one, indulging in commenting and reverting. It results in nothing but a sheer wastage of time many times, as we lose track of time.

Apart from all this too much exposure has also become an essential factor for stress and depression among teenagers. They fall prey of comparing themselves with others, looking out for likes and comments on their every post and stalking their ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend has become a most common thing to do in their spare time. Yet they feel lonely. This whole culture is leading us to slavery, we are so freely-busy, we are so socially-lonely that we don’t have time for the real people and the real world.

It gives no less than a dopamine effect when we get those likes and comments on our post. We starve for more…

It is imperative to have a reality check on our addiction versus choice status. It is easy to be addictive to such things. It gives no less than a dopamine effect when we get those likes and comments on our post. We starve for more but what it might lead to is the later part, which we realise when are fully enslaved within this trap. Anything and everything, which is not a necessity of life should have a line drawn, should be in the limit in order to live a healthy and balanced life. Too much information and exposure could be deceiving at times, as for one topic we might get hundreds of articles and video promoting same pieces of stuff in different platforms and displaying different facts of a particular angle, it is up to us how much information we need and where to restrict ourselves.

The only way to come out of this trap is by adopting a healthy lifestyle and a disciplined one when it comes to the usage of mobile phone, tabs or any other electronic gadgets. Remember these things are meant to be used only to derive information and stay socially present and connected to our near and dear ones. Let’s not fall for it. Let’s not make it a part of our daily routine. Be present and live the moment – more in the real world.

©Priyanka Nair

Photos from the Internet