Technology

Is Technology Your Master?

Black woman reading book with coffee

Are video games replacing reading? Does technology rule your life or do you and your family relegate it to a subservient role?

Who’s in Control?

icon

Perhaps you believe that technology has become the servant of the masses. In nearly every home, there is a computer. Every phone has become one too. When man landed on the moon in 1969, “computers” were humans—with analog slide rules.

We have much more powerful devices that gather our mail and messages, crunch numbers in spreadsheets, play us songs, and entertain us with movies. Given the number of commands devices carry out for us, they must be our slaves. Right?

Kids with video game consoles
Are you addicted to video games?

What if we have it backward? What if technology outsmarts us into thinking that we are in control? As an example, consider digital video games. When introduced to mostly young children, they view this as recreation. In time, the games become as addictive as tobacco. The average child now spends over 30 hours per week playing such video games.

Do Video Games Control Your Life?

Gaming Tech Addict

What does this time supplant? It’s a combination of reading and physical recreation. Popular games most often teach children how to destroy. Reading non-fiction helps us learn from history. This and fiction develop empathy and other qualities essential to meaningful social interaction.

How so? Stories about lives that differ from our own provide new insights. We learn about the challenges others face and how they cope with them.

Unrestrained technology access can impact our physical, mental, and emotional state. Should we ban video games? The “master” may not allow it. But parents can have frank discussions about dividing time between personal study, reading, physical recreation, and gaming. Also, monitor the content of the material children consume.

As parents, set the example. Read to young children and as they grow up, let them see you read. Discuss the things you learn.

What happens when the adult is addicted to technology? Perhaps your video game activity began as a kid, or maybe a child nurtured your adult interest. Now you find yourself spending endless free time clicking and destroying “enemies.” It might not be games. Maybe your vice is the internet or social media.

The number of people feeling ‘somewhat’ addicted to social media is highest at 40% among those aged 18–22, and 37% among those 23–38. People aged 39–54 who feel they are addicted is 9%. —Truelist

Internet addiction is recognized by the American Psychological Association and countries such as China and South Korea. In addition, the World Health Organization recognizes Internet addiction as a significant threat to public health. Addiction specialists can treat such behaviors, as they do for patients who need to break free from gambling or drugs.

The posters, books, and both fiction and non-fiction articles available on this website make evident our desire to encourage reading and education. Take action after assessing your life to prevent technology from becoming the master of you or your family.

To support the writing of useful articles about technology, ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may sponsor specific articles or remit a small donation.

ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online to offset expense of the writing useful articles about technology. Slide extra posters into DeuPair Frames without removing from the wall.

Show your support by donating, shopping for ClinicalPins, or leaving an encourag­ing comment to keep the research going.

To support the writing of useful articles about technology, ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may sponsor specific articles or remit a small donation.

ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online to offset expense of the writing useful articles about technology. Slide extra posters into DeuPair Frames without removing from the wall.

ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may remit a small donation.

You can support the writing of useful articles about technology by sponsoring specific articles or remitting a small donation. Visible content is optimized for device size.

Read next article

'Blonde girl eating watermelon on beach to help maintain healthy body weight'
'Female on sofa coughing into elbow'