"HEALTHY USE OF TECHNOLOGY"
"HEALTHY USE OF
TECHNOLOGY"
In the 21st century, the use of technology is a must for everyone. We can not do a lot of things without technology. Especially mobile phones become a basic human need for us. If we relate this with the "Maslow's Hierarchy of human needs" Then we feel that there is an important role of technology in our life now. I have a personal experience that people cannot live without their mobile phones, Now it became their first priority. If we talk about children, So they also became a cell phone addicted people. And due to Pandemic COVID-19, Unfortunately, we all are trapping our life in the cage of technology. It's not our fault that we overusing the technology but as it became the compulsion for us to use this, sometimes a major cause of this. But this use of technology is gradually converted into the addiction of technology, suppose if I ask anyone to live without a mobile phone for an hour then, they would definitely deny for that, or if I would take mobile from someone then, they would feel something missing from their life.
Is it happening with you also?
If yes, then you are also addicted to technology.
Have you ever observe this matter?
If no, then observe it now.
Because it is gradually becoming a must part of your life, you are addicted to technology. So the very first thing we all have to do is observing ourselves. Like a very good instance, I am telling you about "selfies", As many of you are taking selfies on a regular basis, but have you observe why are you taking these many selfies? Of course, because your mind gives you this kind of signal.
Another example is playing games, like PUBG, In this game generally, people fulfilled their basic needs like needs mentioned in "Maslow's Hierarchy of human needs" because in PUBG game they are behaving like a real soldier, It also offers survivor in the game gives the feeling of safety (physiological need), they are winning the battles, getting the rewards, getting the dinner parties, Team member conversation is there which gives the feeling of self-actualization. Those who are playing this game start living their life in that PUBG character. So it affects the mental health of that person. That's why Gaming disorder is defined in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as a pattern of gaming behavior (“digital-gaming” or “video-gaming”) characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities, and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.
For gaming disorder to be diagnosed, the behavior pattern must be of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, or other important areas of functioning and would normally have been evident for at least 12 months.
So, now we all should get aware of these addictions related to technology and their harmful effects. As now gaming becomes a clinical disorder, So if you feel that you or your family members are playing games so much, and got addicted to that, cannot live without games, Shows different behavior patterns and anger, It shows that they need a visit to a Clinical Psychologist or a Counsellor.
Don't take it easy because people are dying because of a certain mental state.
Another instance is spending time on social media, uploading pictures, and waiting for your social media friends to compliment or like. It also gives you a feeling of safety and appreciation. You are acknowledged by people on social media sites, the need for affiliation got fulfilled by. But in contrast, it also plays a role of anxiety, when someone does not respond to you on online media.
Now come on the notifications or alerts on our cell phones, have you ever observed that we check our mobiles about 100 times in a day? Is it so weird? Yes, it is. But usually, we are ignoring our behavior towards technology and keep moving forward, thinking that we are in the 21st century where we are getting a 5G speed of internet, So we are utilizing it. Now its time to discuss the internet. If in our Phones there is no internet then, for sure, we would not feel good, start feeling anxiety and stress, again some behavior changes are there. The feeling of insecurity and boredom came.
So these were a few examples, which are related to the use of technology and your life as well.
Till now only Gaming has become a clinical disorder. But maybe in the future, we would be suffering from many of such disorders.
* The pattern of use.
- Checking of mobiles on an average 1500 times in a week.
- 40% check their mail as the first task of the day.
- 70% used phones in a public place.
- The use of digital technology at work leads to disturbance in sleep/productivity/recreational activities and communication with others. (NIMHANS 2014, 2016)
- 82% of Indians can not live without the internet.
*Maslow's hierarchy of need and gaming for a player of PUBG
- Physiological and safety needs: Survival needs of the battle royale.
- Social and competitive games: Love/belongingness and self-esteem.
- Self-actualization comes: Winning the game? eliminating the opponents/ Be the last survivor or last player.
*Signs of Excessive/ additive use of gaming/ technology.
- Continuous desire to access technology/gaming.
- Loss of control for use of technology/gaming
- Continuous use despite knowledge of harm i.e. sleep disturbance decreased interest in academics, decreased social interaction, behavior issues when technology is not available, etc.
*Reasons for excessive use...
We check mobile 60-70 times per day
- Accessibility, Acknowledgement, and affiliation.
- Digital leisure Activity, free time.
- Entertainment, Excitement/Euphoria, online learning, work from home.
- Coping - psychological distress, mood states, boredom,& loneliness, lockdown, lack of academic achievement.
- Online activities replace act as a replacement for substance use.
- Family factors: Lack of engagement in family activities, poor family relationships, types of supervision, presence of developmental disorder like ADHD.
- The parental restriction was 1.9 times higher in adolescents who use the internet excessively, attachment issues(online gaming friends act as a buffer).
- A review of studies showed a trend for single-child families, the absence of leisure activities in famil, context or communication, cultural and family pressure for academic achievement is being associated with excessive use of online activities.
*The psychological aspect of internet use
- Negative views of self and world contribute to internet addiction
self-doubts, negative self-evaluations, low self-esteem.
Example, "I am worthless offline, but important online"
" I am a failure in the real world
"I can manage my internet, nobody understands
Associated with overall negative evaluations of the world
example- " The world/parents do not care so I might as well immerse myself online"
*Screening for technology addiction
- CRAVING
- CONTROL
- COPING
- COMPULSIONS
- CONSEQUENCES
*Now there are 2 ways to overcome such issues of technology.
1. ASSESS YOURSELF
2. ASSIST YOURSELF.
*Recommendations by the "WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION"
- For less than one year- No screen time.
- For 1 to 2 years- 180 minutes of physical activities per day.for 1-year-old avoid screen use; for a 2-year-old not more than 1 hour but lesser is better. for 3 to 4 years- 180 minutes of physical activities per day. Screen time is not more than one hour but lesser is better.
*Maintain Digital hygiene and Digital fasting:
Keep your mobile off for an hour or more. So like this, we can do digital fasting in this digitalized world.
*Take away:
- Be aware of the signs of digital addiction.
- Spend valuable time with your family and friends.
- Include hobbies and pleasurable activities in your daily schedule.
- don't hesitate to seek help.
Image Courtesy- Ankita Singh
"HEALTHY USE OF TECHNOLOGY"
In the 21st century, the use of technology is a must for everyone. We can not do a lot of things without technology. Especially mobile phones become a basic human need for us. If we relate this with the "Maslow's Hierarchy of human needs" Then we feel that there is an important role of technology in our life now. I have a personal experience that people cannot live without their mobile phones, Now it became their first priority. If we talk about children, So they also became a cell phone addicted people. And due to Pandemic COVID-19, Unfortunately, we all are trapping our life in the cage of technology. It's not our fault that we overusing the technology but as it became the compulsion for us to use this, sometimes a major cause of this. But this use of technology is gradually converted into the addiction of technology, suppose if I ask anyone to live without a mobile phone for an hour then, they would definitely deny for that, or if I would take mobile from someone then, they would feel something missing from their life.
Is it happening with you also?
If yes, then you are also addicted to technology.
Have you ever observe this matter?
If no, then observe it now.
Because it is gradually becoming a must part of your life, you are addicted to technology. So the very first thing we all have to do is observing ourselves. Like a very good instance, I am telling you about "selfies", As many of you are taking selfies on a regular basis, but have you observe why are you taking these many selfies? Of course, because your mind gives you this kind of signal.
Another example is playing games, like PUBG, In this game generally, people fulfilled their basic needs like needs mentioned in "Maslow's Hierarchy of human needs" because in PUBG game they are behaving like a real soldier, It also offers survivor in the game gives the feeling of safety (physiological need), they are winning the battles, getting the rewards, getting the dinner parties, Team member conversation is there which gives the feeling of self-actualization. Those who are playing this game start living their life in that PUBG character. So it affects the mental health of that person. That's why Gaming disorder is defined in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as a pattern of gaming behavior (“digital-gaming” or “video-gaming”) characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities, and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.
Example, "I am worthless offline, but important online"
" I am a failure in the real world
"I can manage my internet, nobody understands
Associated with overall negative evaluations of the world
Is it happening with you also?
If yes, then you are also addicted to technology.
Have you ever observe this matter?
If no, then observe it now.
Because it is gradually becoming a must part of your life, you are addicted to technology. So the very first thing we all have to do is observing ourselves. Like a very good instance, I am telling you about "selfies", As many of you are taking selfies on a regular basis, but have you observe why are you taking these many selfies? Of course, because your mind gives you this kind of signal.
Another example is playing games, like PUBG, In this game generally, people fulfilled their basic needs like needs mentioned in "Maslow's Hierarchy of human needs" because in PUBG game they are behaving like a real soldier, It also offers survivor in the game gives the feeling of safety (physiological need), they are winning the battles, getting the rewards, getting the dinner parties, Team member conversation is there which gives the feeling of self-actualization. Those who are playing this game start living their life in that PUBG character. So it affects the mental health of that person. That's why Gaming disorder is defined in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as a pattern of gaming behavior (“digital-gaming” or “video-gaming”) characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities, and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.
For gaming disorder to be diagnosed, the behavior pattern must be of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, or other important areas of functioning and would normally have been evident for at least 12 months.
So, now we all should get aware of these addictions related to technology and their harmful effects. As now gaming becomes a clinical disorder, So if you feel that you or your family members are playing games so much, and got addicted to that, cannot live without games, Shows different behavior patterns and anger, It shows that they need a visit to a Clinical Psychologist or a Counsellor.
Don't take it easy because people are dying because of a certain mental state.
Another instance is spending time on social media, uploading pictures, and waiting for your social media friends to compliment or like. It also gives you a feeling of safety and appreciation. You are acknowledged by people on social media sites, the need for affiliation got fulfilled by. But in contrast, it also plays a role of anxiety, when someone does not respond to you on online media.
Now come on the notifications or alerts on our cell phones, have you ever observed that we check our mobiles about 100 times in a day? Is it so weird? Yes, it is. But usually, we are ignoring our behavior towards technology and keep moving forward, thinking that we are in the 21st century where we are getting a 5G speed of internet, So we are utilizing it. Now its time to discuss the internet. If in our Phones there is no internet then, for sure, we would not feel good, start feeling anxiety and stress, again some behavior changes are there. The feeling of insecurity and boredom came.
So these were a few examples, which are related to the use of technology and your life as well.
Till now only Gaming has become a clinical disorder. But maybe in the future, we would be suffering from many of such disorders.
* The pattern of use.
- Checking of mobiles on an average 1500 times in a week.
- 40% check their mail as the first task of the day.
- 70% used phones in a public place.
- The use of digital technology at work leads to disturbance in sleep/productivity/recreational activities and communication with others. (NIMHANS 2014, 2016)
- 82% of Indians can not live without the internet.
*Maslow's hierarchy of need and gaming for a player of PUBG
- Physiological and safety needs: Survival needs of the battle royale.
- Social and competitive games: Love/belongingness and self-esteem.
- Self-actualization comes: Winning the game? eliminating the opponents/ Be the last survivor or last player.
*Signs of Excessive/ additive use of gaming/ technology.
- Continuous desire to access technology/gaming.
- Loss of control for use of technology/gaming
- Continuous use despite knowledge of harm i.e. sleep disturbance decreased interest in academics, decreased social interaction, behavior issues when technology is not available, etc.
*Reasons for excessive use...
We check mobile 60-70 times per day
- Accessibility, Acknowledgement, and affiliation.
- Digital leisure Activity, free time.
- Entertainment, Excitement/Euphoria, online learning, work from home.
- Coping - psychological distress, mood states, boredom,& loneliness, lockdown, lack of academic achievement.
- Online activities replace act as a replacement for substance use.
- Family factors: Lack of engagement in family activities, poor family relationships, types of supervision, presence of developmental disorder like ADHD.
- The parental restriction was 1.9 times higher in adolescents who use the internet excessively, attachment issues(online gaming friends act as a buffer).
- A review of studies showed a trend for single-child families, the absence of leisure activities in famil, context or communication, cultural and family pressure for academic achievement is being associated with excessive use of online activities.
*The psychological aspect of internet use
- Negative views of self and world contribute to internet addiction
Example, "I am worthless offline, but important online"
" I am a failure in the real world
"I can manage my internet, nobody understands
Associated with overall negative evaluations of the world
example- " The world/parents do not care so I might as well immerse myself online"
*Screening for technology addiction
- CRAVING
- CONTROL
- COPING
- COMPULSIONS
- CONSEQUENCES
*Now there are 2 ways to overcome such issues of technology.
1. ASSESS YOURSELF
2. ASSIST YOURSELF.
*Recommendations by the "WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION"
- For less than one year- No screen time.
- For 1 to 2 years- 180 minutes of physical activities per day.for 1-year-old avoid screen use; for a 2-year-old not more than 1 hour but lesser is better. for 3 to 4 years- 180 minutes of physical activities per day. Screen time is not more than one hour but lesser is better.
*Maintain Digital hygiene and Digital fasting:
Keep your mobile off for an hour or more. So like this, we can do digital fasting in this digitalized world.
*Take away:
- Be aware of the signs of digital addiction.
- Spend valuable time with your family and friends.
- Include hobbies and pleasurable activities in your daily schedule.
- don't hesitate to seek help.
Image Courtesy- Ankita Singh
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