Jensen 1

Sarah Jensen
Ms. Parker
AP English 11.1
3 April 2015
Word Count: 953
Is Technology Making Us Lonely?
Technology is everywhere. But how are we letting it affect us? On August 19, 2014,
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles asked us to sweep the earth as
with a flood. Sweep it with what? Sweep it with a flood of gospel messages through the
positive, inspired uses of technology. Through the positive uses of technology we can stay
connected with family and friends that live across the globe, learn about anything with just a few
key search words, and even share the gospel with millions of people with just the click of a
button. However, we cannot ignore the damaging effect that technology is having on our society.
Technologys positive innovations and uses are widely known and obvious; however, when used
incorrectly, technology makes its users more alone by limiting their relationships with the people
around them, by creating a lack of social interaction and skill, and by making a separate and false
world for them to live in.
Although social media allows us to remain connected with people in a way that
previously was not possible, it is becoming more and more evident that it also disconnects us
from those that are physically with us. Maggie Warrell, a writer for Forbes said, Digital
communication can never replace in person, face-to-face, contact in building relationships
(Warrell). Later in her article she claims that humans now, more than ever, feel lonely despite the
innovations in technology and social media. And who is it that feel most alone? According to a

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study examined by Warrell, young people under the age of 35 reported feeling the most
disconnected and distant. Shockingly another study observed by the same writer states that 48%
of those tested said they had only one person they felt they could confide in, whereas, twentyfive years ago studies show most people had up to three confidants (Warrell). Technology is
building a wall between us and those who are physically with us. Through the barrier it produces
between us and our friends and family and the growing lack of social skills, this claim that
technology is making us lonelier is both true and apparent.
Through technologys weight on social interaction, a lack of social skill is being created.
Technology, in reality, affects our biological capacity to build relationships with other people.
Habits and experiences leave an imprint of sorts on our brains neural pathways. This is called
neuroplasticity. The more often we engage ourselves in a task, the more habitual it becomes, and
the stronger an imprint it leaves on our brain. Experiments and studies show that a lack of social
interaction with people leads to a lack of the very ability to interact with them (Fredrickson). By
stopping the habitual practice of social interaction and replacing it with social media, we are
literally damaging our ability to interact with those around us. Because of this lack of social skill,
it is no wonder why some people choose to remain in virtual worlds rather than living in the real
one. The matter of the fact is, they are lonely in the true world they live in and, because of this,
crave the company of technologys false world.
Technology creates a false, highly damaging, and highly addictive world for its users to
immerse themselves in in order to escape from the real world. Users can be wherever they want
and have anything they want while ignoring the challenges and realities that are included in the
real world. A study looked at by Tim Henry, a journalist for Reporter, shows that a connection
has been found between video gaming and the release of dopamine, the pleasure chemical, in the

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brain. The release of this chemical while feeling a sense of accomplishment in gaming, produces
a high similar to the unnatural highs produced from drug use and, just like drug abuse, is highly
addictive (Henry). For this reason, many people find themselves locked to their screens gaming
for hours on end, missing out on what is going on in the real world. They not only lack the social
ability to interact with people, they find themselves completely addicted to virtual worlds
instead. So, despite any sense of loneliness they many feel, their addiction keeps them there in
their lonely, damaged state.
It is easy for us to dwell on the negative effects of technology, but we cannot forget the
uplifting purpose of it. Because of technological innovations in science, healthcare, and many
others things, incredible truths have been discovered. We can step on a plane and find ourselves
halfway across the world in a matter of hours as well as speak to others just as far away by
simply dialing a few digits on our phones. Most notably, we can flood the world with the gospel
in a matter of seconds! Because of these innovations it is no wonder that we have been called
upon to sweep the earth as with a flood (Bednar).
Technology can either be highly beneficial or highly damaging. It is clear and unarguable
that technology is making our society lonelier than ever before. Society has become cut off from
the real world and lost its ability to connect with it. However, despite this, technologys
miraculous innovations are most definitely inspired by God. So what are we supposed to do
about the bad effects of technology? Moderation in all good things as the prophets and apostles
have taught and cutting out the bad uses of technology will minimize the negative effects it can
have on our lives. However, it is up to us to do this. We choose for ourselves whether the effect
technology has on us will be good or bad.

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Works Cited
Bednar, David A. To Sweep the Earth As With a Flood. Lds.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, 19 August 2014. Web. 26 March 2015.
Fredrickson, Barbara L. Your Phone vs. Your Heart. Nytimes.com. New York Times, 23 March
2013. Web. 26 March 2015.
Henry, Tim. The Dangers of in to Virtual Reality. Reporter.rit.edu. Reporter, 2 October 2014.
Web. 26 March 2015.
Warrell, Maggie. Text or Talk: Is Technology Making You More Lonely?. Forbes, 24 May
2012. Web. 26 March 2015.