Technology can connect - or disconnect - us

Cell phones, computers and all kinds of technological devices are a big part of most of
our lives today, with both positive and negative consequences. While all of these tools can help
us connect to others, they may also drive us apart.
Who hasn't seen moms out with their children, paying little attention to their children
while they chat on a cell phone? Does your family actually discuss things together at night, or
does each one go to their various corners to isolate and watch TV or DVDs, play a video game
or surf online? Do you swerve to avoid drivers drifting into your lane who are texting in their
car?
Fifteen years ago, many of these technological devices either didn't exist or weren't in common
usage with the public, now we seem to consider them essential.
A recent study at Hilyer College involved telling students they could get extra credit for
giving up their cell phones for five days. Reportedly, most students objected strongly, and some
wouldn't participate. Those that agreed to turn in their cell phones stated afterwards that they
"noticed things and people around" them more, without checking texts constantly. Yet, even
those that felt they benefited from the experiment were not willing to limit cell phone use in the
future.
Experts now advise that young children should limit their "screen time" - whether that
screen is TV, video games or computers - to no more than 2 hours each day. Some
professionals are researching whether there is a link between ADHD or even rickets because of
too much screen time for children. Obviously, unless children are playing an active Wii type
game, they are just sitting excessively with much screen time, possibly adding to weight or
health problems.
Technology has wonderful things to help keep us in communication with each other, but
it can reduce face to face interactions, limit physical activity, and lead to a dependency on those
devices. Counselors see more people coming in with problems because of angry
misunderstandings over texts sent back and forth. Addiction counselors now deal with Internet
addiction disorder/Internet overuse, which is computer use that interferes with daily life. Teens
are "sexting" and don't realize their privacy is not safe. Whether computer use is for gaming,
shopping, social networking, blogging or pornography problems can result. Additionally, if you
view reader comments about online news stories, you'll often find extremely malicious, negative
feedback that anonymity allows. Anger expressed in these ways tends to increase negative
feelings; the idea that "letting it rip" helps us feel better has been disproven. Anger leads to
more anger.
While we don't need to give up our technological advances, we can use them carefully
for a more fulfilled life. Giving your family members a friendly hug is still not possible over the
airwaves but may contribute to your wellbeing and theirs. Social competence is gained by face
to face interactions and is associated with emotional health. Keeping a balance in your life is
possible with awareness.
BARB ELAM has a master's degree and is a coordinator at the SIUC Wellness Center;
she also is co-chairwoman of the Southern Illinois Behavioral Health Team.
 Students Should Not Be Allowed to Bring Mobile Phones to
School (Excerpted)
In recent times, the number of people owning mobile phones
has increased dramatically. Now mobile phones are not just for
calling, but you can now text, take and send pictures, record
videos, access the internet, play games and much more. The
variety of functions has increased dramatically. They have also
become a lot cheaper. Thus more and more young people now
own a mobile. So should they be allowed to bring them to
school?
Mobile phones can cause a distraction in education.
They can disturb teachers and students. For example, if you
were working hard on a piece of work, concentrating hard, and
a person's phone rings, it disrupts the whole class. You may
become side-tracked or the teacher may be interrupted during
speaking to the class. Thus teaching would be constantly
disrupted if this kept happening. Thus education standards
would deteriorate. Looking then at long term effects, if this was
happening every day, you would be wasting five minutes a day,
so nearly half an hour a week, and so that would be over ten
hours a year of disruption. Also, mobile phones provide a large
temptation to cheat in tests. They can communicate to almost
anywhere and anyone in the world. Because they are small,
students can quietly and discreetly send a text and it can go
unnoticed. You got to school to learn, not to waste time playing
games or cheating in tests.
Research has proven that frequent use of a mobile
phone can put the owner at risk of long term health damage.
Mobile phones have radiation in them which they send out
which can destroy or damage cells. Thus a student who uses a
mobile phone regularly is at risk of health damage. With the increase in ownership of mobiles,
there is increased usage and so the students are putting themselves at risk more and more of
health damage. Also younger students may not be properly educated on phone usage. Most
phones nowadays have internet access on them. Students can access sites which they should
not see, like pornography.