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November 18, 2020

The Dangers of Tech at Home: Here's what You Should Know



Tech is moving so fast that most of us are having a difficult time catching up. Smart homes, autonomous cars, robots, virtual reality, etc., are now commonplace. If you are feeling a little tired on the highway, a modern car will allow you to let go of the steering and take charge. And when you get home, your favorite music will be on, and the rooms will be at just the right temperatures. Maybe there will be a cup of hot coffee even if you live alone.



But it isn't all rosy.

Tech has been blamed for a host of things ranging from health problems to social issues. And these aren't far- fetched. The following are some dangers of tech at home and why you should be worried.

1.Exposure to Radiation

Most people today will forget everything else at home-aside from their smartphones. This then goes in the pocket and travels with them everywhere during the day. The train, the office, the washroom, and finally ends up under the pillow or the bedside table during sleep.

Phones emit electromagnetic radiation, which gets absorbed by the human body. Unfortunately, this form of radiation has been linked to some form of cancers. While no conclusive study has been done, the thought of it is scary.

What you need to know is that the longer you have your phone on your person, the higher your levels of exposure. While it might not be possible to live without a mobile phone, you might want to look into how to reduce mobile phone radiation.

2.Declining Social Skills

Tech, on the face of it, seems to create global networking. But look at it more closely, and you find a totally different picture. Kids today will message instead of calling their grandparents, business meetings are over Skype (News - Alert), friends will chat instead of meeting up, and so on.

What an over-reliance on tech does is to replace in-person interactions and communications. This also shadows the ability to read important social cues such as body language, facial expression, tone of voice, direct wording, and so on.

Further, strong social ties are being increasingly replaced by "friends" on social media. Over time, this leads to isolation, leading to a myriad of other negative physical and mental health outcomes.

3.Lowered Quality of Education

Technology has supported the education sector in ways that would have been unimaginable a few decades back. Simulated learning, VR, increased interaction, online education are all possible thanks to technology.

The internet has also made research much easier. Traditional learning saw students comb through volumes and volumes of books scouring for information. Thanks to the internet, it isn't as hard today to access information.

This has not been without a downside, however.

Students often misuse technology in ways that do not advance their learning. Critical thinking and analysis have decreased, while cheating and plagiarism have increased.

Younger kids also have more significant challenges in trying to focus their attention and resist impulsive behaviors. Opting to study as opposed to watching videos or playing video games becomes an almost impossible task-this, much to the detriment of their education.

4.It Can Encourage a Sedentary Lifestyle

Technology can encourage a sedentary lifestyle in people of all ages. Kids can especially be affected in this way. Children should ideally spend their younger years playing out in the yard, chasing a pet, or learning to put together bricks and block games, and so on.

Technology encourages the opposite.

Watching videos, playing games on consoles, and listening to music on gadgets does not promote any physical activity. Decreased physical activity is linked to obesity, cardiovascular problems, and mental health issues. The cellphone pose also creates neck and back problems and can create posture problems.

What Next?

Sadly, technology isn't something we can wish away, and there is no denying that it makes our lives easier, more interesting, and sometimes better. Unfortunately, as discussed, it can be detrimental to our wellbeing. The most important thing you can do is to be conscious of your environment and make the right choices to keep yourself and loved ones safe.



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