Negative effects of technology: Psychological, social, and health

Overuse or dependence on technology may have adverse psychological effects, including:

One of the most well-studied effects of social media use is on body image, or how satisfied a person is with their appearance.

A 2022 review notes that image-based social media platforms have a stronger association with a negative body image than text-based platforms, as do several behaviors relating to social media use, such as:

• taking and editing selfies
• viewing “fitspiration” content or posts that promote thinness
• comments that promote an ideal body type

In contrast, body positive content, which promotes a positive view of all bodies regardless of shape or size, had an association with better body image.

However, there was a stronger link between problematic social media use and depression. This suggests people using social media in less healthy ways could be more at risk for depression.

Again, though, this study does not establish a causal relationship between social media and depression. More research is necessary to understand the relationship.

Technology use may increase the risk of physical issues as well, including:

Technologies, such as handheld tablets, smartphones, and computers, can hold a person’s attention for long periods, which may lead to eyestrain.

Symptoms of digital eyestrain can include dry, tired eyes and a headache. Taking regular breaks away from the screen may reduce the likelihood of this issue.

Anyone regularly experiencing these symptoms needs to consult an optometrist for a checkup.

To apply the rule, after every 20 minutes of screen time, a person needs to take a 20-second break to look at something at least 20 feet away.

Doing this may help reduce the strain on the eyes from staring at a screen for a continuous period.

Using technology close to bedtime or during the night may interfere with sleep.

A 2021 study of young adults found that cellphone use before bed predicted difficulty sleeping. The effect was more pronounced when participants used their phones to look at emotionally-charged content.

Gentle activities to wind down, such as reading a book, doing gentle stretches, or taking a bath, can be suitable alternatives.

Modern technologies often encourage people to be more sedentary while they watch television, play games, or use the internet. Research from 2020 has shown an association between using electronic devices and increased time spent sitting, which can have harmful long-term effects.

However, it is also true that technology can help people exercise.

For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a 2021 study notes that many individuals used fitness apps and trackers to find motivation to exercise. Indoor exercise equipment helped people continue their workouts, while some took up new forms of exercise using online tutorials.

Technology may affect children in many of the same ways as adults, but because their brains are still developing, there may be some unique considerations.

A 2019 United States study found that a higher amount of screen time in children ages between 9 and 10 had links to increased behavior problems.

The scientists found that this was largely explainable by the effect of technology use on sleep. The more sleep participants got, the fewer behavioral problems parents reported.

Specifically, they found that children getting screen time of over 2 hours a day had a 7.7-fold higher risk of meeting the criteria for ADHD.

However, this does not necessarily mean that screen time causes ADHD. The authors say that it is possible that parents of children with more symptoms offered more screen time as a way to soothe them.

Additionally, out of over 2,400 children involved in the study, only 24 (1%) met the criteria for ADHD.

The parents were also generally older in age, white, and from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, meaning these results may not represent the broader population.

While technology has many positive effects, there are some possible risks. Image-based social media platforms may influence body image, and increased use of electronic devices overall may cause eyestrain or reduced physical activity.

In children, screen time may affect behavior or cognitive (thinking) development. However, no studies have established that technology directly causes these effects, and research is ongoing.

Anyone who feels technology is negatively affecting them may wish to cut back on their use or reconsider how they use it.