People wake up, check their phone and scroll mindlessly. They spend all day working from a computer, or communicating primarily through Zoom or email. Friendships are built over text and rarely include face-to-face interactions. The reliance on technology has become a part of daily lives, raising important questions about how much it is affecting our society.
Teachers at Milford High School have definitely seen the impact of tech in classes. “Learning how to interact with each other and make meaningful connections with people, I think kids have a harder time with that,” said Kathy Simmermon, a science teacher at Milford High School. Simmermon believes kids in schools are falling short of the significant building blocks when it comes to relationships. While it is not solely due to technology, being behind a screen may dramatically deplete social skills. According to Education Week, “Kids are constantly performing for others on social media, and their identity development is highly subjected to others’ feedback.” This constant need for validation leaves kids feeling unfulfilled and exhausted from maintaining a facade on social media.
This raises one of the most pressing concerns about technology: its impact on mental health. Easy access to news and social media can desensitize individuals to reality. Information is readily available, and from a young age, students often lack censorship from harmful content. This exposure can negatively affect one’s mental well-being. Most news tends to be negative, fostering a belief that the world is all unpleasant. “Everything I post on social media affects me,” Milford High School senior Tori Grant stated. “I think everyone ends up comparing themselves to others. It definitely has affected how I view myself.” This sentiment is extremely common among students today; every social media platform comes with its downsides.
Another effect of technology that has become extremely common in schools and the workplace is attention span. “I think I definitely have a shorter attention span due to short-form content like TikTok, but I also use my phone a lot to help me with homework. However, I believe some people abuse technology and don’t actually engage in learning,” said Mackenzie Cevallos, a senior at Milford High School. This trend is widespread among high school students and is one of the
primary reasons schools like Milford are enforcing stricter phone policies to enhance learning and throughout Michigan, there are many restrictions on technology being debated for students. According to M Live, “The bill would require all public school districts in the state to implement smartphone restrictions on students,” Especially at Milford, teachers are resorting to taking phones or banning them during class completely just to get students to focus on learning. “The proposed restrictions would not only improve mental health and behavioral issues but also increase learning outcomes,” says bill sponsor Rep. Mark Tisdel. This is one of the biggest appeals of the new bill because many teachers have reached their limit with having to take phones instead of focusing on teaching.
While technology can be used harmfully, it also makes many tedious or challenging tasks easier. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been growing and spreading rapidly around the world. “It has been an amazing tool for my teaching and has made things easier, but there are still many unknowns when it comes to AI,” stated Simmermon. New technology introduces new possibilities for growth in schools, making teaching more manageable. This allows teachers to focus more on their students rather than falling behind on their lesson plans.
One of the most basic yet beneficial uses of technology is simply accessing news. Technology makes finding information extremely easy and accessible, enabling people to obtain news quickly and look up information whenever they need it. With just the click of a button, everyone can know what’s happening around the world.
Technology cannot be categorized as purely harmful or beneficial. Depending on how people use it, it can serve as an extremely useful tool for learning and sharing information, but it can also negatively impact people’s lives. It is important to find a balance that allows people to enjoy the benefits of technology while avoiding the downsides. If people are more self-aware about how they utilize technology, people can make the most of education and daily life.