As contradicting as it is that I’m writing this to be posted and read on the internet, the effects that the internet is having on our brains and thinking patterns is problematic. We live in an internet-obsessed society, and it’s becoming increasingly harder to stay away from the internet. It’s especially hard as a college student, because most of our assignments are online. It’s important to know the effects that staring at a computer screen for all hours of the day have on our minds and lives. Though technology does have its benefits and has made our lives easier in some aspects, we need to remember that always being online isn’t the best thing for an intellectual mind, body, and spirit.
It is estimated that we spend an average of 7 hours per day using technology. That is a ridiculous amount of time that we could spend, oh I don’t know, enjoying nature? Reading? Spending time with our friends and family? The internet and social media obsessed culture we live in is making our real-life connections more difficult, no matter how much easier it is supposedly making our lives. I mean, do I really need my phone to change the channel on my TV, turn off my lights, and do my taxes…all at the same time? I don’t think so. Nicholas Carr wrote a book called “What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains” and in it he notes how the internet is improving our “primitive” mental functions, like quick decision making and problem solving. Sounds great, right? Not exactly. While it is increasing these functions, it is decreasing our intellectual skills like reading, language, memory, and visual processing. A study was done that showed that a person retains more information when they are reading a piece of paper with just text on it rather than an internet page with the same text, yet has ads and links posted all over it. It makes sense! The internet is making us an ADD society. It is so hard to keep our attention to one thing while on the internet. How many times do we check Facebook during studying, typing a paper, or doing online homework? We are all guilty of it; it’s hard to stay away! If we could spend less time online, it would reduce this split attention and anxious feeling that we have to be multitasking 24/7.
So, what does this all mean? And what can we do to not become completely dependent on the internet for our every whim? For starters, let me say that the internet is an important part of our lives. It’s amazing the vast amount of information and resources we have on the web and I’m not complaining about those whatsoever. But, obsessively checking Facebook and Twitter 48 times a day in fear that were “missing out on something” is a little bit ridiculous. There’s a whole world out there! We need to start seeing it and experiencing it rather than watching our computer screens. Start by cutting down your online time by one hour a day. Just one hour will make a world of difference. Instead, spend that hour reading a book (NOT an e-book, a real book with pages), going for a bike ride, or having a face-to-face conversation with another human being. Do this for a week and I guarantee your concentration ability will improve and you won’t feel that empty hole in your heart where your Facebook once resided. We live in the greatest city in the world; don’t let it pass you by!