Digital ‘Drug’ OR ‘Diet’: A perspective shift towards our Screen use

‘Social media is like Drugs’

‘The Digital Drug: Social Media Addiction’

‘Smartphones are destroying a generation’

These are very common statements we read or hear about our technology & screen use. But, this is a very negative outlook to have.

I feel it’s very unhealthy to compare our technologies & screens with drugs. This is because Drugs inherently are bad for our health & our shown to cause deadly diseases like Cancer. But, is that true for our technology? No. Rather, tech provides us with a lot of benefits too. For e.g, During COVID times, we were able to connect with our loved ones via tech tools like Zoom, etc.

But, like anything in life, technology has its harms if used in the wrong way. For e.g, Excessive use of tech can lead to problems like eye strain, mental & physical health problems, etc.

Thus, Technology is a tool. It’s all about how we use this tool in our life whether for good or bad.

The healthier comparison of technology is with food, diet & not drugs.

The analogy with food works like the following:

1.      We are all different

a.      First of all, it’s important to understand that my version of healthy digital world is very different from anyone else’s. Just as our physical diets vary from person to person, so do our digital diets

2.      Too much of something is not good for any of us — Moderate use of Tech

a.      Do you remember the last time you ate too many sweets? Did you feel sluggish afterwards? Similarly, too much screen time can cause feelings of fatigue and tiredness too. Sometimes the effects may not show up immediately, but in the long term, there may be physical issues like eye strain, anxiety, etc.

3.      Hygiene is very important — Safe use of Tech

a.      It’s important to maintain hygiene before eating food by washing our hands. Similarly, when online it’s important to maintain hygiene and safety by keeping strong passwords, reading the privacy policies of apps, etc.

4.      Sharing & caring creates a better world — Positive use of Tech

a.      What gives real happiness is sharing food with others in need or with friends and family and seeing the happiness on their faces. Similarly, true happiness comes when we are empathetic and use our digital lives to contribute to others. This can include everything from sharing a kind word, contributing to a crowdfunding campaign, or supporting a cause we may be passionate about.

5.      Sometimes, It’s okay to indulge in junk food

a.      At times it’s okay to give in to our cravings and indulge in eating junk food like ice cream and cookies. Similarly, in our digital life, sometimes it’s okay to indulge in mindless scrolling on social media unless it starts affecting us negatively.

Hope this article changed the way you looked at Technology & role it plays in your life.

Would love to have your thoughts in the comments section below.