Technology-V-Gen-Z

Written By Naomi Walker

Hello there. My name is Naomi, and I am going to speak about technology. Technology has been around since before all of us were even born and technology has been incorporated into our everyday lives. From phones to computer games to AI (which is growing more advanced as we speak). The first iPhone came out on June 29th, 2007, and the first Motorola phone came out on September 21st, 1983. Both companies are incredibly popular with today’s youth.

While technology has its advantages (for work and for information), it also has its disadvantages. Rather than going outside to hang out with their friends, most teenagers often stay home and play video games or go on social media. Doing this has its disadvantages as it often affects a person’s mental and physical health.

Some studies have found a correlation between excessive social media use and symptoms of anxiety and depression, particularly in adolescents.

Social media can contribute to anxiety through several pathways, including cyberbullying, the pressure to present a perfect image, and the fear of missing out.

Social media usage, particularly before bed, can negatively impact sleep quality and duration. Blue light emitted from screens can suppress melatonin production, and the constant stimulation can make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. Additionally, the emotional and psychological arousal associated with social media use can disrupt sleep patterns.

Facebook is the largest social networking site, with over 3 billion people using it monthly, according to Statista. On February 4, 2004, Mark Zuckerberg launched it under the name of “The Facebook”, originally located at thefacebook.com. Zuckerberg intended to create a website that could connect people around the university.

Research has suggested that students who spend excessive time on social media may be more likely to develop poor study habits and experience academic challenges.

Similarly, those adolescents who were addicted to social media demonstrated poor study habits, which resulted in deprived academic performances.

Over half of the teens are reported spending at least four hours a day on various social media platforms. These platforms include popular ones like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. When averaged out, this time adds up to about 4.8 hours each day. Research shows that among 16-to-25-year-olds in the UK, as many as 99% use social media every day. Children aged 12 and under are below the age limit for opening a social media account, but despite this, some surveys suggest that many still access or use social media.

Teens spend an average of 4.8 hours per day on social media. This time can vary significantly between age groups and genders, with older teens and girls spending more time online. Excessive screen time during teenage years can negatively impact brain development and function, potentially leading to issues with attention, focus, and cognitive skills. Studies have linked high screen time to a thinner cortex, the outer layer of the brain responsible for processing information. Furthermore, excessive screen time can disrupt sleep patterns, impacting memory and cognitive function.

In my next blog, I will be talking about how social media affects an average teenager’s sleep schedule. Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you enjoyed yourselves, and I’ll see you soon. Bye for now.