The changes in our societies have resulted in the emergence of different technologies that serve different functions. Some of the common technologies are used by people in different communities to socialize and entertain themselves. It is common to see people walking on the streets while listening to music from their Bluetooth-connected devices in the contemporary world. Unlike in the traditional era where people would hang out in groups and make a new circle of friends through constant interactions, most people have abandoned this way of living and stay indoors, either listening to music or playing video games on their laptops (Costa et al., 160). Students are also using their mobile phones to play their favorite games and listen to music between breaks. Based on such aspects, different debates have emerged regarding how the emergence of various technologies such as mobile phones and the widespread use of social media platforms such as Facebook affects the social way of an individual. The increased use of different technologies, especially mobile phones and social media sites such as Facebook, has dramatically impacted how different people interact and relate with each other (Costa et al., 160). The increasing number of people overindulging on their devices has been linked to various mental issues. Thus technology such as cellphones and Facebook promotes loneliness. This essay is an argumentative essay on how technology promotes loneliness among its users.
Addiction
One of the main factors that have contributed to loneliness among people is addiction. With the emergence of technology such as the internet, most individuals can easily access different platforms and gaming sites by clicking on various websites on their mobile phones. A study by Kuss (2018) indicates that most individuals who spend more time on their mobile experience changes in their behavior and how they interact with their peers. When using mobile phones, one of the ways one can become addicted is when they constantly play video games on them. In the long run, one develops an addiction that is difficult to break (Kuss, 141). Addiction to a mobile phone is likely to push one into developing depression because they do not interact and talk to. In the long run, once a person is depressed, they may always feel lonely and experience reduced feelings of interacting with any person, including their friends. A who is also addicted to the internet may lose their trust in someone or their friends (Kuss, 143). For instance, by clicking on the internet through the mobile phone, one can access different types of information, which may sometimes contradict how someone should behave while interacting with others in society. Since the gained knowledge may be contradictory, people may decide to stay indoors and never associate themselves with others. According to a study conducted by (Costa et al., 162), internet addiction by Weiner prompted him to change his way of life, an aspect that resulted in him losing his congressional seat. Weiner would always stay indoors while concentrating on his mobile phone. Such a factor resulted in reducing his friends and inner circle, an element that further resulted in his isolation from the outside world. Most people who have access to a smartphone also access different information on the internet. The internet has various materials, such as pornographic content, which may increase a person’s sexual fantasies. Some people may become addicted to this content and look themselves up in their rooms to explore the sexual activities readily available on their mobiles (Kuss, 145). Based on such aspects, although mobile phones are for socialization, their overreliance and addiction have contributed to depression, leading to loneliness.
Negative Impact on Relationships.
The emergence of mobile phones has also negatively affected people’s relationships. Drago (2015) notes that interaction between humans is a constant process that needs to be maintained. Before the emergence of mobile phones, most people would create time and meet their friends and colleagues. With the emergence of mobile phones, online communication has also played a role in influencing faster communication rates among peers. People who have distant friends can now reach others by making a single phone call (Drago, n.p). However, Tsimtsiou et al. note that most relationships people develop over their phones do not last long. Although most people are also using social media networks through their mobile phones to identify their social life, one limitation of using technology such as Facebook is that it only enhances relationships formed in the common ways of face-to-face interactions. Most people who constantly rely on social media to maintain their relationships may become immersed in this, avoiding physical interaction with the outside world (Tsimtsiou et al., n.p). The absence of communication between one person with their friends or families, in the long run, weakens the basic skills needed to maintain healthy relationships hence leading to loneliness.
Cyber Bullying
The emergence of new technologies, including Facebook and mobile phones, has resulted in people being cyberbullied. One of the primary reasons that have contributed to increased cyberbullying is the easy access of personal information over the different social networks. Cyberbullying mainly affects children and teenagers since they are the group that constantly uses the internet and their phones (Tsimtsiou et al., n.p). Most cyberbullies often stalk their victims and make demeaning comments about them. In the long run, cyberbullying leads to psychological and physical effects on the affected teenagers. For instance, most affected victims may suffer from anxiety, fear, depression, behavioral issues, and challenges in completing their studies. The current statistics indicate that most approximately 32 percent of teenagers who constantly use their internet over their phones are targets of cyberbullying (Tsimtsiou et al., n.p). Since someone is being cyberbullied continuously, most of them may develop feelings of isolation, pushing them to stay indoors.
In conclusion, the emergence of different technologies such as mobile phones and social media networks has played influential roles in promoting connectivity and increasing social networks. However, overusing these technologies has contributed to many people being isolated, hence increasing their loneliness levels. For instance, many people who are addicted to their phones do not have time to meet their friends physically and may prefer to stay indoors doing different activities such as watching movies or playing games. Additionally, the internet gives most mobile users have access to different materials such as pornographic content, which most of them may want to experiment with while in their rooms. Lastly, cyberbullying on the internet has also resulted in most of the victims suffering from isolation and depression. Therefore, to ensure that the internet does not increase loneliness among the different age groups, the use of technology should be controlled.
Works Cited
Costa, Rui Miguel, Ivone Patrão, and Mariana Machado. “Problematic Internet use and feelings of loneliness.” International journal of psychiatry in clinical practice 23.2 (2019): 160-162.
Drago, Emily. “The effect of technology on face-to-face communication.” Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications 6.1 (2015).
Kuss, Daria J., et al. “Problematic mobile phone use and addiction across generations: The roles of psychopathological symptoms and smartphone use.” Journal of technology in behavioral science 3.3 (2018): 141-149.
Tsimtsiou, Z., Haidich, A. B., Drontsos, A., Danesi, F., Sekeri, Z., Drosos, E. … & Arvanitidou, M. (2018). Pathological Internet use, cyberbullying and mobile phone use in adolescence: a school-based study in Greece. International journal of adolescent medicine and health, 30(6).
