Paper Example on Internet and Digital Technologies' Effects on Mental Health

Introduction

The Internet is a worldwide computer network that provides different forms of information and therefore facilitating communication through the use of the Internet protocol suite. Digital technology refers to the use of advanced applications or new techniques of data transmission methods to communicate information electronically through the use of the internet. Mental health is the cognition element of mental health which helps people to perceive reality in an accurate manner and respond in a rational and effective way. The theory of Cyberpsychology involves mental effects and significances of computer technologies (Pantic & Igor). Therefore, use the Internet and digital technologies may have various effects on the mental health of a person.

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According to some research, the use of the internet is mostly associated with youths where one young person in ten is diagnosed with a mental health issue. As a result, in the current society, parents have shown a great concern about the effects of internet use on the mental health of their children. Therefore, the use of the internet and digital technologies may be helpful or harmful to the mental health of people. According to research done in the UK on whether the use of the internet is harmful to the child's mental health, 28% of the people agreed that it was bad while 32 % did not agree (Slade & Johnston). However, the remaining 40% of the people concluded that the use of the internet was neither bad nor good to their mental health. The implication of the research was that the internet could have both a positive and a negative effect on people's mental health.

The excessive use of the internet and digital technology which is commonly known as the overuse of social media can have the following negative effects on people's mental health; a poor quality and quantity of sleep (De Choudhury & Munmun). This is a common problem for many youths and even adults who spend more time on phones, laptops, and televisions. These people mostly experience frequent interruptions during the night from incoming calls and texts and therefore spending little time to sleep. Some people may also take longer to sleep due to nervous system reactions from the screen brightness of the digital devices. Additionally, phones' electromagnetic signals interact with our body signals, and these may result in result in poor sleep. Therefore, a poor quality and quantity of sleep result in mental health issues.

Access to the internet and excessive use of digital technology may lower one's self-esteem, and this is a mental health problem. Some researchers have shown that a lot of people keep on comparing their lives to others from social media and therefore becoming envious. For instance, one may spend more time on Facebook and Instagram stalking their friend's photos and relationship status, a situation that could raise your feelings of self-distrust. According to this research, heavy users of online platforms and especially social media suffer from Facebook envy while people who abstain from using these sites are quite satisfied with their lives (Valente & Thomas). Therefore, comparing ourselves with others in social media reduces our confidence and happiness and hence lowering our self-esteem.

Before the introduction of the internet and digital technology, human beings were able to communicate to one another effectively during face to face interaction and this enabled them to forge their relationships. However, with the current use of the internet and digital technologies, it is not possible today to enhance human connection since people are communicating using smart digital devices. This has greatly reduced human connection as people have influenced by digital life and therefore do not reveal their real-life characters (Slade & Johnston). For instance, people get fear of missing out when they see their friend's hang out photos on social media. This situation also makes them feel lonely and anxious and may lead to undesirable consequences. Therefore, the human connection has been reduced by using social media and this has negatively impacted the individual's mental health.

Digital technologies also contribute to reduced attention span. Due to continued detraction from a digital device, people have poor concentrations in their activities and this negatively affects their mental health (Samples & Hugues). For instance, when in a discussion, it becomes difficult for students to concentrate as they constantly keep on checking their phones may be for entertainment or social updates. A great attention span is important for students in order for them carefully listen to their teachers as well as their instructors. This enables them to increase their understanding. The habit of spending much time on phones reduces people's level of concentration and therefore resulting in poor attention span. Poor level of concentration also may cause conflicts in families where the couples misunderstand each other. People who do not check on their phones frequently are able to concentrate on their life activities and therefore improving their attention span.

Overuse of social media also triggers more sadness and depression. The more time people spend on social media, the more distressed they tend to be (Pantic & Igor). This is because most social media platforms arose the perception of isolation, where one feels isolated from other people's activities. For instance, following updates on family breakups and separations may make people bitter and therefore undermining their future life. When people misunderstand each other or start a quarrel over social media, it becomes hard for them to solve and this situation may make them feel more depressed. Seeing on how other people are making it in their life may be through their working or even studies may make one feel isolated and therefore bringing depression. This feeling of social isolation is harmful to people's mental and physical health.

The last negative effect of the internet and digital technologies is the physical health problems. Increased use of digital devices and internet has made young generation very busy in a way that people do not get their own time for exercise. People use leisure time to chat, view social media updates, watch television and many other online activities and therefore not taking time to exercise their body. This has resulted in health problems such as heart disease, arthritis, cancer, and diabetes. Regular exercise reduces cholesterol in the body and therefore reducing weight and obesity (Valente & Thomas). It also reduces pain and stiffness and therefore helping people affected with arthritis. People who spend more time in games and sports activities as well as interacting with others are happier than those who spent all time on social media. This interaction helps in avoiding depression, sadness, and loneliness. People also feel fully involved and therefore do not encounter isolation. Therefore, overuse of the internet and the digital device makes people have less or no time for physical exercise and hence resulting in physical problems which also affect their mental health.

However, internet and digital technologies also have positive effects on people's mental health. One of the benefits is it strengthens existing relationships. Use of social media helps people expand and strengthen relationships for the people who are separated by geographical locations since they can communicate through chatting and making calls (Slade & Johnston). For instance, it is easy for people to skype using digital devices with an internet connection and therefore enabling each one to communicate while seeing the other. This makes people keep in touch and therefore strengthening their relationships. People living with disability are able to maintain their relationships with friends without traveling or moving outside their homes. Therefore, the use of social media makes people's relationships last longer since they can always communicate and hence breaking the silence, and this promotes mental health.

Use of digital technologies in communications may also inspire changes healthy lifestyle (Samples & Hugues). For instance, people can access and learn on the negative effects of drug and these can motivate them to quit drug abuse. Also posting on healthy lifestyles and recommended daily body exercises may help others better their lives also by applying recommended strategies. Sharing of successful goals in life may promote other people's accountability, help them stay focused, and therefore increasing their opportunity for success. Social media may also offer people some solutions to their problems and hence resulting in a better lifestyle. For example, one may find an article or information on how to lose body weight, a solution to their problem, therefore, inspiring a better healthy lifestyle. All these opportunities result in good mental health.

Lastly, use of the internet and digital technologies help in establish community by joining local meetups (Ferguson & Christopher). People with similar interests can communicate online, share ideas and organize for a face-to-face meeting in order to physically interact and work together. For example, their many online business sites such as electronics sites owned by a group of people who interacted through social media and organized for a meeting in order to establish that business site. Students have also had an easy time to organize for their study discussions through social media and therefore promoting education. Therefore, establishing of community and organizing for local meetups to share ideas helps in expanding knowledge and this is essential for a good mental health.

Conclusion

In conclusion, use the internet and digital technologies have played a big role in shaping the lives of people in society through its effects on their mental health. Through the theory of Cyberpsychology, it is clearly evident that internet and digital technologies have had both positive and negative effects on the mental health of individuals. The effects depend on people's perspective of the digital technology and their applications. Some people have turned social media to be helpful while others have others use it to cause mental health problems. As evidenced above, use of internet and digital technologies have more negative effects than positive effects.

Works Cited

De Choudhury, Munmun, et al. "Predicting depression via social media." ICWSM 13 (2013): 1-10.

Ferguson, Christopher J. "Do angry birds make for angry children? A meta-analysis of video game influences on children's and adolescents' aggression, mental health, prosocial behavior, and academic performance." Perspectives on psychological science 10.5 (2015): 646-666.

Pantic, Igor. "Online social networking and mental health." Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking 17.10 (2014): 652-657.

Sampasa-Kanyinga, Hugues, and Rosamund F. Lewis. "Frequent use of social networking sites is associated with poor psychological functioning among children and adolescents." Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking 18.7 (2015): 380-385.

Slade, Johnston, Whiteford Teesson, and Pirkis Burgess. "The mental health of Australians 2: report on the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing." (2009).

Valente, Thomas W. Social networks and health: Models, methods, and applications. Vol. 1. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010.

Xiuqin, Huang, et al. "Mental health, personality, and parental rearing styles of adolescents with Internet addiction disorder." Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking 13.4 (2010): 401-406.