The Truth About Screens

You probably won’t get through this article, considering the average attention span has shortened to 40 seconds. In the past 10 years, with the rise of electronics, this fact doesn’t seem surprising. For a regular person, a 7 hour screen time has become a norm, which is understandable considering the global dependence on technology. We use devices for everything. Practices where screen time should not be normalized have now been infiltrated out of need for efficiency. Things like the school system, work settings, or simple communication all rely on computers and phones now. Therefore, it’s not hard to see where we are spending so much time glued to our electronics. The question is: is this harmful?

Sleep

The first issue that comes with screens is a lack of sleep. Many times, there seems to not be enough hours in the day to get everything done. Now, work is on the computer, so it’s easy to stay up into the early morning trying to get everything done. However, the blue light given off from our screens disrupts melatonin production. Essentially, it tells our brain that it is still daytime and it is not safe to sleep. It takes roughly 1 hour to settle back down, which means when we put down our phone before bed, we can’t immediately fall asleep. A lack of sleep has taken over our world.

The Brain on Screens

Our screens and algorithms manipulate our dopamine production. Every app click and scroll sends a small amount of dopamine through our brain. It’s a reward system that you truly get nothing out of. The bright colors and engaging topics may seem harmless, but this is tricking your brain to prioritize entertainment and stimuli at all costs. Most people have trouble sitting still. These behaviors all increase risk of mental health issues, especially anxiety. Now, getting through class or sitting and doing work for hours with no distraction seems impossible. We are drawn to our devices to pass the time because they never allow us to sit with ourselves and reflect on why we feel certain ways.

The third issue is lack of socialization. With social media, there is the illusion that we are socializing constantly. It may be true to some extent, such as with long-distance connections or messaging, but face to face contact is immeasurably better. Screens lack body language, undertones, and subtext. Miscommunication and disconnection are more common. It’s easy to misconstrue tone over text. Humans are social beings, and not being around others oftentimes impacts stress levels.

Tips

It’s not your fault. Technology is meant to be addictive. Algorithms are perfectly tailored to you and they’re designed to keep your attention. There are things that can be done. Sit with the idea of being uncomfortable. Boredom is your best friend. Things only seem mundane because our brains are used to overloads of information. Simply sitting in silence or having nothing to do can calm the nervous system, doing a sort of reset helps with focus and sleep in the long run. Another tip is leaving all devices at least 30 minutes before bed. This stabilizes melatonin production and tells your body it’s time for rest. Set time limits for yourself. Oftentimes we get wrapped up in the world of social media and hours feel like minutes. Timers and alerts can remind you to be present and bring you back to reality. Finding hobbies and interests that take your full attention is a great one. Not only will you build skill and passion, but this combats the root issue of the need for entertainment.