The proliferation of Internet-based technology has changed the state of Americans. Smartphones, tablets, and computers gain billions of dollars each year and are owned by most Americans. The smartphone was once a luxury item which costed thousands of dollars for a limited use. Today's smartphone is now in the pockets of most Americans young and old. A nationwide survey revealed that that 95% of Americans had some kind of mobile phone (Pew Research Center, 2018). Technology has integrated itself into the American lifestyle. Americans are on their cell phones and similar devices at work, school, and at home. Many Americans can’t even imagine not having their cell phone. A Gallup poll in 2015 was sent nationwide to find the opinions Americans had with their cell phone. The poll found that about half of Americans couldn’t imagine their lives without their technology (Saad, 2015). A correlation between cell phone sales and their reliance on the typical day should express concern for the public’s health. As prolonged use in research studies have shown adverse effects. Increased technological dependence is a danger is public mental health as a LED screen usage and constant checking has shown correlation to stress, and depression.
The technology within the current generation of smartphones and other mobile tech gadgets allows a myriad of abilities that can be used nearly anywhere. Americans have reported to use technology all throughout the day, even before going to bed. According to a national poll by the National Sleep Foundation (2011), “95%, uses some type of electronics like a television, computer, video game or cell phone at least a few nights a week within the hour before bed” (para. 4). The close proximity of technology use before bed has shown to affect the sleep quality of the user. This is because most gadgets display their functions through an LED display. A LED display works through electroluminescence of different materials. Electroluminescence works through a material emitting light when electric current is passed through it. This happens when electrons are sent through the material and fill electron holes which radiates a unique light wavelength (‘Small Lights with Big Potential: Light Emitting Diodes & Organic Light Emitting Diodes’, nd). To make color, the smartphone uses unique electroluminescent effects to display the desired wavelength of light. The LED display uses blue wavelength light that often interacts with the user's eyes. In particular the blue wavelength has shown to skew the sleep cycle. The blue light suppresses melatonin for about twice as long as other wavelengths of light. Alongside halting the process of melatonin production there is a large shift of an individual's circadian rhythm by twice as much as other wavelengths, likely due to our evolutionary genetics (‘Blue Light Has a Dark Side’, 2018). The research performed by Harvard showed that blue light suppresses melatonin more significantly than the other wavelengths displayed by the LEDs. This showed that the hours during which the blue light was used led to a decrease in the ability of users to sleep. Shifting the circadian rhythm of an individual is a major concern as it results in less sleep an individual can have before waking up, resulting in more feelings of tiredness (National Sleep Foundation, 2011; ‘Small Lights with Big Potential: Light Emitting Diodes & Organic Light Emitting Diodes’, nd; ‘Blue Light Has a Dark Side’, 2018).
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Sleep loss is a serious issue, when considering the effects, it can have on a brain's performance. Research has shown that sleep is critical and that without sufficient sleep, judgement, thinking, and reaction time can be impaired. According to the article ‘Healthy Sleep’ by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, “Skimping on sleep has a price. Cutting back by even 1 hour can make it tough to focus the next day and slow your response time” (p.1). When sleep is cut down, the focus and response time in studies has shown to drop, what can have a deleterious effect on a person’s daily life. Studies have shown that when somebody lacks sleep, they are more likely to make more risky situations. A lack of sleep was found to have a strong correlation with increases in car crashes and poorer performance at work. This can result in poor performance on the job or at school and a greater risk for an accident or car crash. The effect of sleep loss is a serious on. A person’s mental health decreases as their mental sharpness and performance are directly linked to the gratification a person feels (‘Healthy Sleep’, nd.).
There is a developing relationship in the field of psychology on the relationship between sleep and psychiatric disorders. The emerging view is that psychiatric disorders and sleep are marked by a bidirectional relationship. This information was researched by Dr.Krystal’s research titled ‘Psychiatric Disorders and Sleep’. It found that treating some psychiatric conditions can improve sleep through medication and by reducing the impact of the disease. This relationship as also found to be more complex. Evidence suggests that treating sleep disturbances can have important effects on the outcome of treatment of psychiatric disorders. Sleeping disorders have shown an increase in developing episodes of psychiatric disorders. It is found that ignoring sleep in the treatment of certain psychiatric disease prevents a full recovery occurring. As it is the job of the psychologists to help alleviate the mental ailments of the patient, it is critical to recognize that loss of sleep is an issue as well. MDD or major depressive disorder is common issue psychologists deal with. MDD affects around millions in Americans. The correlation between MDD and sleep was explained by Dr. Krystal. According to Krystal (2012), “Sleep disturbance also has other adverse effects on the course of MDD. Those MDD patients with poor sleep have slower treatment response and lower remission rates than those without sleep disturbance” (para.8). As a lack of sleep is shown to have a negative effect on mental health and that by adding more sleep in a person’s mental health improves. As many Americans have sleep loss and mental health issues it is a valid prescription to reducing exposure blue wavelengths, as it has a strong correlation with both these factors (Krystalm, 2012).
Technology has shown to be an addictive material. Through its combination of communication, information and entertainment, there is a large percentage of the population that constantly check their nearby devices. Americans constantly check their technology as the acknowledgment of someone noticing an individual acts as a strong source of gratification. The APA conducted a survey to find out the relationship people have with their cell phones. In the APA (2017) “survey findings suggested that more than eight in 10 Americans are attached to their gadgets on a typical day” and “86% say they constantly or often check their emails, texts and social media accounts” (p.2). The constant reliance on the cell phone to get through the day is not good for mental health. The APA or American Psychological Association has conducted their Stress in America survey for over a decade. Their survey for 2017 focused on the correlation between stress and the cell phone as it was such a concern. The survey found that cellphones and other technologies were a leading factor in stress. Nearly one-fifth of Americans found that their devices had cause significant stress in their life. Despite the relationship between stress and technology use being acknowledged, the number of constant checkers and contributors to addictive use has risen year after year (APA, 2017).
The use of social media has greatly enhanced the problems associated with constant technological overuse. The social media usage was found of the leading sources of the stress caused from cell phones. According to the APA (2017), “Social media also negatively affects a greater proportion of constant checkers than non-constant checkers. More than two in five constant checkers (42%) say that political and cultural discussions on social media cause them stress, compared to 33% of non-constant checkers” (p. 3). The increase of social networking sites has greatly expanded alongside the expansion of the Internet and ‘smart’ technologies. The American Psychological Association had also found that adults that claim who use social media had increased 58% in 5 years. The rapid increase and in the userbase and the increase in stress they found has heightened concern for them. The negative effect has been produced as evidence shows that social media can contain detrimental negative feedback and is time used away from responsibilities. The leading factor of stress and phone use is the lack of an escape from contact. As many individuals are always connected to their devices, they are contacting at many hours even after work. The lack of detachment from work is a leading factor in the increased stress individuals with smartphones have (APA, 2017).
Due to the large amount of time spent on social media, there is shown to be less time spent on outside groups that follow traditional definitions of group. SNS differs from offline connections as membership does not relate necessarily connect people because of shared interest, and connect people of varying degrees of power. On social networking sites due to the lack of hierarchy and respect often seen in traditional communities, bullying and negative feedback is often given. According to Nyland (2007), who conducted research conducted on a sample of social media users, found that they spent less time in real life communities and made less real-life connections between members. It is thought and found in many surveys that social media attention initially is used to find connections. People with low self-esteem and negative social identity shy away from real life connections, turning to inclusive networking sites for compensation. Yet this has seen enhance the lack of real belongness. Receiving negative feedback is common on the Internet. The Internet has seen to be a center for negative feedback as bullying can occur without fear of accountability. From not belonging the negative feedback received by online relationships can further lower self-esteem and depression in the community (Nyland-Marvez et al., 2007; Kuss & Griffiths, 2011).
Time spent on social media has shown to be detrimental in the workplace. At school and work they often access to nearby computers and technology. Procrastination and distraction are shown to increase as they become more involvement in social networking sites. In a sample of university students were conducted to assess correlations with their GPA. It was found that Facebook users had lower grade point averages than students who did not use SNSs. It was found that the Facebook users had lower GPAs and spent less time studying. The students claimed that social media had lower attention spans, and poorer time management (Kirschner & Karpinski, p.1). A potential explanation for this result is likely from as simultaneous multitasking between social media and Internet-based study is ineffective (Kirschner & Karpinski, 2010).
Access to the Internet is at its highest numbers ever and is continuing to climb. Everyday more gadgets are being bought so that people can access the Internet’s abilities such as research and communication alongside the other functions of their smart devices. Technological dependence has occurred as Americans need their devices to access opportunities for work and for pleasure. From their dependence studies have shown that sleep has gone down, stress has increased, and involvement in offline connections in the population at large. Psychologists need to illuminate the consequences of technological dependence as screen time, and overuse has shown large negative consequences for mental health.
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