Technology has its benefits and perils, and that's why the debate is whether technology is good or bad for mental health.

There couldn't be a better time to be talking about technology and mental health. The coronavirus pandemic has pushed most of us to stay at home. At the same time, we are hugely dependent on technology for work and staying connected with our loved ones. In fact, life without technology was unfathomable during and in the aftermath of the pandemic.

There is no denying the fact that technology has an increasing role in our lives. Many aspects of modern technology are remarkable. But research clearly points out that there are risks of technology exposure. Overusing them can definitely have consequences on our mental health - to what extent is debatable.

People across all age groups spend more time on devices today than in the past. Smart technology and social media have dramatically changed our physical and mental health. There are some positive and negative consequences to that.

The Ways Technology Affects Us Adversely

Many studies point to the fact that teenagers and pre-teens using smartphones frequently may develop concentration issues. The common view of many is that social media is the solution to loneliness, but that's not the case. There seems to be a direct association between smartphone usage/social media time and depression. Spending too much time on social channels creates isolation from the real world. Addiction to the fast-paced nature of the internet is a real and serious problem.

The Internet offers instant gratification. Information is absorbed by users at a high speed. That's why people become more interested in their devices than what exists outside of their screens. They also become more privy to distractions.

In other words, this could be how devices and technology become the fodder for the symptoms of mental disorders. They offer delightful distractions. But in doing so, they create a barrier between the real and the virtual world.

Technology Must Be Handled Maturely

Of course, you simply cannot perform efficiently in various aspects of life in the modern world without the support of technology. Unfortunately, this means that the symptoms of mental disorders and mental health problems are fed ad nauseum while interacting with our common day-to-day tasks. It seems that the rapid technological advance has come too soon for people to handle maturely.

Thankfully, most of the mental health issues triggered by technology are well-documented. Health professionals have the relevant data and are working harder than ever to reverse the problem.