User:Sandrews 20/sandbox

Assignment 9 completed

Although, many creators and owners of many other widespread technology companies design their devices/applications to make users more dependent and in many ways addicted to their device/application. As a result, there has been and will continue to be an increase of technology use and dependence on technology. Studies conducted by accredited universities have shown a  significant correlation between heavy technology use and a decline in mental health. Although technology can be used as a great tool to help improve one's mental health, it is shown to also contribute to a decline in mental health. Major correlated issues associated with heavy technology use is an increase in depression and anxiety and a decrease in social interaction. As a result more people are experiencing social anxiety due to lack of social interaction. This also impacts the way people are communicating.

Although, over the last decade as technology use and dependency has increased among society, mental health issues are becoming more prominent among the adolescent and young adult population. According to a new study that was conducted by the American Psychological Association, rates of suicide and mood disorders have heavily increased being more prevalent among females and those within welathier populations. An explanation for this is technology use, specifically social media use. Social media use allows for ultimate connectedness to everyone and everything. often those who spend a lot of time on social media tend to be less happy because they subconsciously compare their life to the lives of those they see on social media. this comparison leads people to believe that their life is not as fun or meaningful as others. people also tend to compare their physical appearance to those they see on social media which results in low self-esteem and a poor body image.

Technology use has made bullying a much more common occurrence and much more easier to do than traditional bullying. Technology allows people to anonymously bully people and due to the lack of direct contact it allows the bully to feel protected making them more able to hurt others. Unlike traditional bullying cyber bullying subjects the victims to harassment all day long instead of a single occurrence or just during a direct contact. With victims being unable to escape from being subjected to the bullying, mental health issues such as anxiety and depression are going to continue to increase.

Although there can be a negative impact on mental health when it comes to technology use there can also be a significant positive impact as well. Therapy and treatment can now be done over the phone so you do not have to wait to make an in person appointment. Online therapy and counseling allows for people to have 24 hour access to professionals that can assist with a mild to severe mental health crisis. In addition, technology also gives people access to vital information that can help them navigate their mental health, also, it provides them applications that can give them tools to cope with mental health issues.

Peer review Assignment 7 completed: I peer reviewed Erdi’s article.

Article evaluation: The article that I chose was Technology and Society. The article had mixed reviews on its talk page. One person commented that the page needed to elaborate more on how society needs technology to grow and advance. Another reviewer on the talk page expressed that there needed to be some word changes. The article had a warning banner which expresses that the article has multiple issues and it’s asks to help improve it and to discuss the issues on the talk page. here are some issues with the article. The main issues found with this article is that it is written like a personal reflection or essay and that it seems to contain original research.