How does modern technology affect our life?

People engaged in a friendly conversation or chitchat while waiting in the bus station, airport, terminal, and park. Some individuals read newspapers, comics, novels, and pocketbooks. Smart folks solved crossword puzzles, answered word-number games, and young people played the popular brick games and Nintendo. That was decades ago.

Today everyone uses smartphones, tablets, and laptops at home, work, and school. Precisely, it improves our communication process, revolutionizes social media, entertainment and provides convenience, efficiency, and mobility to work. The computers, internet, and smartphone have become part of our everyday lives.

On the other hand, the publishing company suffers terrible losses, and the comics industry is out of business for everyone goes digital and gadget dependent.

In these pandemic times, the sales for PC, laptops, and gadgets suddenly tripled and sky-rocketed. Because of health safety issues, people resort to the online class and business transactions in paying bills and online shopping.

Moreover, the Department of Education's Blended Learning modality, particularly Online Distance Learning, has compelled some parents to buy desktops and smartphones, essential learning tools for students. Yet behind the benefits and usefulness of these modern devices is a sad reality. Many students lack the live conversation ability, prowess in public speaking, and social skills.

Another issue is health. The young generation today spends so much time on gadgets inside homes. They missed living the traditional healthy outdoor life. The result is vision problems and vitamin D deficiency --the lack of body exposure to sunlight.

For employees, successive exposure to video call conferences like Zoom and Skype has damaged mental health. More people today are dealing with Zoom fatigue or commonly known as virtual fatigue. It refers to the exhaustion one feels after any video call or conference. Virtual meetings using the Zoom application contribute to overall burnout. The most common symptoms of job burnout caused by Zoom fatigue are forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating, problem maintaining relationships with loved ones, frustration, irritability with co-workers, muscle tension, pain, fatigue, and insomnia. If you notice that you are incredibly tense or tired after a meeting, that means Zoom fatigue has set in. And yet, many of us are expected to continue working by our superiors as if nothing has happened.

Modern technology has genuinely affected our way of life. With the onset of the pandemic, these products of modern technology have protected us from public exposure and direct interaction with people. However, its constant and chronic use can also harm people's health and well-being. Thus, we need to practice self-moderation, regulate the kids' use, and take complete control of its application in our lives.  We should not allow modern technology to endanger our health and safety and impair our humanity.