The average teenager receives 247 text messages a day, making communication devices a constant companion. As a result, many teens feel compelled to keep their devices on at all times, so they do not miss out on conversations, according to deseret.com. Communication devices are transforming the way people behave, with many becoming dependent on their own devices, especially for connecting with friends and family. While the different forms of communication offered by these devices may seem helpful at first glance, they ultimately lead to disconnection, miscommunication, and problems in personal relationships, according to canr.msu.edu. Despite the convenience devices can offer, a concerning issue within our culture is how excessive usage of technology for communication contributes to mental health issues. Given this, how can one form and maintain meaningful connections in the digital community when deprived of social cues present only through in-person interactions?
While technology can be a way to connect with peers, it also creates problems with socializing and mental health due to online communication platforms like texting. Someone who spends a lot of their time texting is more likely to let their phone disrupt them and may text late at night, which causes sleep issues and eventually leads mental health problems such as depression, according to pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Although texting seems like an easier form of communication because it is available from anywhere, people often overlook the mental health risks it carries. Specifically, modern technology can negatively impact thought, attitude, and behavior. To avoid these problems, people do not need to give up devices, but should minimize the time spent on screens, according to psychologytoday.com. While technology offers convenience and connection, it is crucial to find a balance to protects mental well-being and ensures healthy social interactions. Taking regular breaks from screens can be a simple yet effective way to reduce the negative impact of excessive texting and online communication.
Many individuals spend a significant amount of time communicating through social media, as the growing success of these platforms comes with features including texting-based sections. The integration of social media into daily life has led to a shift in how many communicate with one another. While social media makes it easier for people to stay connected, regardless of where they live, it also contributes to to miscommunication, bad behavior, and harassment, according to varsitycollege.com. Social media has undoubtedly revolutionized communication. However, it is still important to keep in mind the potential it has to foster negativity and miscommunication. Keeping a balance between staying connected and maintaining respectful, healthy interactions can help mitigate the downsides of these platforms.
Additionally, the use of technology for communication makes it easy for individuals to make fun of others. Cyberbullying, the use of technology to harass, insult, or intimidate someone, is becoming an increasingly serious problem, as children now have easier access to online communication. Victims of cyberbullying often experience high stress levels, social anxiety, reduced self-esteem, and poor academic performance. Culprits of cyberbullying can also spread harmful messages anonymously and at an alarming rate, subjecting children to face bullying at all times, according to cfchildren.org. Technology connects individuals, but it also creates an environment where harmful behaviors like cyberbullying can thrive. To protect children, it is essential to promote empathy and online responsibility in the digital world.
When individuals glue themselves to their device, they become less likely to participate in meaningful face-to-face conversations, according to canr.msu.edu. Texting is just one form of communication that can cause individuals to lack important life skills, such as understanding nonverbal communication. Body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions are all important factors in communication, which texting cannot convey. As a result, frequent texters struggle to pick up these nonverbal cues. It harms their ability to converse with others, as in-person conversations rely on understanding these cues, according to socialskillscenter.com. Texting hinders social skills that are essential for face-to-face communication. In-person interaction allows individuals to read non-verbal cues and build more meaningful connections.
The use of mobile devices can cause us to lose our ability to have deeper, more spontaneous conversations with others. Cell phones, in particular, make one feel more isolated, and as a result, people do not express as much empathy or intimacy in face-to-face conversations. The rise of cell phones has led to people to be unable to go out to dinner with friends and family without taking out their phones. When someone takes a phone out during a social interaction, it not only decreases the quality of the conversation, but also weakens the connection between the two people. Even placing a phone on the table while eating at a restaurant can make the emotional importance of a conversation feel less significant, according to berkeley.edu. Miss Karen Panarella, Assistant Head of Upper School for Student Life, commented on the effects of technology when maintaining personal connections.
“There is nothing like an in person connection,” Miss Panarella said. “People can read body language, interpret tone, feel empathy, and other emotions in [the] person. In texting, there is none of that. You can interpret anything [in] any which way. Video [or] phone calls might be a little bit better, but there is nothing like an in person interaction.”
While technology undeniably offers convenience and connection, overuse can lead to significant setbacks in our social lives and mental health. From enabling miscommunication and reducing our ability to engage in meaningful conversations to increasing the prevalence of cyberbullying and digital addiction, the consequences of excessive usage are extensive. Thus, it is crucial for individuals to find a balance between using technology in ways that help, rather than hinder, personal connections, ultimately reducing negative effects and fostering healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
Featured Image by Eloise Liggitt ’26
