Katherynn Koh
Class 4/2
Do you know that Singaporeans spend an average of twelve hours per day on their mobile phones? Nearly thirty percent of Singaporeans stated that their sleep schedule is inconsistent due to the distractions from their mobile phones. The most frequent users of technology are youths. Youths can be dependent on technology but that does not mean all of them do not have the self-control to put it away. Some of them are still able to go on with their daily lives without the use of technology, while the other half of youths can be obsessive with the use of technology. Youths use technology as a method to de-stress and for entertainment. On the other hand, the youths who are not obsessed with technology are more inclined to participate in outdoor activities.
Technology has proven to be one of the platforms people use to de-stress. Some of the coping methods people use are playing games. Playing games are popular amongst adolescents as it helps them to escape the stressful reality of being a student. Playing games online is also an opportunity to have fun with friends. Although playing games is a good way to relax, playing too much games can be unhealthy. This will lead to an addiction if it goes unmonitored. Many youths said that they cannot live without playing games. This eventually leads to an addiction as adolescents are more likely to succumb to addiction easily. This dependency on their phone allows quick access to games. Technology addiction can get extreme until some youths admit that they would kill just to be with their mobile phones. Thus, youths can be extremely dependent on technology.
The world is changing every single day and technology evolves into a more modern and advanced invention. With the recent new apps such as Netflix and Hulu, streaming shows online now is so much easier. People use technology as a way to access easy entertainment. Youths use this method to watch their favourite movies and series, whenever and wherever. With advanced technology, people are able to download their movies or shows with their wifi at home and watch it offline when they are outdoors. The recent pandemic, Covid-1, made everyone practice social distancing. It is now much harder to watch movies and shows together with your friends who are at their own house. But with the new function, “party streaming”, everyone can watch the movie at the same time and be able to chat live. The convenience of recent technology is remarkable but it can be a huge distraction to youths. Youths tend to binge watch their favourite shows or movies, forgetting about their responsibilities. Some even sacrifice their sleep just to finish the show. This shows that adolescents are more prone to getting addicted to technology.
Not everything is about technology. Some populations of youths lead healthier lifestyles as they have a shared balance of outdoor and online activities. There are youths who prioritise their responsibilities and health more than their mobile phones. These are the people who do not have the fear of missing out like most adolescents do. Some people enjoy outdoor activities. Playing sports is one of the outdoor activities. Doing exercises such as jogging and brisk walking improves the posture and cardio of youths. Playing sports such as soccer, badminton and basketball improves the health of adolescents as playing sports burn the calories in the body and also keep the eyes healthy. Some youths prefer outdoor activities rather than spending time caged in their room playing video games or scrolling through their social media’s feed. Therefore, not all youths are extremely addicted to technology.
Not all youths are addicted to technology but most of them are. Therefore, technology addiction is a real thing and it can get extreme. It is advisable for not only youths but everyone to have a balanced use of their mobile phone.
Writers by the River 