Is Technology Use Leading to the Demise of Our Mental Health and Well-Being?
I think it’s important to continue to update yourself regarding technology, including the good, the bad, the ugly, and anything in between.
– JE
I have been studying technology use for over 20 years. I first became interested in this topic as a postdoctoral fellow, having moved from North Carolina to Massachusetts where I knew no one. Soon after moving to Massachusetts, I realized that one of the main ways I maintained contact with many of my social ties was through email. This led me to become interested in the ways technology could be used to enhance communication, social contact, and well-being. Back in 2010, I wrote about the implications of the internet for medical sociology long before they were commonly recognized by medical sociologists.
Since that time, information and communication technologies, such as mobile phones, smart devices, and apps, have evolved and technology use has proliferated. Over 5 billion people around the world use the Internet, with over 4.5 million using social media. Use varies across social groups and a digital divide still exists. The lowest proportion of use is seen among older adults, with 75 percent of community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and older in the United States using the Internet compared to 99 percent of individuals aged 18–29, with even fewer older adults using social media (only 45 percent). Internet usage rates among individuals with disabilities and those who live in residential care facilities are even lower. Although close to 50 percent of individuals aged 18–29 report that they are online almost constantly, only 8 percent of those aged 65 and older report this level of use.
Credit: Shelia R. Cotten, Provost’s Distinguished Professor and Associate Vice President for Research Development, Clemson University