Computers, phones, televisions and radios are things that almost every student deals with on a regular basis. They are pieces of technology that have worked their way into being a constant feature of most students’ lives. Technology in this case is any electronic device, including machines, that have a specific purpose. Technology, in today’s society, has many helpful functions and normally has a positive connotation. However, there is a downside to technology. Technology is something which people can become addicted to.

Technology addiction may seem like a harsh phrase for something that seems like it can’t harm you, but when The Bell staff questioned teachers, they all agreed dependence on technology was a serious problem. The Bell staff discussed how technology was not being misused, just overused. Students have formed connections to technology earlier in life due to societal influence. Easy access to technology fuels an overall dependency on it.

One Bell staff member said every generation has had their ‘flirt’ with technology. Technological advancements have been occurring for decades, each with a new function that has improved the lives of the generation it came from. Innovations and improvements are still happening. Radios, televisions, phones, arcades, gaming units and cell phones are just a few innovations that have been improved throughout the years after having their highlights from their original generations. The idea that each generation has had their own technology addictions brought up the idea that technology addiction comes from a cycle which transfers from parent to child in a never-ending loop of technology addiction.

The Bell staff members who admitted to possibly having a technology addiction spoke about how it’s not always a need to be on their phone, but a physical need to see their phone and know they can incorporate phone usage into their tasks. They also talked about how they stay up too late on their phones, just mindlessly scrolling through their feeds. They also use technology in other parts of their lives to connect with others. Maybe their schedules don’t match up with their friend or their friend moved across the country, so they use their phones to keep in contact.

Another staff member asked the question: “If it makes you happy, is it really that bad?” This was immediately put to rest by a reply, “not everything that makes you happy is good for you.” Many things that make you happy can also damage your health and leave you emotionally and physically dependant on whatever it is that makes you happy, whether that be technology or another substance.

For these reasons, the majority of The Bell staff concluded that students don’t use technology, technology uses them. This warrants the message that while technology can be a good thing, it can also be a bad thing when overused. Technology, while a beneficial tool, needs to be monitored because with one wrong move, your online life could overpower your real life.