DISADVANTAGES OF THE INTERNET

Advantages:

1) Information on almost every subject imaginable.
2) Powerful search engines
3) Ability to do research from your home versus research libraries.
4) Information at various levels of study. Everything from scholarly articles to ones directed at children.
5) Message boards where people can discuss ideas on any topic. Ability to get wide range of opinions. People can find others that have a similar interest in whatever they are interested in.
6) The internet provides the ability of emails. Free mail service to anyone in the country.
7) Platform for products like SKYPE, which allow for holding a video conference with anyone in the world who also has access.
8) Friendships and love connections have been made over the internet by people involved in love/passion over similar interests.
9) Things such as Yahoo Answers and other sites where kids can have readily available help for homework.
10) News, of all kinds is available almost instantaneously. Commentary, on that news, from every conceivable viewpoint is also available.


Disadvantages:

1) There is a lot of wrong information on the internet. Anyone can post anything, and much of it is garbage.
2) There are predators that hang out on the internet waiting to get unsuspecting people in dangerous situations.
3) Some people are getting addicted to the internet and thus causing problems with their interactions of friends and loved ones.
4) Pornography that can get in the hands of young children too easily.
5) Easy to waste a lot of time on the internet. You can start surfing, and then realize far more time has passed than you realized. Internet and television together of added to the more sedentary lifestyles of people which further exacerbates the obesity problem.
6) Internet has a lot of "cheater" sites. People can buy essays and pass them off as their own far more easily than they used to be able to do.
7) There are a lot of unscrupulous businesses that have sprung up on the internet to take advantage of people.
8) Hackers can create viruses that can get into your personal computer and ruin valuable data.
9) Hackers can use the internet for identity theft.
10) It can be quite depressing to be on the internet and realize just how uneducated so many people have become in today's society.

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Other Answers (14)

Oldest

·        

Boop...testing. answered 6 years ago

Advantages:
Easy access to information
Can be used to communicate
Allows online voting
Allows shopping online

..thinking of more...

o    Rate

o    Comment

o     

·        

belle answered 6 years ago

-Advantages-
-Data- and information-rich, including a range of media
-Anyone can publish online (tripod.com and other hosting sites)
-Learners can become researchers because of easier access to data
-Search engines that are fast and powerful
-Easy to use
-Smaller, faster, cheaper all the time
-Ability to link to people and places immediately
-Global dissemination of information
-Motivation for students in sharing their work online with the world

-limitations-
-Knowledge-poor; information overload
-No librarians for quality control (with some exceptions, like KidsClick! and other sites for children)
-Need for quality control in the data that students find and use
-Search engines that show results based on who pays the most
-Not enough training for effective use
-Push to upgrade constantly
-Speed takes precedence over quality
-Risk of a growing information gap between haves and have-nots
-Copyright issues - it's easy to get caught, so teachers need to make sure their students follow the rules

Source(s):

http://oregonstate.edu/~healeyd/upc/advdisadv.html

DISADVANTAGES OF THE INTERNET

Communication via the Web

Although there are many advantages, researchers argue some disadvantages of an internet based society. Most of these drawbacks are a result of decreased face-to-face communication and the ability to escape identity.
Negative effects on family communication
Although there are conflicting research findings on this topic, an article published by Science Daily reported that time spent on the Internet was associated with later declines in within house family communication and a decrease in the number of friends and acquaintances with which they kept ties.

Lack of conflict resolution
The same article suggests that communication on the web is taking away necessary human conflict. For example, if an Internet conversation starts getting heated or if someone gets angry, it is too easy to just sign off and not deal with the issue. Resolving conflict is a part of life that shouldn’t be avoided and is usually psychologically helpful.
Lonliness
Another proposed disadvantage is that a couple of studies have found strong correlations between frequency of Internet use and loneliness. People that use the Internet often are more likely to become lonely and depressed than those that don’t. One proposal as to why this is the case is because of a potential reduced social support system as a result of the Internet.
Internet addiction
There is some controversy over whether it is possible to actually be addicted to the Internet or not. Some researchers, like John M. Grohol, claim that it is simply people trying to escape their problems in an online world and cannot be classified as an addiction. He demonstrates his theory with this model and states that what some people call an addiction is just someone that is caught in stage one.

Other psychologists, including Jennifer R. Ferris, believe that Internet addiction is a true psychological disorder with definable symptoms. The symptoms are comparable to any addiction, withdrawal, loss of relationships or job and significant time consumption.
If an actual addiction exists or doesn’t exist, the underlying themes that support the addiction theory are still an issue. Whether people are trying to escape problems and reality or they will go through withdrawal if they aren’t surfing the net or chatting, it is still psychologically unhealthy.

The use of mobile phone is increasing day by day. Today mobile phone is one the major necessity of life. But in spite of all its benefits and plus points mobile phone use has very dangerous and destructive effects on our society. It has totally disturbed the structure and foundation of our society. The major and most destructive effects of mobile phone use on our society are given below,

1.  Wastage of Time and Money

The use of mobile phone is increasing day by day. Today mobile phone is one the major necessity of life. But in spite of all its benefits and plus points mobile phone use has very dangerous and destructive effects on our society. It has totally disturbed the structure and foundation of our society. The major and most destructive effects of mobile phone use on our society are given below,

1.  Wastage of Time and Money

People are wasting lot of their time in sending unnecessary sms (messages) to one another through their mobile phones. This is totally wastage of time and money.

2.  Negative Effects On Students <

/p>

Students do not give proper time to their studies and waste their time in playing games, listening music, watching videos and reading messages on their mobile phones.

3.  Negative Effects On Teenagers

Parents are not aware about the activities of their children. Teenagers’ boys and girls communicate each other through their mobile phones and do negative kind of activities. This is very dangerous and major negative impact of mobile phone on your society. Our new generation is totally destroyed by this negative aspect of mobile phones.

4.  A Communication Tool For Criminal Purposes

Mobile phones now becoming a major communication tool for criminal’s activities. People are using this fastest communication for terrorism and other kind of criminal activities.
We must overcome these negative impacts of mobile phone use on our society otherwise our society and new generations will completely destroy.

5. Negative Effects of Mobile Phone Use On Our Health

Mobile phones especially poor quality mobile phones have a great negative effects on our health. The raditions emerged from these mobile phones cause many serious health issues. According to a new researh mobile phones are greatly contaminated with different types of microorganisms especially bacteria which cause a lot of diseases.

6. Negative Effects of Mobile Phone Use On Our Environment

Mobile phones use has a dangerous effects on our enviroment including birds, mammals and pet animals. It has been observed that the animal which are more exposed to raditions emerging from these mobile phones or towers have many abnormalities as compared to those who are not exposed to these types of raditions.

The impact of technology on our social, mental, physical and environmental health can be devastating if we don’t keep ourselves in check. There’s no denying the benefits we have gained from technological advancements, but as with all things in life moderation is key. Being aware of the harmful aspects of the overuse of electronics will help you avoid any unnecessary pitfalls. Here are 25 negative effects technology can have:

1. Isolation

Social isolation is characterized by a lack of contact with other people in normal daily living, such as, the workplace, with friends and in social activities. We isolate ourselves by walking around in our own little world, listening to our iPods or staring at the screen of the latest mobile device even when we are around other people. Studies  have shown that people who are socially isolated will live shorter lives.

2. Lack of Social Skills

The use of online social media outlets causes us to meet face-to-face with much less frequency resulting in a lack of much needed social skills. We lose the ability to read body language and social cues in other people.

3. Obesity

The more time people are spending engrossed in video games, talking to friends online and watching funny cat videos on YouTube, they are spending less time being active or exercising. Also the likelihood of mindlessly eating unhealthy food increases as people are hypnotized by the latest episode of Honey Boo Boo.

4. Depression

Technology creates the perfect recipe for depression with the lack of human contact, overeating and lack of exercise. There is a reason the use of antidepressants are on the rise and the blame can’t be completely dumped on the pharmaceutical companies. They aren’t carting people into the doctor’s office and force feeding them the pills. This isn’t to say that depression isn’t a real problem, but some people could cure their depression by living a healthier lifestyle.

5. Poor Sleep Habits

Some of the negative effects of technology can be linked to the effect it has on sleep habits. We get sucked into online activities that keep us up too late and the constant stream of information can make it difficult to turn off our brains. Also, the ambient glow from screens can affect the release of melatonin, the sleep chemical. Keeping technology out of the bedroom would be a very healthy habit to acquire.

6. Pollution

With the rapid-changing world of electronics and technology, the turnover rate for upgrades is staggering. This constant stream of out with the old, in with the new is adding to the levels of toxicity in our air and land. E-waste is not always disposed of properly, causing deadly chemicals to leach into the ground. Plants that manufacture the electronics are emitting toxic fumes into the air. Plus there is little to no regulations on the disposal of personal E-waste.

7. Increased Bullying

The use of technology has caused an increase in bullying  and escalated the degree of severity. Kids are no longer able to escape their tormentors once they reach the safety of their own homes. Bullies infiltrate the security of their victims’ homes through online avenues. It is also easier to get more kids involved in bullying because people are more likely to say things online that they wouldn’t say in person. The increase in cyber-bullying has also led to an increase in teen suicides.

8. Lack of Privacy

The internet has stripped the world of privacy. Long gone are the days of having an unlisted telephone number and staying offline to keep your information safe from prying eyes. With a few flicks on a keyboard the average person can find anyone’s address and contact information. For those with more sinister intentions, the use of phishing, viruses and hacking helps to find any information they wish to obtain. Plus, people have no sense of privacy online. They don’t think twice about tweeting every move they make, freely giving out their location on Google Map and putting their entire life story on Facebook.

9. Higher Level of Deceit

On the flip side of having no privacy, people use the internet to deceive others. Most people don’t dig too deeply when doing a search on someone to check them out. By creating a few false profiles, people are able to pretend to be whomever they want. People are being “catfished” on dating sites. Hell, you could be talking to someone on the FBI’s top ten most wanted list and not realize it until you see them getting arrested on the news.

10. Warped Sense of Reality

Using the internet as an escape from real life is very easy to do. In real life you only speak to a few people each day, there’s no Photoshop or avatar for the reflection in your mirror, bills must be paid and saying smartass things is frowned upon. However, online you are a freaking rock star! You have enough “friends” to form a small country, you look great in your pics or you have a kickass avatar, plus you get rewards or points for saying clever things (more if the clever thing is also mean-spirited). Unfortunately we must live in the real world whether we like it or not.

11. Stress

Constantly being “plugged in” and “connected” causes an extra layer of stress that wasn’t present before the overuse of technology.

12. Blackberry/iPhone Thumb

Tendonitis in the thumb, a.k.a. Blackberry/iPhone Thumb , is a form of repetitive strain injury caused by the frequent use of thumbs to press buttons on mobile devices. The same injury can also be obtained from playing too many video games.

13. Lack of Social Boundaries

Much in the same way that people over share on social media sites, there is an increasing tendency to cross social boundaries. Cyber stalking someone or sending unsolicited nude photos are examples of grossly crossing social boundaries.

14. Lack of Sexual Boundaries

Exposure to sexual content is more likely to happen at a much younger age. Before the internet the only chance a child had of being exposed to pornography was if their dad didn’t hide his Playboy magazine well enough. Now, well, let’s just say you pray your filters are doing their job when your kid searches for “Puss and Donkey” from Shrek.

Sexting is also a concern with technology being used at such a young age. There is no way in hell a girl would have taken a nude photo of herself and handed it to a guy before the popularity of texting. Yet, using your phone to snap a quick boob shot and texting it to your boyfriend seems to be no big deal. If you wouldn’t print the picture out and hand it to the guy, then you shouldn’t text it. And guys — girls do not want pictures of your penis. So stop sending them.

15. Lack of Social Bonds

Creating a lasting bond with other people requires face-to-face interaction. The more we isolate ourselves with technology the fewer bonds we will form. People are expected to do more work at home which takes away time they would be spending with their families. Also, younger people prefer communicating online versus face-to-face. When people are in the same room and communicating via text or instant messaging instead of speaking to each other, there’s a problem.

16. Constant Distraction

When we are focused on a device instead of what’s going on around us we miss a great deal. Think of the number of times you have been texting or talking to a friend and missed the opportunity to flirt with the hot guy standing beside you. There is also a rise in the number of injuries incurred by people texting while walking.

17. Neck and Head Pain

Constantly looking down at devices can cause neck pain and over time will cause the neck to lose its natural curve. Eyestrain can also cause headaches, blurred vision and migraines.

18. Shortened Attention Span

The use of social media  has shortened our attention span from 12 minutes to 5 minutes. Constant news feeds, getting information in 140 characters and videos that are 10 minutes or less has literally rewired our brains. People who are online an average of 5 hours a day have trouble remembering people’s names, forget pots on the stove and even their own birthday.

19. Addiction

People are not only dependent on technology they are also addicted to it. Studies have shown that when cell phones are taken away subjects heard or felt fathom vibrations, continuously reached for phones that weren’t there and became fidgety and restless. These are some of the same withdrawal symptoms you would expect from doing drugs.

20. Lack of Empathy

The constant stream of violent scenes on video games, TV, movies and YouTube causes people to become desensitized to destruction of any kind. The normalizing of bad things happening and the culture of narcissism created by social media creates a society of people who lack empathy. When people stop caring, the world goes to hell in a hand basket.

21. More Violence

After people lose empathy and are accustomed to violence, it becomes the social norm. Teenage girls are videoing themselves violently beating another girl; the number of school shootings are rising and videos of people attacking homeless people are a few examples of violent behavior caused by media.

22. Higher Energy Consumption

Although individual devices are becoming more energy efficient, the increased overall use is causing a higher consumption of energy. People don’t turn their devices off; they keep computers on or plugged in, mobile devices charging and televisions plugged in. Also manufacturing all of these high tech toys causes an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

23. Developmental Issues in Children

Children are using more technology now than they have ever used in the past. All of the negative effects that social media and television is having on adults are far greater when it comes to the developing minds of children. There is no way to know what long term effect technology will have on our children because this is the first generation to have unlimited access.

24. Neurosis

Technology causes people to suffer from mental and emotional disturbances, such as anxiety, phobias and delusions, which are all symptoms of neurosis . Being convinced you’re very ill after looking up strange diseases on WebMD or thinking you are famous because you have had a viral video are a couple of ways technology neurosis manifests itself.

25. Loss of Hearing and Eyesight

Using headphones and ear buds can cause people to lose their hearing over time. Likewise, straining your eyes looking at computer and device screens can cause people to need glasses much earlier in life.

Using technology as an educational tool has a primary impact on the way that teachers help kids to learn, according to the Pew Research Center. Although technology, the media and electronic devices can help kids to gain new knowledge, interact on a social level and access educational resources, there are also negative effects that come along with the positive ones. While tech-time can help kids to learn, it can also contribute to obesity, lack of physical fitness, inaccurate or warped thinking and other negative consequences.

Obesity and Physical Fitness

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry notes that obesity -- or having a body weight that is at least 10 percent more than the recommended number of pounds for the child's age and height -- has multiple causes, one of which is a lack of exercise. Spending hours in front of screen, whether it is a television or computer, can quickly contribute to a serious decrease in the amount of physical activity that a child gets during the day. Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day to maintain a healthy weight and level of fitness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The more tech-time that a child engages in, the less likely it is that he will get in his daily dose of physical activity. This can, in turn, contribute to negative effects such as weight gain.

Knowledge and Learning

Along with advances in technology comes an ever-growing ability for kids to get in touch with information and educational resources. Although this seems, on the surface, a positive when it comes to a child's learning and development, there are times when it actually has negative consequences. While trusted sources such as universities or major educational organizations have websites that contain real, verifiable information, other websites may not have the same authority. Technology and the Internet allow almost anyone to post information and call it an authoritative source. As an adult, you may know that Mr. Bob's bio facts are far from true, but that doesn't mean that your child has the same understanding. She may take everything that she reads online as fact, leading to misinformation or even a slightly skewed way of thinking.

Social Media

Social media can help your child to connect to his friends, develop interpersonal skills and come out of his shy shell, but it also has a much more destructive side. Adolescents who use social networking sites regularly demonstrate narcissistic tendencies more often than those who don't use this type of technology, according to the American Psychological Association. Additionally, children who use social media may not fully understand how the anonymity of the Internet allows predators to pose as kids, putting them at risk in the event that they give out personal information or plan an in-person meeting.

Media Images

Between the TV, laptops, tablets, cell phones, iPods and all of the other technological devices that your child uses, he is constantly inundated with an array of media images. These often include, and glorify, negative behaviors such as underage drinking, drug use or risky sexual situations. Additionally, the media may portray an idealized image of the child or teenager when it comes to weight and appearance. Your child can develop a warped sense of reality and what is, and isn't, acceptable when it comes to his actions. The American Academy of Pediatrics, on its Healthy Children website, recommends that parents screen what their kids are watching and discuss negative media images.

Negative Impacts or effects of Technology

Advantages:

1) Information on almost every subject imaginable.
2) Powerful search engines
3) Ability to do research from your home versus research libraries.
4) Information at various levels of study. Everything from scholarly articles to ones directed at children.
5) Message boards where people can discuss ideas on any topic. Ability to get wide range of opinions. People can find others that have a similar interest in whatever they are interested in.
6) The internet provides the ability of emails. Free mail service to anyone in the country.
7) Platform for products like SKYPE, which allow for holding a video conference with anyone in the world who also has access.
8) Friendships and love connections have been made over the internet by people involved in love/passion over similar interests.
9) Things such as Yahoo Answers and other sites where kids can have readily available help for homework.
10) News, of all kinds is available almost instantaneously. Commentary, on that news, from every conceivable viewpoint is also available.


Disadvantages:

1) There is a lot of wrong information on the internet. Anyone can post anything, and much of it is garbage.
2) There are predators that hang out on the internet waiting to get unsuspecting people in dangerous situations.
3) Some people are getting addicted to the internet and thus causing problems with their interactions of friends and loved ones.
4) Pornography that can get in the hands of young children too easily.
5) Easy to waste a lot of time on the internet. You can start surfing, and then realize far more time has passed than you realized. Internet and television together of added to the more sedentary lifestyles of people which further exacerbates the obesity problem.
6) Internet has a lot of "cheater" sites. People can buy essays and pass them off as their own far more easily than they used to be able to do.
7) There are a lot of unscrupulous businesses that have sprung up on the internet to take advantage of people.
8) Hackers can create viruses that can get into your personal computer and ruin valuable data.
9) Hackers can use the internet for identity theft.
10) It can be quite depressing to be on the internet and realize just how uneducated so many people have become in today's society.

·      14

·      Comment (1)

·       

Other Answers (14)

Oldest

·        

Boop...testing. answered 6 years ago

Advantages:
Easy access to information
Can be used to communicate
Allows online voting
Allows shopping online

..thinking of more...

o    Rate

o    Comment

o     

·        

belle answered 6 years ago

-Advantages-
-Data- and information-rich, including a range of media
-Anyone can publish online (tripod.com and other hosting sites)
-Learners can become researchers because of easier access to data
-Search engines that are fast and powerful
-Easy to use
-Smaller, faster, cheaper all the time
-Ability to link to people and places immediately
-Global dissemination of information
-Motivation for students in sharing their work online with the world

-limitations-
-Knowledge-poor; information overload
-No librarians for quality control (with some exceptions, like KidsClick! and other sites for children)
-Need for quality control in the data that students find and use
-Search engines that show results based on who pays the most
-Not enough training for effective use
-Push to upgrade constantly
-Speed takes precedence over quality
-Risk of a growing information gap between haves and have-nots
-Copyright issues - it's easy to get caught, so teachers need to make sure their students follow the rules

Source(s):

http://oregonstate.edu/~healeyd/upc/advdisadv.html

DISADVANTAGES OF THE INTERNET

Communication via the Web

Although there are many advantages, researchers argue some disadvantages of an internet based society. Most of these drawbacks are a result of decreased face-to-face communication and the ability to escape identity.
Negative effects on family communication
Although there are conflicting research findings on this topic, an article published by Science Daily reported that time spent on the Internet was associated with later declines in within house family communication and a decrease in the number of friends and acquaintances with which they kept ties.

Lack of conflict resolution
The same article suggests that communication on the web is taking away necessary human conflict. For example, if an Internet conversation starts getting heated or if someone gets angry, it is too easy to just sign off and not deal with the issue. Resolving conflict is a part of life that shouldn’t be avoided and is usually psychologically helpful.
Lonliness
Another proposed disadvantage is that a couple of studies have found strong correlations between frequency of Internet use and loneliness. People that use the Internet often are more likely to become lonely and depressed than those that don’t. One proposal as to why this is the case is because of a potential reduced social support system as a result of the Internet.
Internet addiction
There is some controversy over whether it is possible to actually be addicted to the Internet or not. Some researchers, like John M. Grohol, claim that it is simply people trying to escape their problems in an online world and cannot be classified as an addiction. He demonstrates his theory with this model and states that what some people call an addiction is just someone that is caught in stage one.

Other psychologists, including Jennifer R. Ferris, believe that Internet addiction is a true psychological disorder with definable symptoms. The symptoms are comparable to any addiction, withdrawal, loss of relationships or job and significant time consumption.
If an actual addiction exists or doesn’t exist, the underlying themes that support the addiction theory are still an issue. Whether people are trying to escape problems and reality or they will go through withdrawal if they aren’t surfing the net or chatting, it is still psychologically unhealthy.

The use of mobile phone is increasing day by day. Today mobile phone is one the major necessity of life. But in spite of all its benefits and plus points mobile phone use has very dangerous and destructive effects on our society. It has totally disturbed the structure and foundation of our society. The major and most destructive effects of mobile phone use on our society are given below,

1.  Wastage of Time and Money

The use of mobile phone is increasing day by day. Today mobile phone is one the major necessity of life. But in spite of all its benefits and plus points mobile phone use has very dangerous and destructive effects on our society. It has totally disturbed the structure and foundation of our society. The major and most destructive effects of mobile phone use on our society are given below,

1.  Wastage of Time and Money

People are wasting lot of their time in sending unnecessary sms (messages) to one another through their mobile phones. This is totally wastage of time and money.

2.  Negative Effects On Students <

/p>

Students do not give proper time to their studies and waste their time in playing games, listening music, watching videos and reading messages on their mobile phones.

3.  Negative Effects On Teenagers

Parents are not aware about the activities of their children. Teenagers’ boys and girls communicate each other through their mobile phones and do negative kind of activities. This is very dangerous and major negative impact of mobile phone on your society. Our new generation is totally destroyed by this negative aspect of mobile phones.

4.  A Communication Tool For Criminal Purposes

Mobile phones now becoming a major communication tool for criminal’s activities. People are using this fastest communication for terrorism and other kind of criminal activities.
We must overcome these negative impacts of mobile phone use on our society otherwise our society and new generations will completely destroy.

5. Negative Effects of Mobile Phone Use On Our Health

Mobile phones especially poor quality mobile phones have a great negative effects on our health. The raditions emerged from these mobile phones cause many serious health issues. According to a new researh mobile phones are greatly contaminated with different types of microorganisms especially bacteria which cause a lot of diseases.

6. Negative Effects of Mobile Phone Use On Our Environment

Mobile phones use has a dangerous effects on our enviroment including birds, mammals and pet animals. It has been observed that the animal which are more exposed to raditions emerging from these mobile phones or towers have many abnormalities as compared to those who are not exposed to these types of raditions.

The impact of technology on our social, mental, physical and environmental health can be devastating if we don’t keep ourselves in check. There’s no denying the benefits we have gained from technological advancements, but as with all things in life moderation is key. Being aware of the harmful aspects of the overuse of electronics will help you avoid any unnecessary pitfalls. Here are 25 negative effects technology can have:

1. Isolation

Social isolation is characterized by a lack of contact with other people in normal daily living, such as, the workplace, with friends and in social activities. We isolate ourselves by walking around in our own little world, listening to our iPods or staring at the screen of the latest mobile device even when we are around other people. Studies  have shown that people who are socially isolated will live shorter lives.

2. Lack of Social Skills

The use of online social media outlets causes us to meet face-to-face with much less frequency resulting in a lack of much needed social skills. We lose the ability to read body language and social cues in other people.

3. Obesity

The more time people are spending engrossed in video games, talking to friends online and watching funny cat videos on YouTube, they are spending less time being active or exercising. Also the likelihood of mindlessly eating unhealthy food increases as people are hypnotized by the latest episode of Honey Boo Boo.

4. Depression

Technology creates the perfect recipe for depression with the lack of human contact, overeating and lack of exercise. There is a reason the use of antidepressants are on the rise and the blame can’t be completely dumped on the pharmaceutical companies. They aren’t carting people into the doctor’s office and force feeding them the pills. This isn’t to say that depression isn’t a real problem, but some people could cure their depression by living a healthier lifestyle.

5. Poor Sleep Habits

Some of the negative effects of technology can be linked to the effect it has on sleep habits. We get sucked into online activities that keep us up too late and the constant stream of information can make it difficult to turn off our brains. Also, the ambient glow from screens can affect the release of melatonin, the sleep chemical. Keeping technology out of the bedroom would be a very healthy habit to acquire.

6. Pollution

With the rapid-changing world of electronics and technology, the turnover rate for upgrades is staggering. This constant stream of out with the old, in with the new is adding to the levels of toxicity in our air and land. E-waste is not always disposed of properly, causing deadly chemicals to leach into the ground. Plants that manufacture the electronics are emitting toxic fumes into the air. Plus there is little to no regulations on the disposal of personal E-waste.

7. Increased Bullying

The use of technology has caused an increase in bullying  and escalated the degree of severity. Kids are no longer able to escape their tormentors once they reach the safety of their own homes. Bullies infiltrate the security of their victims’ homes through online avenues. It is also easier to get more kids involved in bullying because people are more likely to say things online that they wouldn’t say in person. The increase in cyber-bullying has also led to an increase in teen suicides.

8. Lack of Privacy

The internet has stripped the world of privacy. Long gone are the days of having an unlisted telephone number and staying offline to keep your information safe from prying eyes. With a few flicks on a keyboard the average person can find anyone’s address and contact information. For those with more sinister intentions, the use of phishing, viruses and hacking helps to find any information they wish to obtain. Plus, people have no sense of privacy online. They don’t think twice about tweeting every move they make, freely giving out their location on Google Map and putting their entire life story on Facebook.

9. Higher Level of Deceit

On the flip side of having no privacy, people use the internet to deceive others. Most people don’t dig too deeply when doing a search on someone to check them out. By creating a few false profiles, people are able to pretend to be whomever they want. People are being “catfished” on dating sites. Hell, you could be talking to someone on the FBI’s top ten most wanted list and not realize it until you see them getting arrested on the news.

10. Warped Sense of Reality

Using the internet as an escape from real life is very easy to do. In real life you only speak to a few people each day, there’s no Photoshop or avatar for the reflection in your mirror, bills must be paid and saying smartass things is frowned upon. However, online you are a freaking rock star! You have enough “friends” to form a small country, you look great in your pics or you have a kickass avatar, plus you get rewards or points for saying clever things (more if the clever thing is also mean-spirited). Unfortunately we must live in the real world whether we like it or not.

11. Stress

Constantly being “plugged in” and “connected” causes an extra layer of stress that wasn’t present before the overuse of technology.

12. Blackberry/iPhone Thumb

Tendonitis in the thumb, a.k.a. Blackberry/iPhone Thumb , is a form of repetitive strain injury caused by the frequent use of thumbs to press buttons on mobile devices. The same injury can also be obtained from playing too many video games.

13. Lack of Social Boundaries

Much in the same way that people over share on social media sites, there is an increasing tendency to cross social boundaries. Cyber stalking someone or sending unsolicited nude photos are examples of grossly crossing social boundaries.

14. Lack of Sexual Boundaries

Exposure to sexual content is more likely to happen at a much younger age. Before the internet the only chance a child had of being exposed to pornography was if their dad didn’t hide his Playboy magazine well enough. Now, well, let’s just say you pray your filters are doing their job when your kid searches for “Puss and Donkey” from Shrek.

Sexting is also a concern with technology being used at such a young age. There is no way in hell a girl would have taken a nude photo of herself and handed it to a guy before the popularity of texting. Yet, using your phone to snap a quick boob shot and texting it to your boyfriend seems to be no big deal. If you wouldn’t print the picture out and hand it to the guy, then you shouldn’t text it. And guys — girls do not want pictures of your penis. So stop sending them.

15. Lack of Social Bonds

Creating a lasting bond with other people requires face-to-face interaction. The more we isolate ourselves with technology the fewer bonds we will form. People are expected to do more work at home which takes away time they would be spending with their families. Also, younger people prefer communicating online versus face-to-face. When people are in the same room and communicating via text or instant messaging instead of speaking to each other, there’s a problem.

16. Constant Distraction

When we are focused on a device instead of what’s going on around us we miss a great deal. Think of the number of times you have been texting or talking to a friend and missed the opportunity to flirt with the hot guy standing beside you. There is also a rise in the number of injuries incurred by people texting while walking.

17. Neck and Head Pain

Constantly looking down at devices can cause neck pain and over time will cause the neck to lose its natural curve. Eyestrain can also cause headaches, blurred vision and migraines.

18. Shortened Attention Span

The use of social media  has shortened our attention span from 12 minutes to 5 minutes. Constant news feeds, getting information in 140 characters and videos that are 10 minutes or less has literally rewired our brains. People who are online an average of 5 hours a day have trouble remembering people’s names, forget pots on the stove and even their own birthday.

19. Addiction

People are not only dependent on technology they are also addicted to it. Studies have shown that when cell phones are taken away subjects heard or felt fathom vibrations, continuously reached for phones that weren’t there and became fidgety and restless. These are some of the same withdrawal symptoms you would expect from doing drugs.

20. Lack of Empathy

The constant stream of violent scenes on video games, TV, movies and YouTube causes people to become desensitized to destruction of any kind. The normalizing of bad things happening and the culture of narcissism created by social media creates a society of people who lack empathy. When people stop caring, the world goes to hell in a hand basket.

21. More Violence

After people lose empathy and are accustomed to violence, it becomes the social norm. Teenage girls are videoing themselves violently beating another girl; the number of school shootings are rising and videos of people attacking homeless people are a few examples of violent behavior caused by media.

22. Higher Energy Consumption

Although individual devices are becoming more energy efficient, the increased overall use is causing a higher consumption of energy. People don’t turn their devices off; they keep computers on or plugged in, mobile devices charging and televisions plugged in. Also manufacturing all of these high tech toys causes an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

23. Developmental Issues in Children

Children are using more technology now than they have ever used in the past. All of the negative effects that social media and television is having on adults are far greater when it comes to the developing minds of children. There is no way to know what long term effect technology will have on our children because this is the first generation to have unlimited access.

24. Neurosis

Technology causes people to suffer from mental and emotional disturbances, such as anxiety, phobias and delusions, which are all symptoms of neurosis . Being convinced you’re very ill after looking up strange diseases on WebMD or thinking you are famous because you have had a viral video are a couple of ways technology neurosis manifests itself.

25. Loss of Hearing and Eyesight

Using headphones and ear buds can cause people to lose their hearing over time. Likewise, straining your eyes looking at computer and device screens can cause people to need glasses much earlier in life.

Using technology as an educational tool has a primary impact on the way that teachers help kids to learn, according to the Pew Research Center. Although technology, the media and electronic devices can help kids to gain new knowledge, interact on a social level and access educational resources, there are also negative effects that come along with the positive ones. While tech-time can help kids to learn, it can also contribute to obesity, lack of physical fitness, inaccurate or warped thinking and other negative consequences.

Obesity and Physical Fitness

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry notes that obesity -- or having a body weight that is at least 10 percent more than the recommended number of pounds for the child's age and height -- has multiple causes, one of which is a lack of exercise. Spending hours in front of screen, whether it is a television or computer, can quickly contribute to a serious decrease in the amount of physical activity that a child gets during the day. Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day to maintain a healthy weight and level of fitness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The more tech-time that a child engages in, the less likely it is that he will get in his daily dose of physical activity. This can, in turn, contribute to negative effects such as weight gain.

Knowledge and Learning

Along with advances in technology comes an ever-growing ability for kids to get in touch with information and educational resources. Although this seems, on the surface, a positive when it comes to a child's learning and development, there are times when it actually has negative consequences. While trusted sources such as universities or major educational organizations have websites that contain real, verifiable information, other websites may not have the same authority. Technology and the Internet allow almost anyone to post information and call it an authoritative source. As an adult, you may know that Mr. Bob's bio facts are far from true, but that doesn't mean that your child has the same understanding. She may take everything that she reads online as fact, leading to misinformation or even a slightly skewed way of thinking.

Social Media

Social media can help your child to connect to his friends, develop interpersonal skills and come out of his shy shell, but it also has a much more destructive side. Adolescents who use social networking sites regularly demonstrate narcissistic tendencies more often than those who don't use this type of technology, according to the American Psychological Association. Additionally, children who use social media may not fully understand how the anonymity of the Internet allows predators to pose as kids, putting them at risk in the event that they give out personal information or plan an in-person meeting.

Media Images

Between the TV, laptops, tablets, cell phones, iPods and all of the other technological devices that your child uses, he is constantly inundated with an array of media images. These often include, and glorify, negative behaviors such as underage drinking, drug use or risky sexual situations. Additionally, the media may portray an idealized image of the child or teenager when it comes to weight and appearance. Your child can develop a warped sense of reality and what is, and isn't, acceptable when it comes to his actions. The American Academy of Pediatrics, on its Healthy Children website, recommends that parents screen what their kids are watching and discuss negative media images.