Three ways internet affects a teenager

3 WAYS INTERNET AFFECTS A TEENAGER

    Have you ever wondered how much time you waste online? If you haven't perhaps you are so addicted that you don’t even realize it. Internet addiction refers to the need of using an electronic device. It’s also seen as a mental problem that has to be treated by doctors. Besides, it can cause stress on friends, family, and even on classmates. Internet addiction affects a teen’s life in 3 ways: their eyesight, their studies and their sleep, as well as their interaction with others.


   First of all, using the internet too much affects your eyesight. It is not a big deal since you can easily fix it by putting on glasses. However, there are people that can’t afford them or that simply don’t like wearing them. To avoid it, first of all you shouldn't be using your phone in bed when the light is turned off and you are close to the phone. This fact is really important because it is what usually happens, although not to everybody but it might happen to you. Moreover, being on the phone a lot of time or watching films close to the screen can affect your eyesight too (Mazzola). If you already use glasses, it can also affect you since your myopia can increase. So, even if it's not a big deal, you should be aware of it and try to avoid behavior that can affect your eyesight.


   Another way that internet addiction can affect a teenager’s life is both in their studies and in their sleep. I put both of them together because your sleep is basically reflected in your studies since every time there are tests or quizzes you sleep less. A teenager usually gets distracted by any device, not only with the phone, and usually before going to sleep (Mazzola). It affects your studies since you lose so much time on the phone, computer, ipad… but, mostly on the phone. Infact, “50% of teens admitted that they feel addicted” (Joyce). Have you ever imagined your grades if you use your phone in a moderate way? They will increase immediately. Not only, but staying with the phone at night makes you go late to sleep and the day of your test you are tired and as a result you can’t concentrate well enough. Also, it takes time from your review time, since it is usually at night, before going to sleep so you have it recently for the next day. If you keep time on the phone during the day, then you will sleep less since you’ll be going later to sleep. “Among more than 20% of the people use it 3 hours or more before going to sleep and 55.3% use it at least 1 hour before going to sleep” (Mazzola).

   Finally, it can affect the way you interact with others. People might lose friendships if the only thing they do is stay at home being online without communicating with anyone. Nowadays people just chat online, play online, work online and not everyone goes out and interacts with others. People might be so addicted that they can even lose sleep, nutrition and they can get mental problems if they keep too much time online without going out, talking with others. It is so important to communicate since you can express yourself, have fun, and relax. Besides, these people might struggle to have face to face conversations since they are not used to it or even they might struggle to focus on the task at hand, have health concerns and also develop brain problems.


   In conclusion, nowadays there are people so addicted that they even get distracted every time the screen turns on to see the message. They might go online and check either WhatsApp or instagram twice or 3,4,5... times even if they didn't receive any message. It is said that girls are more addicted than boys, but depends on which type of social media. (Lenhart). Digital devices have transformed people’s lives with no doubt. But, don’t forget, you can always prevent and avoid using so much technology since it’s up to you, and you will have a better life. It’s not that hard!


WORKS CITED
Joyce, Amy. “Teens Say They’re Addicted To Technology. Here’s How parents can help”. Washingtonpost.com . washingtonpost. 3 May 2016  Web. 4 Mar 2020.

Lenhart, Amanda. “Teens, Social Media & Technology Overview 2015”. Pewresearch.org.  Pew Research Center. 9 Apr 2015. Web. 17 Mar 2020.

Mazzola, Jessica. “Nighttime Texting Linked To Bad Grades, N.J. Study finds” nj.com. Nk advance media. 8 Oct 2015. Web. 4 Mar 2020.