It’s undeniable that modern technology – like computers and smartphones – has improved all of our day-to-day lives. But just like eating a whole cake at once, too much of a good thing can turn it into a bad thing.
How plugged in are we? Let’s crunch the numbers:
- 81% of UK citizens in 2016 used a mobile device to access the Internet on the move.
- In 2017, 90% of households in Great Britain had Internet access.
- 69% of UK citizens aged 16 to 74 use the Internet for participating in social networks. Social media sites, such as Facebook, is more addictive than people thought.
- Only 4% of UK citizens in 2016 had never used the Internet.
The Internet keeps us connected to friends and makes mental health care more accessible, making us much happier in the long run, but it has been shown that heavy Internet users are 2.5 times more likely to be depressed. Plus, having a social networking profile may negatively alter the psychological well-being in young women.
Obviously we can’t go back now, so it’s necessary to keep some strategies in our back pockets to keep the computers from taking over. Just switch off your phone every once and a while and avoid screens before bedtime. Take a look at this infographic for more ways to unplug and unwind.