As the years have passed since devices such as computers and cellphones were invented, technology has become incorporated more and more into our daily lives. While this advancement has led to many benefits such as having a wider library of sources available, as a society we are also starting to see the negative effects of this reliance.

At a young age, spending excess time using technology often replaces time that is spent learning how to read nonverbal cues, which make communicating in real life more difficult and at times awkward. Even at a highschool age, spending too much time on your smartphone or computer can hinder skills that are necessary for face-to-face interaction. This often makes people want to talk with others online rather than in person so that they can avoid the risk of an awkward encounter with a peer. This has become especially prevalent in the past decade with the widespread popularity of social media apps like Snapchat and Instagram.

Not only does technology harm social interaction, it also serves as great a distraction from getting work done. With the millions of videos, songs, articles, and games that are easily available to anyone with a phone or computer, it’s easy to get sucked into your device without even realizing it. This not only limits productivity but  also makes it hard to regain focus on your work. According to a study done by Gloria Mark at University of California, Irvine, it takes approximately 25 minutes to completely refocus on a task after a distraction. The study also found that interruptions and distractions lead to higher stress and frustration.

Despite these drawbacks, there are also many benefits to using technology, specifically in schools. Using technology in the classroom reduces the amount of paper we need and makes it easier to incorporate different learning styles; plus, it weighs a lot less to carry your computer than several textbooks.