Technology is a very interesting thing. There is so much good to come with technology, it makes the world an easier place to live in and the questions we have get answered instantly. Now with AI, nearly all information is at our fingertips whenever we want the answer. Technology allows for your favorite music to be played at any moment at any volume, it allows for you to video call your friends and family wherever you are on the face of this planet, it allows you to endlessly scroll and lose yourself to funny videos or pictures. The internet is awesome! But like anything, there is also a down side.
Through writing these blogs, we have heard many terms being used like cyberbullying, revenge porn, ghosting, and more. All of these terms address the bad side of the internet, things we hope to never be affected by. Unfortunately, with so much of our personal information already out on the internet, its become much easier to stalk other people, find out private information, see private videos, or tear someone down through bullying and blackmail. While the internet is not itself at fault for these issues, they all occur using the internet and social media.
The relationship that we have built with the internet is one of a deep connection. Society as a whole has become so infatuated with their own personal devices that so many people miss out on real life to live a virtual one instead. Apps like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and so many others as well as games like Minecraft, Fortnite, and Call of Duty constantly draw people's focus. Whether you are just watching a video, playing a game, or watching a video of someone else playing a game, the internet has our society in the palm of its hand. Think about times you have been in areas of bad wifi or low cell service, think about the anger and frustration that has caused. It is truly insane to think that just 20ish years ago much of this technology didn't even exist, people didn't have mobile phones or apps; they just lived life.
Personally, I feel I have a somewhat healthy relationship with the internet and technology at this point in my life. While I spend a lot of time on my phone or watching TV, being a student athlete forces me to focus on athletics (and academics) on a daily basis where, for hours, I am not on my phone, computer, or TV. However, I can see that without baseball, I could be vulnerable to have a very unhealthy relationship with the internet. I already use it so much in my limited free time, I sometimes worry what would happen if I had more. With that being said, having a healthy relationship with the internet definitely requires sacrifices and strong will. It is so easy to sit on your phone for hours just doom scrolling through TikTok or Instagram without a solid thought enter your brain. Being willing to make sacrifices of not watching your phone at all time is definitely necessary for this healthier relationship, but would absolutely be worth it.