Applications, or apps for short, on your smart phone or device can be very beneficial for your daily obstacles or tasks. Many rely on apps for everything: reminders, alarms, entertainment, games, social media or anything that peaks one’s interest. Although it is very helpful for someone going through a very busy day, it can also be harmful towards one’s social life. Most people spend many hours a day in front of their smart phone browsing various things.
Many schools even use smart devices in the classroom due to the many educational apps that can be used by students of all ages. However, is this beneficial or harmful for younger students? Is it better for an elementary school student to stare at a screen and learn the material or sit through a lecture from a teacher explaining the information? Many argue that smart devices are more beneficial and time efficient, however I believe it should not be the only form of education in the classroom. According to Edtechmagazine, 74 percent of educators surveyed said technology is key to helping them expand on classroom content. The same percentage said technology is a motivational tool, and 73 percent said it helps teachers respond to different learning styles. Moreover, 69 percent said technology has helped do more than ever before for their students.
The logical thing for teachers and educators to do is to put aside only a few hours a week for students to use apps on smart devices and use the many other hours doing hands on activities and learning.
Hours are spent every day on apps, but have you ever thought how much of your life is spent in front of a smart phone or device. I am guilty of staying on my phone most days, like many other people consumed with their apps and social media accounts. All hidden behind a screen, one can communicate with others, keep up with the latest news, play games and of course, watch Netflix. However, this can have a negative effect on our social lives and how we communicate with others face to face, and not through the many apps on our smart phones.
Although applications are very helpful throughout our daily lives, it is always the user’s responsibility to not let it become a waste of their time. Excessively using applications on a smart device can begin to start a problem. However, if one is efficient with their time, it can only have positive effects on their day. Putting time aside to spend with personal interaction with others and getting certain things done not using your smart phone or device can only have positive effects on your overall day.
In a 2017 study performed by the Journal of Clinical Psychological Science, researchers looked at data from two nationally representative surveys of U.S. adolescents in grades eight through 12 and compared that to national statistics on suicide for those ages 13 to 18 and adolescent’s depression symptoms between 2010 and 2015, especially among females. It found that adolescents who spent more time on social media platforms and smartphones, were more likely to report mental health issues.
So, it is proven that many who spend a lot of their time consumed on certain apps tend to be less happy and don’t want social interaction, compared to those who choose to spend their time not behind a screen.