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When we talk about addiction, the immediate thought that hits our mind is drug, alcohol, and substance addiction. After all, these three forms of addiction top our addiction list. They are the most popular yet dangerous addictions a person can get.
However, we must remember that addiction does not just pertain to those three. The moment we become so obsessed with something that we cannot function normally without it, that’s also an addiction. In our world where technological advancement is dominating and changing the course of our lives, a new type of addiction has emerged upon us: technology addiction.
“If we continue to develop our technology without wisdom or prudence, our servant may prove to be our executioner.” – Omar Bradley
How can we identify the types and dangers of addictions that come with technology? Here are our top 4 technology addictions you should watch out for:
Gambling addiction
Ten years ago, it would have been easier for us to avoid the temptation to gamble. All we just needed to do was to avoid casinos. The fact that not many of us could afford an access to luxurious casinos came in handy. However, today, with the growing popularity of the Internet, online gambling sites have emerged. Currently, you only need to have a smartphone and Internet connection and you can then place your bet on these gambling websites!
What’s scary about these gambling websites is that they let you connect to your bank accounts and credit cards directly! And since you’re not bearing your money physically, it becomes difficult to manage it, especially when you start playing! You’ll find yourself placing bets without knowing that you’re draining your money. When your bills finally arrive, that’s when you’ll realize how much you’ve squandered.
TV Addiction
Before the rise of the internet, many people were already hooked to the TV. It was our main source of entertainment at home; we enjoyed watching it while eating and relaxing. Sometimes, watching TV also served as our form of family bonding. Today, with the rise of smart TVs, we can watch movies on our big, flat screen TV, and surf the net in high definition. Such an easy-peasy life, isn’t it?
Watching TV has become a major part of our lives that we think it’s a norm. For sure, watching TV is a normal thing; there’s nothing wrong with that. What we don’t realize is that watching TV all day, to the point of being a complete potato, is dangerous to our health. Our love for TV is one of the main culprits for us living a sedentary lifestyle.
Gaming addiction
At some point in life, some of us were (or will be) game addicts. We’ve become obsessed with purchasing video games just to play them and share the experience. However, it seems that our addiction to games goes beyond that. We evolved from playing counter-strikes to DOTA LOL (League of Legends), Farmville, etc., With the rise of game apps, we have become addicted to games now more than ever.
And who can ever forget the latest gaming addiction experienced last year, Pokemon Go? Everyone was so excited about the game, going out of the house just to catch Pokemon around their area. While the game has a slight advantage (socializing with other gamers), it also poses some risks and danger. There have been cases of injuries, and even death simply because player failed to pay attention to where they are or the traffic as they blindly chased Pokemon.
Phone addiction
It’s much simpler for us to connect with people across the world now thanks to the emergence of the Internet. Almost everyone is now browsing the net since mobile surfing became popular. You can connect to other people wherever you go; all you need is a smartphone and a stable Internet connection. We can also do so many incredible things using the phone.
But while we’re busy connecting with people virtually, we forget to establish the type of connection that’s more important in our lives: physical connection. We have now forgotten to converse with people because we’re too busy catching up with our friends across the world.
“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” – Albert Einstein