Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, listeners. I can't thank you enough for stopping by
for another episode of the Tech Versus Humanity Podcasts, a
show dedicated too well all things tech versus humanity. And
you know what I mean. If it's not your pesky
TV remote or that jammed copier machine, technology is out
(00:22):
to get us, one human at a time, up until
full on AI takes over and decides to wipe us
all out. No, I'm kidding. We're a long way from there.
But today's episode is geared towards how technology is against us.
(00:45):
It's supposed to aid us, it's supposed to enhance our lives.
It's supposed to make things easier, and it does. I
won't say it what doesn't. But technology is a double
edged sword, and that's what this episode is about. Technology
(01:16):
may not help with mental and physical health at all,
may not. It's up to the user. A bag of
potato chips doesn't eat itself. Same thing with the digital
(01:37):
addiction technological platforms, especially social media and mobile apps. They
are designed to be addictive, doom scrolling with infinite push notifications,
(01:58):
all of which are exploiting your psychological triggers. They are
meant to maximize user engagement. They are meant to keep
your attention. Studies show that excessive screen time releases dopamine.
(02:19):
This is the brains pleasure chemical. This reinforces compulsive behavior,
very similar to substance addiction. I'm thinking of a song
by Huey Lewis called I Want a New Drug. This
(02:41):
addiction can lead to neglective responsibilities, strained relationships, and decreased productivity.
To start ways of mitigating this, you should implement screen
time limits, promote digital detox practices, and use apps that
(03:08):
track and manage usage. These can help reduce your digital
addiction straight up mental health issues for sure. Studies show
that prolonged social media exposure correlates with increased rates of
(03:29):
not only anxiety, but depression and loneliness social media. This
is especially true among adolescents and younger adults. You see,
as it turns out, the constant comparison with idealized lifestyles
(03:51):
portrayed online creates feelings of inadequacy and low self esteem. Meanwhile,
cyberbullying and online harassment only further exasperate these mental health struggles.
(04:13):
This sometimes leads individuals to self harmm or suicidal ideation.
It is recommended to promote digital literacy, encourage positive online communities,
and provide mental health resources. This can mitigate the negative
(04:38):
impact on mental well being and stay grounded in the
real world. Studies are now showing that sleep deprivation can
lead to, among other things, dementia and Alzheimer's. Well folks,
(05:02):
the blue light emitted by screens suppresses melatonin production. Melatonin
is the hormone responsible for regulating sleep. Late night screen
use leads to delayed sleep onset, fragmented sleep patterns, and
(05:23):
reduced overall sleep quality. Poor sleep is associated with impaired
cognitive function, mood disorders, and long term health issues such
as cardiovascular disease as well as diabetes. You can mitigate
(05:44):
this by simply using blue light filters if you wear
glasses they are available. You can also establish screen free
bedtime routines imagine what we did before cell phone. You
can also promote awareness about health sleep habits. All of
(06:06):
these things will help reduce sleep disruption. Quite possibly the
worst thing is if you are sitting around on your
computer or your smartphone or your television. You are leading
a sedentary lifestyle. Excessive use of these devices encourages physical
(06:30):
in activity, increases a significant risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease,
and muscle skeletal problems. Children and adults alike who spend
hours on screens often neglect outdoor activities and exercise, contributing
(06:55):
to weakened muscles and poor posture. You should encourage regular breaks,
promote active screen time, in other words, fitness apps or
watch YouTube while you exercise. You should integrate physical activities
(07:19):
into your daily routines. This can combat sedentary behavior. Techno
stress is a thing. This is the pressure to stay
constantly connected up to the minute, respond to every message promptly,
(07:42):
and keep up with digital trends. All of this leads
to psychological strain. This stress manifests in anxiety, fatigue, and burnout.
It affects both professional and personal life. You should start
(08:04):
by setting boundaries for work related technology use, practicing mindfulness,
and promoting digital wellness programs. This can alleviate techno stress.
Social media can also lead to social isolation. While technology
(08:25):
facilitates virtual connections, it often replaces in person interactions. This
leads to weakened social bonds. Excessive screen time can result
in social withdrawal, making individuals feel disconnected despite being constantly online.
(08:47):
You should promote a balanced tech use lifestyle, encouraging community
engagement and fostering offline social activities. These can reduce your
social isolation. We touched upon cyberbullying and harassment. The anonymity
(09:11):
provided by the internet in boldens users to engage in
abusive behavior. Victims of cyberbullying experience psychological distress, including anxiety, depression,
and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts. You should implement stricter
(09:31):
moderation policies, educate users about reporting mechanisms, and promote digital empathy.
This could combat cyberbullying. Everything on the Internet is true
if you didn't already know this. Algorithms prioritize engagement accuracy.
(10:02):
This amplifies sensational or otherwise false information fake news. Misinformation
spreads rapidly on social media, influencing public opinion, undermining trust
in institutions, and even affecting democratic processes. You should promote
(10:26):
media literacy, verify your sources, and implement fact checking tools.
These can all help curb misinformation and lastly, for today,
the overall erosion of critical thinking. Easy access to information
reduces the need for analytical thinking and problem solving skills.
(10:49):
Users offer accept search engine results or social media posts
without verifying their sources. This leads to a shallow understanding
of complex issues. Use critical thinking education, both promote diverse viewpoints,
and check your facts. All of this will strengthen your
(11:13):
analytical abilities. Folks, I can't thank you enough for stopping by.
It has been another episode of Tech versus Humanity. Until
next time.
Hello, listeners. I can't thank you enough for stopping by
for another episode of the Tech Versus Humanity Podcasts, a
show dedicated too well all things tech versus humanity. And
you know what I mean. If it's not your pesky
TV remote or that jammed copier machine, technology is out
(00:22):
to get us, one human at a time, up until
full on AI takes over and decides to wipe us
all out. No, I'm kidding. We're a long way from there.
But today's episode is geared towards how technology is against us.
(00:45):
It's supposed to aid us, it's supposed to enhance our lives.
It's supposed to make things easier, and it does. I
won't say it what doesn't. But technology is a double
edged sword, and that's what this episode is about. Technology
(01:16):
may not help with mental and physical health at all,
may not. It's up to the user. A bag of
potato chips doesn't eat itself. Same thing with the digital
(01:37):
addiction technological platforms, especially social media and mobile apps. They
are designed to be addictive, doom scrolling with infinite push notifications,
(01:58):
all of which are exploiting your psychological triggers. They are
meant to maximize user engagement. They are meant to keep
your attention. Studies show that excessive screen time releases dopamine.
(02:19):
This is the brains pleasure chemical. This reinforces compulsive behavior,
very similar to substance addiction. I'm thinking of a song
by Huey Lewis called I Want a New Drug. This
(02:41):
addiction can lead to neglective responsibilities, strained relationships, and decreased productivity.
To start ways of mitigating this, you should implement screen
time limits, promote digital detox practices, and use apps that
(03:08):
track and manage usage. These can help reduce your digital
addiction straight up mental health issues for sure. Studies show
that prolonged social media exposure correlates with increased rates of
(03:29):
not only anxiety, but depression and loneliness social media. This
is especially true among adolescents and younger adults. You see,
as it turns out, the constant comparison with idealized lifestyles
(03:51):
portrayed online creates feelings of inadequacy and low self esteem. Meanwhile,
cyberbullying and online harassment only further exasperate these mental health struggles.
(04:13):
This sometimes leads individuals to self harmm or suicidal ideation.
It is recommended to promote digital literacy, encourage positive online communities,
and provide mental health resources. This can mitigate the negative
(04:38):
impact on mental well being and stay grounded in the
real world. Studies are now showing that sleep deprivation can
lead to, among other things, dementia and Alzheimer's. Well folks,
(05:02):
the blue light emitted by screens suppresses melatonin production. Melatonin
is the hormone responsible for regulating sleep. Late night screen
use leads to delayed sleep onset, fragmented sleep patterns, and
(05:23):
reduced overall sleep quality. Poor sleep is associated with impaired
cognitive function, mood disorders, and long term health issues such
as cardiovascular disease as well as diabetes. You can mitigate
(05:44):
this by simply using blue light filters if you wear
glasses they are available. You can also establish screen free
bedtime routines imagine what we did before cell phone. You
can also promote awareness about health sleep habits. All of
(06:06):
these things will help reduce sleep disruption. Quite possibly the
worst thing is if you are sitting around on your
computer or your smartphone or your television. You are leading
a sedentary lifestyle. Excessive use of these devices encourages physical
(06:30):
in activity, increases a significant risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease,
and muscle skeletal problems. Children and adults alike who spend
hours on screens often neglect outdoor activities and exercise, contributing
(06:55):
to weakened muscles and poor posture. You should encourage regular breaks,
promote active screen time, in other words, fitness apps or
watch YouTube while you exercise. You should integrate physical activities
(07:19):
into your daily routines. This can combat sedentary behavior. Techno
stress is a thing. This is the pressure to stay
constantly connected up to the minute, respond to every message promptly,
(07:42):
and keep up with digital trends. All of this leads
to psychological strain. This stress manifests in anxiety, fatigue, and burnout.
It affects both professional and personal life. You should start
(08:04):
by setting boundaries for work related technology use, practicing mindfulness,
and promoting digital wellness programs. This can alleviate techno stress.
Social media can also lead to social isolation. While technology
(08:25):
facilitates virtual connections, it often replaces in person interactions. This
leads to weakened social bonds. Excessive screen time can result
in social withdrawal, making individuals feel disconnected despite being constantly online.
(08:47):
You should promote a balanced tech use lifestyle, encouraging community
engagement and fostering offline social activities. These can reduce your
social isolation. We touched upon cyberbullying and harassment. The anonymity
(09:11):
provided by the internet in boldens users to engage in
abusive behavior. Victims of cyberbullying experience psychological distress, including anxiety, depression,
and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts. You should implement stricter
(09:31):
moderation policies, educate users about reporting mechanisms, and promote digital empathy.
This could combat cyberbullying. Everything on the Internet is true
if you didn't already know this. Algorithms prioritize engagement accuracy.
(10:02):
This amplifies sensational or otherwise false information fake news. Misinformation
spreads rapidly on social media, influencing public opinion, undermining trust
in institutions, and even affecting democratic processes. You should promote
(10:26):
media literacy, verify your sources, and implement fact checking tools.
These can all help curb misinformation and lastly, for today,
the overall erosion of critical thinking. Easy access to information
reduces the need for analytical thinking and problem solving skills.
(10:49):
Users offer accept search engine results or social media posts
without verifying their sources. This leads to a shallow understanding
of complex issues. Use critical thinking education, both promote diverse viewpoints,
and check your facts. All of this will strengthen your
(11:13):
analytical abilities. Folks, I can't thank you enough for stopping by.
It has been another episode of Tech versus Humanity. Until
next time.
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