Of course, the internet and electronic devices with a screen are very important for lives and societies. Through the internet and digital devices, anyone can be well informed about business, education, sports, politics, culture and many other aspects of life. People are now more informed about various aspects of life because of the internet and electronic media. The internet helps to connect with friends and others at home and abroad. Moreover, the internet helps to establish business and make buying of different things including daily items and others easier. It saves time and helps to invest in other activities. Consequently, the internet and electronic devices with a screen, which have made life easier, bring enormous benefits.b
No doubt, there is substantial use of the internet and electronic devices with a screen in the world at present. Television, computer, smartphone, and other electronic devices having a screen are now available in remote areas in different countries and many are engaged with the use of such devices. Though these are used more in urban areas, users have increased significantly in rural areas too. Among countries, the users of different sorts of electronic devices with a screen are more in terms of percentage in developed countries. But more and more people are getting connected to the internet even in less developed countries. In addition, a considerable portion uses electronic devices for hours for their professional requirements. Of course, the use of the internet and electronic devices will increase across countries in the future.
But the internet and electronic devices with a screen can bring harm to health and lead to other negative effects. Harmful effects on health can be both physical and mental. In terms of physical health consequences, according to available sources, there can be sleep disturbances or poor quality of sleep, vision problems, and headaches. Vision problems especially eyestrain is a major problem with the use of screens. According to available sources, the use of social media in the 30 minutes before sleep can disturb sleep especially among young adults. Also, their use can lead to some other harmful effects on physical health including obesity and reduced physical activity. In terms of mental health, the use of screen or screen devices including the internet, commuter and the electronic media can lead to impulse compulsive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, stress and general internalizing problems.
Of course, there are some other negative effects of the use of electronic devices. Even though the internet can help make online connections with friends, relatives and others across countries around the world, a reduced social relation especially in terms of reduced in-person relation is one of the major negative social effects of the overuse of computer, laptop, palmtop, smartphone, tablet, television or any other similar devices with a screen. Of course, their use can hamper relationships with family members and relatives and reduce social wellbeing. Parents are more engaged with computers and other electronic devices can provide less time to children. Consequently, the development of children can be affected. Besides, some adolescents may be prone to violence due to violent content and may get engaged in some other criminal activities.
Of course, harmful effects depend on several factors such as the time of use, appropriate or inappropriate use and the type of device used. Usually, harmful effects are more associated with the overuse of electronic devices with a screen. According to available sources, the use of the screen for seven or more hours per day is likely to be associated with more harmful effects. No doubt, effects can be more harmful due to the type of devices such as mobile, computer or television. Besides, screen brightness, viewing too close or too far away and poor sitting posture are some important use based reasons for negative effects especially on eyestrain. Indeed, the chance of increasing eye strain is higher on a screen that is brighter than the surrounding light.
Since the internet and electronic devices have innumerable positive effects and it is now impossible to live without mobile, computer and television, their use cannot be stopped at all. No doubt, they are especially important for those who are involved with professions that require the use of the internet, television, computer or other electronic devices with a screen. Besides, it is important for others too. Without these, life could have been outdated and tougher with reduced economic opportunities and social connections and many other negative effects on lives. Consequently, the internet and electronic devices including television, computer and mobile have become inevitable for humans around the world. Thus, some efforts are very important to reduce the harmful effects of their use or the excessive use of electronic devices with a screen.
Of course, some measures including taking a break for certain minutes and putting a limit to their use whenever possible can be very effective in reducing eye strain. But some tactics can be enormously helpful to those who use the screen for professional or other unavoidable reasons. In this respect, according to available sources, the avoidance of dry eyes, allowing a distance between eyes and screen (roughly 25 inches), adjusting the brightness, reducing glare, following the 20-20 rule, limiting devices before bedtime or using a matte screen filter are important. As the 20-20 rule indicates, looking at something over twenty feet away especially after every twenty minutes of screen use is considered to be effective in giving eyes relief. No doubt, efforts to reduce stress on the eyes are more important for those who use electronic devices with a screen for professional reasons.
Of course, some other measures are needed not only to reduce stress on the eyes but also to reduce other effects aiming at the improvement of digital wellbeing. In this respect, scheduling more face to face meetings and putting a bit more emphasis on in-person communications can be imperative. The harmful online site should be avoided especially by children and adolescents. In this respect, the development of the habit of using, watching or surfing good online sites and television channels for a limited time and reading books, newspapers and magazines can also be important. Of course, some other measures including, but not limited to, providing the deserving time for parental care can also be enormously helpful.
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