Course Content. Module 1

Besides the impact on health and well-being of issues such as bullying and hate speech, excessive use of technology can bring about a range of physical issues from postural distress and lack of exercise to disrupted life-balance. Some other physical risks from the use of technology include eyestrain, sleep problems and obesity. These problems are further exacerbated by the plentiful but often misleading health information to be found online, requiring the sharpest of critical thinking skills to sift out the true from the false.

Moreover, excessive use of technology and digital media make us more vulnerable to their addictive nature. Internet addiction is an umbrella term covering a range of behaviors and impulse-control problems involving the internet, personal computers, and mobile technology. It can be in the form of a gaming disorder, social media addiction, screen addiction, and so on. There are many effects of internet addiction and technology addiction. Some mental effects include depression, anxiety and sudden mood changes while physical effects include headaches, insomnia and unhealthy nutrition^[1].

The current focus on beauty and body in today’s era of selfies and likes affect young people perception of physical health through the comparisons they make with other users, mainly on social media^[2]. This can rapidly lead young people to seek out nutritional tips that may accentuate eating disorders, such as anorexia, or join groups of “like-minded” people that lead them into other risky behaviors. These challenges are likely to have a lasting effect on a person’s social, professional and emotional life, and hence on their role as an active citizen.

Reflection corner

1. Internet addiction encompasses different types of dependencies that can develop with the overuse of the internet or technology in general. Can you name a few? Which one is the most serious or dangerous? Why? Which one is easier to overcome? Why so?

2. Here are some computer postures:

Can you explain why the three ones are labelled as “incorrect” and only the far right one as “correct”? Which of the above postures best describes your posture when using a computer?

3. How would you comment the following picture?

What is unhealthy about our “need to be told we’re beautiful” through our selfies? Any other reasons why people constantly upload their selfies online? Have many have you posted today?