Impact of Technology on the Youth

 

A Youth Pastor in a youth church service said, “Anyone with a Bible kindly raise up and read this verse for us.” Everyone turned around to see who has a Bible. In a church service of 200 youths, no one had a Bible though most of them had Bible apps in their phones. Since the church has banned using phones in the church none of the youth would raise up to read the verse using his phone. This sounds familiar. Technology especially the internet plays a great role in the life of people the youth today.

Research by Pew Research Centre http://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2018/05/31102617/PI_2018.05.31_TeensTech_FINAL.pdf  showed that 95% of the youth have access to the internet either through a computer or smartphone.  90% percent of the youth have access to smartphones. 90% of the youth use Instagram, YouTube, and snap chat on daily basis. Currently, most youth and teens are using Tiktok.   Research by One Hope https://www.globalyouthculture.net/united-states/?utm_source=GYC&utm_medium=email5pastor&utm_campaign=funnel/ shows that teens between the age of 13-17 years on average spend 7hours 23mins on the internet daily. A teen spends equal hours on the internet with an employee in an office.  

The research by Pew Research Center shows that only 31% of the youths use the internet positively like chatting with family members, connecting with others, learning, research, and finding new connections. 69% of the youths use the internet for spreading rumors, gossiping, bullying, watching pornography and masturbating, sex chatting, and even harm relationships.

The heavy use of technology has both positive and negative impacts on the youth. Since the research shows that  69% of the youth use the internet negatively, let's see the impact of this.   Technology has negatively affected the youth in the following ways;

1. Addiction.

A youth addicted to the internet is equal to a person addicted to drugs. Research by One Hope shows that 3 in 5 teens found satisfaction from social media.  This means that without the internet they would not feel satisfied.  Their self-esteem is now determined by people they do not know and who do not even care how they feel.

2. False living.

Most people on the internet live a false life. They show off cars they do not own, love that does not exist, and houses they do not live in. They are CEOs of companies that are not in the database of KRA and Registrar of Companies.  This has made many youths compete with fantasies.

3. Loss of Focus.

Research by One Hope International shows that 79% of heavy internet users are likely not to achieve their goals. The Internet has a lot of distractions hence taking away your alone time. The time that one would have used to build his dreams is used following up fantasies and gossips on the internet.  

4. Increase in mental problems.

Research has proven that heavy internet users have a high chance of falling into depression and anxiety. This may be caused false life people live on social media. One is always trying to prove life to people who do not care about how he lives.  One may also be concerned about how she is going to afford the next Instagram photoshoot. Lose self-esteem due to comments on her photos on social media.

5. Suicidal thoughts.

The research by One Hope showed that 47% of the teen's suicidal thoughts rose from the internet.  Bullying on the internet can lead one to take away his life. The show-off on the internet may make one think that is the only one struggling with life and decide to take away his life.

In conclusion, the internet hurts the youth in their day-to-day life.  Proverbs 14:12 says that “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Internet may have a positive impact on an individual but we have to do a postmortem on its impact on our individual lives. I have benefited in a great way from the internet but I have chosen to be conscious of how I use the internet. We must make deliberate decisions to use the internet effectively so that it will not be a way of death to our dreams, goals, and even physical life. Purpose to do a daily self-audit of the impact internet use in your life.