Is technology making us smarter or lazier?
I think the smart use of technology will make us smarter while it's careless use will definitely make us lazy. Let's see how-
If you wake up in the morning and first thing you do is check your phone for messages and mails, my friend it's making you lazy.
If you never leave your phone even when you go out for a walk and keep checking WhatsApp and Insta on the way, it's making you lazy.
If you are in the class and you are getting bored throughout the lecture, so you thought to pick up your phone and message someone, it's harming you.
If you are out during sunset and instead of just enjoying the scene you are busy recording the sunset so that you can share it as your WhatsApp and Insta story, technology is making you an asshole.
If you want to talk to someone but instead of making a call you just sent a message to the person, it's making you lazy.
If you are not willing to study and instead you open your phone to watch porn, my friend, technology is lethal to you.
Now,
If you wake up in the morning, freshen up and open youtube to watch yoga asanas and exercises, technology is making you smarter.
If you are using technology to gain knowledge, to make searches related to your studies, it's making you responsible.
If you are not willing to study so you decide to read something else related to general knowledge and you pick up your mobile for that, it's making you smarter.
If you see someone around you is not well and you don't know how to help that person so you make a quick search, technology is helping you help others.
If you are stressed out so you decide to play songs on your phone, technology is helping you relax.
How Technology Can Make Us Lazy
Checking Phones First Thing in the Morning: When you wake up and immediately check your phone for messages or emails, you’re essentially letting technology dictate your first moments of the day. This habit often leads to a reactive mindset, where instead of setting a positive tone for the day, you jump into a cycle of external distractions—emails, social media, and notifications. This can reduce your productivity, increase stress, and prevent you from focusing on more meaningful activities like setting intentions for the day, exercising, or simply being present.
Constant Phone Checking During Activities: If you find yourself checking WhatsApp, Instagram, or other social media apps even when you’re out for a walk or engaged in an activity, you’re not fully living in the moment. Technology becomes an interruption, leading to a lack of mindfulness and a reduced ability to focus. This constant connection to the virtual world makes it difficult to engage with the real world, and over time, it can create a sense of dependency on technology for stimulation, thus contributing to a lazy or distracted lifestyle.
Phone Use During Lectures or Classes: Using your phone to message someone during a lecture because you’re bored is another example of how technology can foster laziness. Instead of engaging with the material, asking questions, or taking notes, you’re distracting yourself from learning and missing out on important information. This kind of disengagement diminishes your attention span, reduces your capacity to absorb knowledge, and undermines the purpose of the class, leading to a missed opportunity for personal growth.
Recording Instead of Experiencing: In today’s world, many people feel compelled to document every moment, especially scenic views or experiences, in order to share them on social media. For example, during a sunset, instead of appreciating the beauty and feeling the moment, some people are busy setting up their phone to record it. This habit often comes at the expense of experiencing life firsthand. It reduces your ability to appreciate things for what they are, rather than for how they’ll look in a post or a story. This can lead to a lack of connection with the present and an excessive focus on external validation through social media.
Texting Instead of Talking: The ease of sending a quick message instead of picking up the phone and having a conversation can make us lazy in terms of communication. Texting might feel like the more convenient option, but it lacks the depth and richness of face-to-face interaction or even a phone call. Over time, this can lead to weaker relationships, as the ability to convey tone, emotion, and context is lost in text. Additionally, it may make you avoid confrontations or important discussions, which can prevent personal growth in communication skills.
Escaping Responsibilities by Watching Porn: In situations where you might not feel like doing something productive, such as studying or working, you might choose to escape into mindless entertainment like watching porn. This type of behavior is an example of how technology can be harmful when it becomes an avoidance tool rather than a resource for growth or relaxation. It can derail your focus, waste valuable time, and lead to unhealthy patterns that negatively impact your mental and emotional well-being.
How Technology Can Make Us Smarter
Using Technology for Personal Growth: Starting your day with a positive, productive activity—like watching yoga videos or fitness routines on YouTube—shows how technology can make you smarter. Instead of using technology mindlessly, you’re using it to enhance your physical health, promote mindfulness, and improve your well-being. This is a clear example of using technology as a tool for self-improvement, setting the stage for a focused and balanced day.
Using Technology to Enhance Education: Using technology to search for information related to your studies, or to dive deeper into subjects of interest, shows how it can be a valuable educational tool. Whether it’s researching for an essay, watching an educational video, or accessing online courses, the internet provides a wealth of information that can support your academic endeavors. In this way, technology is not just an entertainment medium but a powerful tool for intellectual growth and knowledge acquisition.
Using Technology for General Knowledge: If you find yourself unsure about a topic, and instead of procrastinating or zoning out, you make a conscious decision to use your phone or tablet to read articles or watch videos that increase your general knowledge, this demonstrates the smarter use of technology. It helps you stay curious, learn new things, and foster a lifelong love of learning. Whether it’s reading about current events, exploring new hobbies, or understanding complex concepts, the internet offers a broad spectrum of resources to keep expanding your mind.
Using Technology to Help Others: Technology also enables us to assist others in ways that were previously impossible. For example, if someone is unwell and you don’t know how to help them, a quick online search can provide information on basic first aid, remedies, or even advice on whether to seek professional help. This demonstrates how technology can empower you to act in real-time, making you more resourceful and responsive in helping others.
Using Technology for Relaxation: Technology can also serve as a tool for relaxation. Whether it’s playing music, listening to podcasts, or watching calming videos, using your phone or computer as a means to de-stress and unwind is a smart way to use technology. It allows you to manage your emotions and mental health by providing an outlet for relaxation and emotional regulation.
Conclusion: The Key Is in Mindful Usage
The way we use technology ultimately determines whether it makes us smarter or lazier. Technology in itself is neutral—it can be a tool for personal growth, education, and relaxation, or it can be a source of distraction, procrastination, and even harm. The crucial factor lies in being mindful about how and why we engage with it. If we use technology purposefully, with intention, and for activities that enhance our lives—whether through learning, communication, creativity, or relaxation—we can harness its power to make us smarter and more efficient. However, if we allow ourselves to mindlessly scroll, distract ourselves, or avoid responsibilities, we risk falling into laziness and becoming disconnected from the real world.
In short, technology is a tool, and its impact on us depends on how we choose to wield it. When used wisely, it can be a source of growth and empowerment; when misused, it can make us passive and disconnected from the world around us.