While it is well-known that digital technologies have harmful effects in our lives, the extent of these effects often fly below our daily radar. The Ledger of Harms outlines the depth of these issues so that they may be properly addressed with developing technologies that can better support our overall health and wellness. 

The Internet influences our lives, both as a collective and as individuals, in a wide variety of categories. One of the more noticeable ways the digital world influences us as a collective is through politics and misinformation. 

“Social media’s perverse incentives for maximizing engagement may be driving political polarization.”

“Fake news spreads six times faster than true news.”

There is also the issue of our brain functionality – more specifically, our ability to sustain deep focus. Over time, this affects our memory and productivity. 

“Higher levels of switching between different media channels is significantly linked to lower levels of both working memory and long-term memory.”

In addition to our memory and attention, our overall health and wellbeing is at risk due to digital technologies. 

“A person’s social media usage level significantly predicts their level of neuroticism/ anxiety one year later.”

“​​The more time you spend on Instagram, the more likely you are to suffer eating disorders such as orthorexia nervosa.”

Our interpersonal relationships may suffer as well. 

“50% of Americans report that their partner is often or sometimes distracted by their devices when they are trying to talk to them.”

While social media may connect humans together on a larger scale, it may also help perpetuate systemic oppression in certain ways. 

“Sustained disinformation campaigns, made viral by social media, can dilute, distract, and deny the reality of oppression.”

Finally – and arguably, most concerningly – Internet usage is affecting future generations in significant ways. 

“Children who have been cyber-bullied are 3x more likely to contemplate suicide compared to their peers.”

“After nearly two decades in decline, high depressive symptoms for 13-18 year old teen girls rose by 65% between 2010-2017.”

While these facts may be discouraging, it is important that we address them in order to create important change. The Internet is still a generally new addition to society. It has quickly taken over basically every aspect of our daily lives as people. As with anything new, it takes time to adjust to this change and learn how to interact with our environment in a way that is beneficial. 

And there certainly are benefits to digital technologies. Even now, as you’re reading this, I am able to share my thoughts and feelings with another person via Internet connectivity. 

There is a growing community in our world that refuses to allow harmful technologies to take advantage of human vulnerabilities for profit. As more consumers discover new possibilities in the digital world, the demand for better technologies will increase dramatically.

References

Center For Humane Technology. (2021). Ledger of Harms. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://ledger.humanetech.com/.

Center for Humane Technology. (2022). Foundations of Humane Technology. app.participate.com. Participate. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from https://app.participate.com/course-bundles/foundations-of-humane-technology/20a00320-edeb-4ffc-b43f-c394397deb3b.