Technology is everywhere, whether it is on a college campus or inside the home. Although the positives of technology are great in number, too much exposure to technology might have unwanted consequences.

“Sometimes students aren’t getting the correct information or using it toward their health goals and health needs,” said Dr. B.J. Jordison, family specialist at McFarland Clinic.

The availability of technological advances has made some jobs quicker and more efficient. Employment applications have started asking for computer program skills.

“[Technology] is beneficial in regards to electronic health records, coordination between different doctors and different places allowing information about patients to be transferred quickly,” Jordison said.

Technology can give students the ability to have classes online and work from home.

“I do think that students are becoming more reliant on [technology] and less on physical activity, like walking across campus, so they are able to move less, which is a big deal,” Jordison said.

Constantly using technology has been shown to give negative health side effects, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, Jordison said. 

“Carpal tunnel is basically an inflammation of the nerves that goes to your thumb and the next two-and-a-half fingers next to the thumb,” Jordison said.

Jordison said it could cause numbness, weakness and pain that can lead to dropping things and losing grip strength. Handheld devices specifically have been on the rise for years and do not seem to be slowing down.

“I think time will tell if things like this are going to cause long-term health effects,” Jordison said.

Carpal tunnel is not the only side effect of continuous usage of electronic devices.

“We have lost healthy face-to-face communication,” said Kearsten Brown, junior in public relations.

We should be careful with how we use technology because it can become addictive, Brown said.

“There is a fine line between using it as a tool and hiding behind it,” Brown said.

Personal contact is essential in human development, Jordison said. 

“It’s hard to pinpoint what’s going to happen 10 or 15 years down the road to these kids that are standing in front of a screen for excessive amounts of time,” Jordison said.