Technology has created a tremendous impact on high school students nationwide, whether it be a positive or negative impact. It has rapidly changed the way we live and interact with one another, bringing many benefits to society. Yet, it has its many downsides as well.

Technology became a major part of students’ everyday lives when the pandemic hit. It created a way for the teachers and students to communicate when they couldn’t talk in person. It was also used for online video calls for classes, keeping everyone educated under the roof of their own homes. Even now, after the pandemic, we still use our Chromebooks a good bit. When asked about her thoughts on the impact of technology, Abby Saxfield stated, “Having Chromebooks has been a major help with education, decreasing the number of papers we have to carry around, as well as making it a lot easier to keep everything organized.” Many people can agree with this statement, though some might not.

On the other hand, having access to Chromebooks and technology can also be a major distraction. As a student is trying to get work done, knowing they have internet access, they could get distracted by games, videos, etc. This is a major downside of having technology because it is so helpful to have the internet at our fingertips, only if you use it the right way of course.

While technology has connected the world, it has also created a sense of detachment from reality. Excessive use of smartphones, social media, and video games has decreased face-to-face interaction and increased isolation. This can have negative effects on mental health,  possibly leading to anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal, especially among the younger generation. In an interview with Milos Sinan, he told us, “If you look back before social media was a big thing, men were men and women were women. There was no inbetween, but social media has changed that. We are being censored and converted to this mindset. By doing this they’re proving that they are using social media to change the way we think and we are letting it go too far.” This comes to show that we as a community let social media change our perspectives on the norm, without realizing it as it is happening.

Technology is a powerful tool that has shaped our lives in multiple positive ways. Its role in enhancing communication and education can’t be underestimated. However, we must also remain aware of the negative impacts that may arise.