Theme of the Week-Sleepless Networks

Author of this issue of the “Theme of the Week”, Ms. Harshil, is a young student of 11th standard. You have read her poems in Guest Articles section of this website.

Teenagers and young adults are late to sleep and late to rise
Thanks to technology

It is 4 am. The roads are empty, filled only with dark shadow and the yap of dogs. Most people toss on their pillows and dream their unknown dream. But for a small section of society, cast in blue glow of the computer screen, this is not the time to sleep. Instead it is time to catch-up with friends, make plans for the next day, watch movies, OR simply "me time".

What a technology? These youngsters spend half of their time on technology rather than spending time with their family, true friends and relatives, playing games or doing exercise or domestic work.

These technologies are inseparable for these youngsters. They are so addicted that they feel limp without them. According to psychologists that surrounding by technology 24*7 overloads youngsters with information and they remain constantly stimulated.

Around two or three decades ago, the moment you enter your home, you lost contact with the world outside your home. Whereas these days it hardly matter whether you are in a plane, in a hospital, or in your bathroom. The virtual network is too irresistible for youngsters to get pulled into it. These people cannot think of sleeping before 2 am. They feel proud to tell others that "yesterday I slept at 3 am."

Some short term effects of these sleepless nights include loss of appetite, hair fall, poor concentration etc. They could also face long term effects like anxiety, depression, hypertension, obesity, anemia, aggression, diminished eye sight, etc. Every third person these days wears glasses. But the tremendous peer pressure that compels the young brigade to appear 'active' on social networking website. You are considered ’uncool’ or ’bahanji’ if you do not know what is in or trending these days. the only way to know is to be the part of the circle: facebook, Gtalk, my cell phone etc.

Some teenagers say that they keep busy through the day, either with studies or extra-curricular activities. So they do not waste any daylight hour on chilling. That is meant for night time when important work is done. Youngsters should think about their future before making their life hazardous.

My suggestion to all is that:

Do not sit on electronic media for more than two hours.

Play games on ground rather than on virtual screen.

Go for outing with relatives, friends and family members.

You can try practicing meditation.

Effect of the electromagnetic field from gadgets on the human brain is still under debate. Even keeping mobile phones near your brain or heart can be damaging.

Keeping balance between work and net can bring happiness in your life. So the age old proverb "early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise" is not a misnomer but is key to success.

Jyotikalash