FINAL POST - Technology... the new cigarette?

After watching the videos last class on students and their overwhelming exposure to media and technology, it suddenly occurred to me that the way new technology is marketed, targeting the youth of the population, strongly resembles the way cigarettes and tobacco was marketed in the late 20th century (1930's to 1970's).  In the "time of the cigarette", young people of the day were constantly bombarded with media surrounding the act of smoking. Cigarettes were cool. You were cool if you smoked cigarettes. You would have more friends if you smoked cigarettes. You would fit in better. Beautiful women smoked. Handsome, rugged and tough men smoked. Intelligent people smoked. None of the adds mentioned the potential of addiction... or lung cancer and a whole host of other health problems. Does this not remind you of something? Kids today may not be smoking as much as kids in the 1960's, but I would argue they still suffer from extreme addiction.

In the video we watched in class, a 14 year old male student was interviewed about his usage of technology. He stated that he played xbox for SEVERAL hours a day, while texting friends, while listening to his iPod, while watching TV. He mentioned that he doesn't like to stop, and sometimes finds it very difficult to stop these activities. This, to me, sounds like an addiction. This addiction to technology comes with a hefty price, just like smoking. If you become addicted to video games, surfing the internet, Facebook, texting, etc you are more likely to be stationary for long periods of time while engaging in these activities. This increasing stationary behaviour has led to a terrifying pandemic of childhood obesity. 55% of Canadians are now overweight or obese, and the numbers are continuing to rise. Sedentary life style is named as one of the major causes of this epidemic.

Studies have proven that kids with T.V's or computers in their bedrooms are TWICE as likely to become overweight or obese. That is an alarming statistic. I am willing to bet that the average canadian student has either a t.v. or a computer in their bedroom. Although there are some kids, and adults, who are able to use technology in a moderate way, the majority of people have become, what I would classify as, addicted.

There have been several studies done on all of the effects of technology and sedentary lifestyle, and we know the terrible effects of this addiction. And yet... it is not taken seriously. New technology keeps coming out. These companies target the youth in their marketing campaigns. We fall prey to these ploys and therefore, keep consuming. The reality is, children are being consumed by technology. I know this whole topic sounds very doomsday, and no one likes to think that their new iPhone or xbox is causing them, or will cause them to suffer from serious mental, physical and emotional  damage. But in the 1960's, no one ever thought smoking could kill either.

This addiction to technology is serious. I am not advocating for getting rid of all innovation or technology in our lives, I am just saying we need a balance! Right now, we are out of balance as a society, and I think its time for an intervention.