To the editor:

This is Nicole Schmitt and Natalie Van. We are proud students at Lindbergh High School. Last semester in our human anatomy class, we have been studying to what extent electronic devices have on the students’ overall health.

After our investigation we have concluded that while electronic devices can be very helpful to individuals, by developing different skills, it can also lead to negative impacts on young teens. In our case the positives can be outweighed by the negative impacts based on the teens’ usage of electronic devices.

Firstly we think it would be important to share how with a good sense of balance and time management, technology is a great tool to use. For instance, using different apps on your smartphone for health can help you track your progression and keep yourself fit. It can also be fun to check up on your friend and see what is going on with everyone else. Playing different kinds of video games have shown to be beneficial with performance skills to young kids and teens. These skills can help them with their cognitive ability to problem solve and build up fast reactions or quick thinking. Commonly using technology within your day can help you become a better multitasker and have better memory.

Although it’s important to know that without proper moderation of tour time and use with electronic devices, it can lead to negative health impacts. Social media is on the rise and as teens use them more, they can start to develop signs of anxiety or depression. It’s usually caused by comparing themselves to others based on unrealistic beauty standards or even cyberbullying. On average a young child or teen can be found on their devices for around 6 to 9 hours each day. Overstimulation from all of this screen time may be a possible cause for a decline of mental health and ADHD. As teens spend more and more time on their devices, they are easily exposed to blue lights. Several studies show that blue lights found in screens can trigger the release of toxic molecules that can future damage your eyes. In recent studies the excessive use of electronic gadgets in young adults can result in different psychological disorders, like ADHD, dryness, blurring vision, etc.

In conclusion, we believe that it is good to learn new kinds of skills online but to also know the risks of getting addicted to different kinds of electronic devices.