Internet Insecurity
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ast year the average person in the UK spent nearly 6 hours online each day, but are smartphones really damaging our mental health? How much time do you think you spend online? In 2017, the average person in the UK spent nearly 6 hours online each day! It cannot be denied that the release of smartphones 9 years ago has unmistakably changed the way we work, communicate and behave. We all love how easily we can now access social media and other apps, but excessive smartphone usage has been linked to mental health problems. Research focusing on how smartphone use may alter our brains is an important new topic is biology, psychology and psychiatry, partly because mental health problems are one of the main causes of disability and disease burden worldwide. Given that 63 % of the global population owns a smartphone and more than 50 % use the internet, our mental health as a species could be seriously at risk. So, let’s look at the evidence… The never-ending stream of entertainment from apps such as Netflix is often a tempting alternative to a good night’s sleep. Research has shown that smartphone usage before bed alters sleeping patterns, which may contribute to the development of depression and anxiety, particularly during adolescence. Sleep supports growth and development until adulthood, and helps our brains work properly by processing new information throughout our lives.
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