Are Today’s Students Over-Relying on Technology? A Watchdog Investigation

In November of 2024, Washington experienced a catastrophic bomb cyclone that resulted in widespread power outages lasting several days. With utilities, data connections, electricity, and general technology failing, countless individuals, businesses, educational institutions, and communities found themselves with minimal information about the events occurring just outside their doors. 

Severe weather accompanied by high winds can inflict damage not only to nature but also to power lines. A notable instance is Bellevue Way, which had a segment of traffic signals rendered inoperative at the cyclone’s peak. Furthermore, several phone service providers ceased operations for numerous days or even weeks, causing interruptions in educational schedules, particularly for local colleges and universities such as Bellevue College, Seattle University, University of Washington, and others. 

This situation has sparked concerns regarding our reliance on technology, especially among the youth. What drives our reliance on devices? Is this tendency poised to continue evolving over the years? What potential detriments arise if we become excessively reliant? 

Initially, smartphones were designed as exclusive gadgets, less accessible compared to today’s conventional touchscreen phones. With the merging of the online digital realm, the percentage of internet users surged from merely 7% to an impressive 90% of the global population gaining access to the internet. 

“Increasingly, life resembles a chat room. We’re paying a price concerning our cognitive vitality due to this virtual lifestyle.” 

– Dr. Elias Aboujaoude in The 2010 New York Times Interview, An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness

Since the dawn of this era of the technological revolution, the market has been aggressively launching various gadgets and devices, all aimed at enhancing the convenience of the everyday American experience. With companies like Samsung and Apple dominating the smartphone sector significantly, smartphones have integrated themselves into our daily routines, serving as tools for communication, entertainment, and education.

This fusion of online and in-person activities has obscured the extent of our dependence, driven by the unrecognized tendency to excessively rely on these devices. As the American education system has transitioned to a more flexible hybrid model for classes, most primary and secondary education curricula necessitate the use of applications such as Canvas for submitting assignments, contacting instructors, managing class schedules, and more. 

Technological dependency can be defined simply: a reliance on technology, particularly our smart devices. While it’s not entirely detrimental to depend on certain tools for a smoother life, excessive reliance can lead to declines in mental well-being. The recent power outage disconnected many users temporarily, creating a challenging scenario upon restoration of services. There were delays in schedules and missed projects, resulting in a wave of stress and anxiety regarding how students could proceed. Even after power was eventually restored, instability persisted as not everyone regained immediate access to their devices. This situation does not rest solely on students developing a reliance on technology for learning; instead, it is the system itself that fosters the excessive use of devices. 

“The essence of technology is this: it creates a desire for immortality on one side, while, on the other, it poses a threat of universal annihilation. Technology is desire separated from nature.” 

– Don DeLillo in his book White Noise: Text and Criticism