Excessive Digital Screen Usage: Physical Complications And 'Digital Dementia'

Digital screens have become ubiquitous over the past decade or so in our lives. Everyone can be seen carrying their phones and using them while on the roads or in public places. Computers and laptops have become commonplace in offices and other workplace environments.

Tasks like getting a cab, going on dates, paying bills and even buying groceries can be done online. A lot of friends connect with each other through social media. Even business employees use apps like WhatsApp to coordinate with one another. There are many benefits to using social media in our current day and age, but individuals shouldn't forget that excessive usage of digital screens can cause both physical and mental problems.

In a review of the studies relating 'Dry Eye Disease' with Digital Screen Usage, Zaina Al-Mohtaseb, a researcher from the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, talked about how heavy digital screen use can cause individuals to have a lower quality of life, trouble in daily functioning, higher chances of depression, and increased medical expenses due to the condition. All this is caused due to irregular blinking intervals, leading to increased dryness during longer blink intervals.

'Tech Neck' is another potential symptom of excessive digital screen usage. It is described by the American Posture Institute as, "forward head posture in response to looking down for prolonged periods of time, such as when sending a text message or checking social media on your phone." This condition can lead to chronic neck or shoulder pain, soreness or stiffness.

One of the symptoms of excessive digital screen usage with a scary name is 'Digital Dementia', the term coined by German neuroscientist Manfred Spitzer in 2012. Spitzer proposed that excessive usage of digital screens can cause dementia-like symptoms, like issues with short-term memory or trouble multi-tasking.

'Digital Dementia' cannot be generalised to any usage of digital screens. In fact, a study by Osvaldo P. Almeida found that older men who use computers have a lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia. There are, however, just as many studies which showed that increased screen usage led to lower psychological development and well-being in young children and adolescents.

While the use of digital devices has become a necessity in our contemporary society, individuals should be aware of the risks involved with their use and prepare their daily schedules in such a manner that gives them breaks from screens in order to rest their eyes and mind.