Hanel 1
Brandon Hanel
English Composition II
11/21/22
Outline
Introduction
Hook- Rapid advancements in technology have caused greater global connections through the Internet.
Background- In the recent past, there have been numerous technological trends that companies, institutions, and individuals have integrated into their daily operations, with prevalence in overall use increasing by 15% and smartphones having a high prevalence of 61.7% among children (Limone and Toto, 5).
Thesis- While the Internet has made massive leaps in transforming lives, it is among the leading factors in the current mental health crisis due to remote work, social isolation, and a growing digital divide; the ever-evolving world of technology could ultimately cause our demise as a civilization.
Body
Paragraph 1
Topic sentence- There has been an increased prevalence of Internet use in formal learning since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic which presented a surge in users’ psychological problems.
Evidence- A study among students in the United States revealed that 77% of the students reported experiencing technological issues during the 2021-2022 academic year, with more than half of them highlighting stress as a major consequence (Kelly).
Analysis- Technical issues such as device malfunctions and unreliable internet connections could be a major trigger of stress, especially when users cannot solve the problem, or they have no friends with the required expertise to troubleshoot the problems.
Conclusive remark
Paragraph 2
Topic sentence- Extensive internet use exposes users to the societal pressure that translates to social isolation.
Evidence- Young adults between 19 and 32 years have increased social media consumption by at least two hours daily, which has exposed them to upward social comparisons based on feeds that present unrealistic standards (Small et al., 181).
Analysis- Reaching these high standards is almost impossible and users tend to have reduced social interactions because they feel physically incomplete, contributing to stress and depression about their appearance and behaviors.
Conclusive remark
Paragraph 3
Topic sentence- Personal computing technologies present the challenge of increased exposure and threaten mental health.
Evidence- With technological devices being more easily accessible, college students have experienced detrimental health conditions, such as depression, eating disorders, and anxiety, from information overload individuals expose themselves to because of the fear of missing out (Lattie et al., 2)
Analysis- The increased need for computing devices for educational purposes presents the risk of negative social media impact that jeopardizes college students’ ability to function properly to meet their schooling expectations.
Conclusive remark
Paragraph 4
Topic sentence- Increased screen time through entertainment threatens users’ well-being through a string of mental health risks.
Evidence- Technological devices, including smartphones and laptops, contribute significantly toward insufficient sleep, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, decreased life satisfaction, and physiological stress (Dienlin and Johannes, 137).
Analysis- Adolescents are vulnerable to public opinion which may trigger their confidence while such entertainment as video games causes social isolation as individuals prefer being indoors as opposed to physical interactions.
Conclusive remark
Paragraph 5
Topic sentence- The digital divide extends the threat to the mental health crises among affected populations.
Evidence- The digital revolution presents a divide that increases social inequalities, with disadvantaged populations experiencing digital and social exclusions in their educational and economic status, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic which increases the threat to mental health crisis (Cheshmehzangi et al., 212).
Analysis- The digital divide reduces the vulnerable populations’ access to technologies that address their mental health concerns and inform them of activities they should engage in to reduce their mental challenges.
Conclusive remark
Conclusion
A restatement of the thesis
Closing remark- Undoubtedly, despite the positive trends technological advancement presents, users face mental health crises, hence its use should be limited to fewer hours and institutions provide mental health services to mitigate the increased health concerns.
Works Cited
Cheshmehzangi, Ali, et al. “The digital divide impacts on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, vol. 101, 2022, pp. 211-213.
Dienlin, Tobias, and Niklas Johannes. “The impact of digital technology use on adolescent well-being.” Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, vol. 22, no. 2, 2020, pp. 135-142.
Kelly, Rhea. “How Technology Issues Can Impact Mental Health — Campus Technology.” Campus Technology, 13 Oct. 2022, campustechnology.com/articles/2022/10/13/how-technology-issues-can-impact-mental-health.aspx.
Lattie, Emily G., et al. “Technology and College Student Mental Health: Challenges and Opportunities.” Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 10, 2019.
Limone, Pierpaolo, and Giusi A. Toto. “Psychological and Emotional Effects of Digital Technology on Children in COVID-19 Pandemic.” Brain Sciences, vol. 11, no. 9, 2021, p. 1126.
Small, Gary W., et al. “Brain health consequences of digital technology use.” Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, vol. 22, no. 2, 2020, pp. 179-187.