Journal Entry #5 (Digital Wellness)

For this assignment, we learned about the many issues regarding digital wellness, and the proper uses of technology. I really enjoyed this assignment because I learned a lot that I had never known before about digital wellness and also what I should change about the ways that I use technology! Before this assignment, I had no idea about how many issues there were regarding the improper and unhealthy uses of technology, and it was all very interesting. The most surprising part of this assignment was definitely what we learned about distracted driving. Before this assignment, I knew that distracted driving was a very serious issue but I had no idea that it was this dangerous and this popular! I really enjoyed watching the commercial against distracted driving as well because it was very shocking and I believe that to end this habit among many people is to create media that scares it's viewers and allows them to see their bad habits through someone else's perspective. However, when it came to the second part of the assignment, it was confusing. I found this part confusing because it made it seem like technology is bad and that people shouldn't use it as often as we do, but technology isn't limited to cellphones and computers. Electricity that powers the appliances in everyone's homes is available because of technology! There is an unhealthy amount of use that can be put into cellphones and computers but it's not the end of the world if someone uses their personal devices most hours of the day for mandatory reasons like work, and knows how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I use my phone very often but sometimes it is for important things that aren't just for entertainment purposes, and I'm not extremely unhealthy because of it. I think that many adults need to be more open to learning about modern day technology and how advanced and useful it is because even though teenagers have discovered it and learned about it more than any adults have, it doesn't mean that it's exclusive to our use.

I believe that the biggest issue for young people regarding digital wellness is definitely distracted driving. I think that this is the case because many teenagers do rely on their cellphones for entertainment and out of boredom, and will use them at any time, even while driving. Although I use my cellphone very often, I will never use it while I drive. If you like to have your phone with you at all times like I do, weather it be for emergencies or a cure for boredom, you should not look away from the road to use it! If you get a call or text that can't wait for a reply, pull the car over and reply or answer the call. I do it, it's safe and it's legal!