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2.2 The impact of unsafe or inappropriate use of digital technology and…
2.2 The impact of unsafe or inappropriate use of digital technology and mitigating techniques to reduce impact
Cyber bullying
Occurs on social media, gaming communities, any form of messaging
Effects - Damage online reputation and concerns
1.Permanent: Negative reputation online if not dealt with can impact a persons employment prospects, admission to university and other aspects of their life
2.Hard to notice: Difficult to recognise as adults may not be aware/ witness the online content
3.Persistent: 24/7 access granted by digital devices, which means there is no relief from the barrage of abuse as with traditional forms of bullying
Emotional impact of cyber bullying
Humiliation - as information online in posts can be seen by vast numbers of people it can be embarrassing and make you feel expose
Isolation - victims can often be excluded from groups and left feeling alone
Anger - many victims even plot revenge on the cyber bully and retaliate
Powerless - if a victim does not know who the bully is it can make them feel insecure and powerless. Often as there is little they can do depending on the platform used
Mental health impacts of cyber bullying
Anxiety and depression - trying to constantly handle cyber bully can make a victim severely stressed. Increasing their sense of isolation and destroy personal self-confidence
Low self-esteem - cyber bullies often look for things to make a person feel vulnerable
Employment/academic issues - victims often lose interest in their work and/ or academic studies. This often results in an increased amount of absenteeism. They find it hard to concentrate and work studies will suffer
Behavioural impacts of cyber bullying
Use of drugs - an attempt to lose themselves and gain some form of mental relief
Carrying weapons - as they feel unsafe and threatened they may carry a weapon to protect themselves
Physical impacts of cyber bullying
Eating disorders - eating habits may change such as skipping meals or binge eating. As they feel their life is out of control, using an eating plan even though it is unhealthy returns some level of control to them
Stomach and gastro issues - stress and anxiety can ultimately lead to ulcers, abdominal pain, sickness and diarrhoea
Sleeping disorders - nightmares, insomnia or sleeping too much resulting in lethargy
Addiction
Gambling - more accessible to people, available anytime and anywhere
Secrecy: Online gambling can be kept secret
Smartphones: There are numerous gambling apps that can be installed and can easily be linked to bank accounts. Encouraging impulse betting
Online accounts: Encouraged to setup an online account linked to their bank account
Gaming
Gaming addiction - the compulsive playing of online games that can cause physical/ mental issues
The inability to stop playing online games for extended periods of time can have a detrimental effect on health.
Some people may be able to stop and carry out their work and/or academic study, but are still obsessed with online gaming and it dominates their lives. Impacting on relationships and even life ambitions.
Online gaming can cause chemical changes in the brain, particularly to the reward centre. Triggering a compulsive need to play the games regardless of the negative impacts on their lives.
Social Media
Research has shown there is a link between social media and negative mental health.
Causes - social pressure to share content, comparing own lifestyles and possessions with other curated content, ads form businesses
Social anxiety disorder - the fear of missing out, either by not being included or missing a social event. The anxiety is based on self esteem and the belief they have been forgotten about. This results in a person constantly checking their phone for posts or messages
Triggers of stress caused through the use of digital technology1.They try to juggle too many different things even though they are comfortable using digital technology
- Their sleep is disturbed by having digital technology in the bedroom
3.They spend too much time using social media
4.They are constantly on their digital device
5.They are too busy to eat at regular meal times
6.There is no time for themselves, just to relax
Physical impacts
Posture
Excessive use of smarthphones or computers commonly cause the following issues:
Strain to muscle and ligaments of the spine and neck.
Nerve pain, headaches and arthritis.
Neck and spine being moved out of alignment by leaning over 30 to 40 degrees.
Lack of movement e.g. sat at a desk for 8hrs can also cause neck and spine issues
Eye strain
Computer vision syndrome (CVS)
Sufferers are people who spend long periods of time using a computer system. Symptoms include:
Headaches.
Difficulty with focusing.
Itchy, burning, watery eyes.
Dry eye.
Double and/or blurred vision.
Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
Repetitive Strain Injury
This can be described as pain felt in the muscles, nerves and tendons caused by repetitive movement and overuse.
Areas it effects:
Forearms and elbows.
Wrists and hands.
Neck and shoulders.
The symptoms can be mild or severe, and develop gradually over time.
Symptoms include:
Stiffness.
Throbbing.
Tingling/numbness.
Pain, aching or tenderness.
Weakness.
Cramp.
Other factors to consider
Reduction of physical activity
Overuse of digital technology means we are less active in our social and work environments leading to issues with obesity, weakness in the muscle, tendons and ligaments within the body
Disturbed sleep patterns
Digital technology emits a blue light that can interrupt out natural sleep pattern. Also, having electronic devices in the bedroom mean we are more likely to stay awake using the devices
Mitigating techniques
Regulating the use of digital technology
Choose to do mroe outdoor activities that are mot reliant on technology.
Limits the amount of time spent on social media. Avoid browsing aimlessly and only use it for a defined purpose. Once done log off.
Set goals to read 10-30 pages of an interesting book, complete a task or a phone call with someone before checking your digital device.
Set yourself projects - learning a new skill.
Turn off al digital devices in the bedroom before sleeping
Report misuse to relevant authority
Victims of cyber bullying or scams are often reluctant to report it due to embarrassment or are not sure who to inform. The authorities are supportive of both and if reported it can be prevented from happening again.
Report it to the police
Notify the social media hosts
Identify the relevant authorities
Speak to family and/ or friends
Report it to a teacher, manager and/or human resources department
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Self Exclusion
Definition - Users removes themselves from accessing activities such as online gambling and overuse of apps, websites and social media.
- A user may ask a gambler provider to exclude them from gambling/using their site.
2.This could be between 6 and 12 months. It is a legal requirement that online gambling providers within the UK offer this service.
3.Online Gambling organisations also allow spending limits to be set