Technology rules have changed. Students are seen walking through the hallways on their cell phones and for the first time teachers are not threatening to take the devices away. Even though more leeway is given, that does not mean people should be taking advantage of the opportunity every second they can.

Everyone has seen at least one person that is paying so much attention to his or her phone that they have absolutely no idea what is going on around them. It used to be considered rude to be on the phone or listening to music while having a conversation, but now it almost seems like common protocol.

In the iGeneration, everything is based around electronic devices. The world is changing as advances are being made in technology and many people are becoming too wired. Anything anyone would want to know is one click away, plus access to the internet and social media is made even easier as smart phones continue to be improved.

A lot of people vent their personal issues through social media or text a friend rather than face to face. The serious face to face conversations are growing smaller to basically nonexistent. They are being replaced by text boxes with a blinking cursor that seem to beckon the user to spill their life stories to the world. The problem is that these text boxes are quickly taking over many students’ lives and for some could even be considered an addiction.

Recently disorders have emerged due to the sheer volume of technology usage. According to CBS news, the Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) shows how people are becoming addicted to the internet much like they would if they were using drugs or alcohol.

IAD causes abnormal patterns of white matter, nerve fibers that send signals to other parts of the brain, to show up on the brain. Unfortunately, IAD is moving toward being even more common now that technology is being incorporated into almost everything.

According to a study done by OnlineEducation.net, 38 percent of students cannot even go 10 minutes without checking one of their devices. The study also shows how students will spend a little over 181 minutes a day texting and that is only texting; imagine adding in using social media, e-mails and using search engines.The amount of time spent online or using a device would increase immensely.

Think about how much time is actually spent using some kind of device in just one day, how many hours that are spent staring at a LED screen. Think about the other things that time could be spent on.

Technology should not take over someone’s life to the point where it is all they do. Spending a large amount of time on the computer everyday instead of being involved in extracurricular activities or even just having a friend over for a few hours is a waste of someone’s time.

This goes for more than just cell phones or MP3 players. It goes for computers, video games, even television. They all take up time and keep people from going out and actually doing something where they actually pay attention to the world around them. If everyone is staring down at their screens all the time they will not have the chances they need to actually experience the world.

There is no need to over abuse the new privileges that students have been given. Administration accommodated the desire for technology, but people need to make sure that it does not take over their lives. Remember that all devices have their time and place, but they are not necessary to get through every single moment of the day.