Final Post: Technology In Quarantine

         With the Covid-19 global pandemic, the world entered into a brand new stage of digital technology. Especially during the days of quarantine, digital technology has become the no.1 most used platform of communication, but meanwhile, it has also become one of the major sources of distraction and social anxiety. 

         In Fall 2020, My peers and I conducted an interview regarding the technology used during the first round of quarantine due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We began with a survey of digital technology using habits during quarantine that was sent to people of residence on 5 different continents. We received over 120 responses from people in the age range 14-65. The most used technology device was cell phones followed by laptop computers. Social media platforms and media entertainments were the most frequently used platform of all ages during the quarantine. Although many people don't want to admit it, the average screen time per day is between 8-20 hours. 

We also interviewed students studying in America, Australia, China, and people working in the service industry and education industry on how the pandemic has impacted their life and the roles of technology during their quarantine life. A teacher shared that technology has opened a new way of teaching; it has enhanced the diversity of learning in the classroom, and opened students’ eyes to a wider world out there. It is true that digital technology connected students around the world together. 

         It is hard to fight off digital distractions during quarantine. Educators, especially in secondary education, observed changes in students who are prone to distractions during in-person learning. “Most students will hold their phones or leave them on their desks while studying. There is no doubt that during this time a text message from a friend can start a conversation that results in totally ignoring an assignment”, as Sandy Botros states in her blog “Online Learning Distractions at Home”. Meanwhile, younger generations shifted their social life to social media. They were entertained by the difference between people and their share of humor and joy, but they were also trapped into certain beauty standards and social norms of behaviors, which could cause social anxiety without physical social interactions. 

In addition to distractions, social anxiety also formed due to more visible beauty standards on social media during quarantine. Many teenagers relied mostly on social media for communication, which gave social expectations a chance to creep into their everyday life. Models, social-media influencers became role models for many of them; the thousands of likes and millions of views stimulated young people’s consumption outlook and aesthetics, and pushed them to compare themselves with people out there and feel inferior. Many also suffered from cyberbullying due to racism, especially during the first round of quarantine, due to the misinformation and disinformation that was on social media. Judy, a senior citizen in Winston Salem, North Carolina, shared that she no longer knows what is correct about the virus and what is not. “I hear one thing today and a completely different thing tomorrow. It does nothing for me but keep me worried. Now I just have to turn off my television and stay away.”

However, there are definitely ways to help. For students, Ms. Debra Dowlen, a middle school math teacher gave out her suggestions:

                1. Create a schedule and stick to it. 

                2. Be mindful of the surroundings, take time to reconcile with yourself so you can come back and stay more focused. 

                3. Create reward system

                4. Remember to reach out when needed help. 

“It has changed my working habit”, shared Jin Bolin, a healthcare manager of a private business: “Prior to Covid quarantine, I never thought about creating a line of personalized service through the power of the internet. I thought we would be separated in each home, but in fact, we were more connected than ever.” I worked with Bolin on a project in February 2020, when the businesses suffered during quarantine in China. We established an online platform for employees in different provinces of China to get together, share readings, films, and articles. It began with only the managing team, but later one was expanded to employees in other subdivisions and many found the platform very helpful. Xia, a massage therapist in Tonghua, China, shared that she has learnt much more about technology than ever. Social media and digital devices are no longer a beast for her; now she is able to use them to see what is going on outside her life circle and stay more in tune with the fashion of the society. Bolin is now the social media and public relations manager for the company he works for. Despite many challenges he is facing with the new wave of quarantine in Taiyuan, China, he is still able to continue working on the project and getting more people involved with creating a safe space on line. 

Ready or not, we have already entered into a new era of technology. Holding a rejective attitude is not the healthy way. Ride the wave then hide from it; it will draw you before you even know it. Use technology wisely and always be open to learning more; let the benefits of digital advancement help you to become a more well-rounded individual and don’t let the toxicity of them infect you like Covid-19. 

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8084752/#:~:text=Drones%2C%20robots%2C%20and%20AVs%20technology,day%20stress%20levels%20in%20isolation.

https://writingctr.rutgers.edu/blog/164-online-learning-distractions-at-home.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-deal-with-social-anxiety-after-a-year-of-social-distancing/.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2021.684137/full.