For many of us, our own histories can serve as a way to measure the gradual increase in screen time that most adults experience. Millennials have gone through a rather jarring transition from engine-block-sized TVs to smartphones in over 30 years, and evidence suggests that younger generations aren’t really bothered by anything that doesn’t fit in their pockets.
workplace
Of course, the very nature of the modern workforce requires everyone to have access to a computer, which is arguably where generations come together. Computers have been used in the workplace since the 1930s, but it wasn’t until the early 1990s that they really became commonplace in offices. Fans of the American sitcom “Friends” will no doubt remember Chandler’s 1994 laptop, which had an almighty 4MB of RAM.
As the cost of the technology fell (inflation-adjusted $6,756 for Chandler’s Compaq Contura), screen time increased. In fact, outside of work, some people can spend extended periods of time on individual websites.For example, according to Findings from a survey conducted by ExpressVPN With Gen Z’s use of social media, 14% of 16-24 year olds spend more than 5 hours a day on the video site YouTube.
Since we also spend six hours a day looking at screens at work, the time we spend looking at something—anything—something else seems trivial. Unfortunately, it’s not just a potential health crisis for humans.There is evidence that all described screen time is To quote Happy Mag, an “invisible pollutant” – This is a progressively worsening problem.
conventional pollutants
The same source states that conventional TV produces 88 grams of carbon dioxide per hour, while watching Netflix for the same time produces 1681.5 grams of carbon dioxide, an increase of 1810.8%.Although there is a lot to say Environmental damage from old TVsToxic, but it is undeniable that the process of technological progress is also contributing to climate change.
The concept of screen time replacing plastics and other traditional pollutants is not a new one, but must become part of the public’s collective consciousness. The Independent claims that modern people spend 40% of their time in front of one screen or another. If we take into account that a website produces the equivalent of a boiling kettle (6.8 grams) of carbon dioxide, the environmental impact must have been significant.
But let’s get back to the most important word in this article – invisibility. How can something that has no physical existence cause pollution? Just a website is almost irrelevant, but with cellphones and computers requiring electricity and social media relying on vast server farms to operate, the internet is eroding the planet’s remaining defenses. Unfortunately, finding a way out is not easy.
All in all, while we’ve all been warned that watching TV can give us boxy eyes, now have to worry about an environment where screen time is out of control.
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