In this day and age, technology is increasingly prominent in society. It is hard to believe the first iPhone was only released eight years ago. But is technology advancing education, or is it sending us back to the Dark Ages?

While technology is used in schools, it may not be as beneficial to education as people may believe. Cell phone use in class is a regular problem for many teachers. The lure of Snapchat, Instagram and countless other apps is often too much for students who would rather play games and post on social media than listen to a teacher.

Many students also do not see the need to learn certain information because, now that most people have a phone, the answer can easily be found online. Before “google” became a verb, people had to store knowledge in their head; today a quick internet search will bring up all the information needed and more.

According to the Daily Reckoning, people spend 12% of their time on mobile devices. For comparison, that is over half the time an average student spends in school each week.

Another impact of technology is a decrease in social activity. According to the Pew Research Center, 67% of people find themselves checking their phones, even if they have not heard it ringing. Even though the phone was invented to help people keep in touch over long distances, the result is that many people do not interact in face-to-face communication anymore.

The anonymity of the internet can also make it a dangerous place. From bullying to stalking, the internet is home to a wide range of immoral activity. People feel safe behind a computer screen and often forget the consequences of their actions which has led to the rise of cyber bullying. More than one in three children experience cyberbullying in their lives according to Bullying Statistics.   The best way to stay safe online is to always use a screen name and never give out personal information, even if you think that you have grown close to someone. If you are a victim or witness to cyber-crimes, speak up!

When asked about technology, Dunbar student Vaaragie Subramaniam summed up the thoughts of many people. “Technology itself isn’t hindering our education, but it’s the way you use it,” she said.

While technology is used to make students more interested in learning and to help people connect, if the use of personal devices cannot be controlled, it could have the opposite impact.