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Scott Waltman thinks Smart Devices are a Double-Edged Sword

In a world where technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, our reliance on it has become a crutch. Whether it is the need for constant communication or falling back on it as a safety net for the most basic of tasks, we have reached a point where without it, we feel helpless. While there is no denying the important part it plays in shaping a promising future, one can also not turn a blind eye to how controversial the use of smart devices can be, especially if not dealt with carefully.

This opinion is also held by Scott Waltman, a clinical psychologist who thinks smart devices are beneficial for the human race but are like a double-edged sword. He is currently a board member of ‘The Academy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy’, and ‘The International Association of Cognitive Therapy’. After graduating from Pacific University, Oregon, he completed his doctoral internship at Colorado Mental Health Institute, Pueblo. Later, he worked as a cognitive behavior therapy trainer at the University of Pennsylvania. Scott is a licensed psychologist certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in CBT.

When it comes to acknowledging the advantages of technology, Scott Waltman believes that it widens the range of channels of communication. Apart from this, it helps us to learn from others to enhance our interpersonal communication skills. “Technology enables us to approach resources and gather information that seems to be unreachable in normal circumstances. It is no more dependent upon geographical borders, and learning is now accessible to more people regardless of their environment,” he commented, highlighting the positives. Scott added, “For students, this is an ideal situation. They have the opportunity to learn from highly qualified teachers and can reach high-quality content. During the time of the pandemic of Coronavirus, it was the social media websites and applications that kept loved ones connected with each other.”

However, Scott doesn’t turn a blind eye to the vices that smart devices expose us to. He thinks that round-the-clock access to any tragedy that occurs worldwide, in some ways, can be traumatizing and exhausting for the masses “as everyone is not as mentally strong.” He further went on to elucidate that social media propagates comparison, which in turn aggravates negative emotions. He very rightly pointed out how people often compare their worst moments to other people’s best moments. As a result, they strongly believe nothing is good in their life and create a perception that their life is somehow less than or not good enough as that of their peers.

Dr Waltman also highlights that new technology presents new potentials for various problems. “Social media also presents new challenges we previously didn’t have to deal with. I am especially nervous about parents who seek to exploit their children through either gossip or simulating scary situations to create viral moments,” he stated. “It is not uncommon for me to see something on social media that is intended to be funny but appears to be emotionally adverse for the child who’s experiencing it. Thankfully this does not appear to be the norm. But dialogue is required to ensure responsible social media use by their parents, where likes are not prioritized over the emotional well-being of their children.”

Coping with all these challenges requires stable mental health. “A good foundation for achieving wholeness should be built upon regular patterns of taking care of your physical health, including regular sleep, exercise, and a healthy diet,” advised Scott. According to him, paying attention to your internal monologue is of utmost importance. The human mind has thousands of thoughts every day, and most of them occur just out of awareness. Similarly, technology feeds you thousands of ideas and information that can be very difficult to digest. If you can slow them down and mentally take a step back, you can check on the thought processes your conscious and subconscious minds engage in. With more mindfulness, you can easily evaluate what is good and what can harm you.

The expert cognitive behavioral therapist also emphasized on having a direction in life. He propagates that managing the amount of time you spend on each task, including using smart devices, will steer you in the right direction in your life. “Often people come to the therapist to get rid of their negative emotions, and the therapist has to work on figuring out and guiding them to what they want in their lives,” he explained. “It is essential for people to know what to value and what has to be ignored and thrown away. A lot of wisdom is to be applied in directing your energy and attention to things in your control and accepting those out of your domain,” Scott added.

To conclude his thoughts, Scott Waltman shared that although he isn’t against the internet, smart devices, or technology as a whole, he believes that unchecked and excessive use of anything is unhealthy, and people need to be more open to exploring the side effects of the things they use as social crutches.

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Salman Ahmad Siddiqui founded SpotHerld with an aim to provide the public with timely and unbiased news, presenting each story from a distinct perspective tailored by our team. As a skilled journalist, I boast a distinguished portfolio and excel in content analysis and research. Salman, a proficient and knowledgeable individual in the business industry, also contributes valuable insights to Tech section on the website. You may reach us at- spotherldeditorialteam@gmail.com

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