Gadgets Change the Human Body

So far, research on the impacts of uncontrolled gadget use has always focused on the brain and human mental development. Meanwhile, the effects of excessive gadget use on physical health are often overlooked or underestimated. Before it becomes too late, many measures can be taken to prevent the impacts of gadget use on the human body.

Have you ever felt pain in your neck and back after using a device all day? Have you ever experienced stiffness in your fingers after playing video games, accessing various social media, or scrolling aimlessly? Have you also ever experienced blurred vision after binge-watching a Chinese drama, or after completing school assignments or office work all day?

If you have ever experienced any of that, you are not alone. The problem is that many of us are unaware that various complaints related to our physical health stem from daily activities that are often considered trivial, such as staring at gadgets. Although the effects of continuous gadget use on the human body are real, many of us tend to ignore them.

Various studies have shown that continuous use of gadgets has been proven to alter the shape of the neck, damage vision, affect motor skills, and even reduce muscle strength. Moreover, uncontrolled gadget use can also increase wrinkles in the neck. Ultimately, some of these physical issues can trigger a decline in cognitive abilities and serious problems in other parts of the body.

When someone looks at a cell phone or other device, as Thomas Germain wrote in the BBC on July 1, 2026, the most common body position is to lower the head. Constantly lowering the head and hunching shoulders from constantly staring at a device can lead to a condition called tech neck, which is neck muscle pain.

The forward-leaning and bowed head posture can exert an excess pressure of up to 27 kilograms on the neck. Over time, this additional load on the neck can damage the spinal discs, trigger joint and muscle degeneration, increase the risk of pinched nerves, and even reduce lung capacity. Furthermore, such a body position can also permanently alter a person’s physical appearance.

Continuous use of gadgets has been proven to change the shape of the neck, damage vision, affect motor skills, and reduce muscle strength.

To address this, Germain continued, the action that can be taken is to raise the position of the screen or device monitor to eye level. Additionally, place the device screen at a distance of about one arm’s length from the face. This method can also be applied when using a desktop computer.

However, this method is challenging because today’s desktop computers tend to have monitors positioned lower than eye level and cannot be placed above the CPU (central processing unit) as they were on older desktop computers. A similar situation also occurs with laptops or tablets, which cause people to hunch over more often. Raising the monitor or laptop screen can be done by propping it up with something else.

In addition, taking a 20-minute break every half hour can also be done to prevent excessive tension in the neck. If the condition becomes severe, it is advisable to see a doctor for assistance and to receive specialized exercises to restore the neck to its proper position.

Not only that, a recent study actually shows that tech neck is also feared to trigger neck wrinkles. “In theory, it (neck wrinkles) makes sense,” said Justine Hextall, a consultant dermatologist and member of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP). Excessive pressure or stress on the skin can indeed cause wrinkles, so slouching and bending the neck constantly can be problematic.

However, no research has proven a link between a lowered head and neck wrinkles. Therefore, Hextall cautions the public against rushing to buy skin products to address tech neck. Moreover, these products are already widely available in the marketplace.

Rather than worrying about neck wrinkles, there are other skin issues that deserve greater concern, especially for smartwatch wearers who often wear their watches. “Dark, humid environments (like the area under the watch) are ideal for encouraging the growth of fungus, which can trigger skin irritation and even eczema,” he added.

A constantly lowered head and hunched shoulders due to constantly staring at a gadget can cause a disorder called “tech neck,” which is neck muscle pain.

If left unchecked, the presence of the fungus could damage the protective layer of the skin, leading to increased sensitivity to several substances used in technology products, such as nickel, rubber, latex, and a group of chemicals known as acrylates.

The solution is simple; do not forget to remove your smartwatch as often as possible and clean your skin. If you wish to wear a smartwatch throughout the day, then do not forget to use skin protection cream.

Eyes and hands

In addition, several parties also suspect that the use of gadgets may lead to a decline in visual quality. Over the past few decades, for example, cases of nearsightedness (myopia) or minus eyesight, which makes it difficult for individuals to see distant objects clearly, have continued to rise worldwide. Currently, it is increasingly common to find elementary school-aged children wearing glasses compared to a few years ago.

Many circles suspect that one of the easily blamed triggers for this condition is the excessive habits of children in using technology. How many of us, including children, find it difficult to part with gadgets? From the family room, where children play and gather, to the bed, under the blankets, and in dark rooms, many of us struggle to let go of gadgets from our hands.

However, Donald Mutti, a professor of optometry at Ohio State University in the United States, believes this allegation is incorrect. A longitudinal study conducted by Mutti and colleagues over 20 years, published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology in June 2015, actually shows otherwise.

The increase in myopia in society is “not significantly” caused by “close-range work,” tasks that make someone focus on something close to their face, such as mobile phones or other devices. The study actually shows that activities conducted outdoors can provide a protective effect for the eyes.

Spending more time outdoors is not only beneficial for eye health but can also help improve sleep quality.

The bright light from nature can stimulate the release of dopamine from the retina, thereby affecting eye health. The problem is that technology triggers a global shift that causes people to spend more time indoors. Therefore, Mutti believes that gadgets have an indirect negative effect on the eyes.

The way to address this challenge is quite simple, which is to increase the time spent outdoors. This method is not only good for the eyes but can also help improve sleep quality. If concerned about the negative effects of sun exposure, do not forget to use sunscreen and sunglasses while engaging in outdoor activities.

Specifically for Indonesians or those living in tropical regions, outdoor activities are easier to engage in because sunlight shines throughout the year. Even during the rainy season, the sun still appears, providing warmth and offering numerous benefits not only for eye health but also for physical and mental well-being.

Intensive device use also weakens human grip strength. Yet, grip strength is increasingly recognized as a key marker of overall human health. A study by L.L. Andersen and colleagues in the October 22, 2024, Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle found that handgrip strength may be a better predictor of premature death than blood pressure.

Several studies show that grip strength, or the strength of the hand, wrist, and forearm muscles, is declining worldwide. One contributing factor is increasing body weight.

However, a study conducted by Johannes Beller and colleagues at SSM-Population Health in December 2019 found that grip strength in young people is progressively declining. This condition is feared to increase morbidity, meaning the level of illness among today’s young people will be higher in the future than in previous generations.

Intensive use of gadgets also weakens human grip strength. In fact, grip strength is increasingly recognized as a key indicator of overall human health.

“The decline in intergenerational capacity is not just about weaker strength, but may also be an early warning sign regarding the health of the younger generation in the future,” added Johannes Beller, a medical sociologist at Lausitz Medical University, Germany.

The shift in human strength is reasonable in line with the changes in human jobs that increasingly lean towards computer-based work, which leads to reduced physical activity and ultimately contributes to a decline in physical condition. This decrease in physical strength will eventually also affect human grip strength.

To strengthen the wrist, Germain continued, one can perform a number of physical exercises. However, these exercises do not need to be specifically aimed at addressing hand strength issues, but rather at overall fitness, which will certainly also impact grip strength. The goal is for an individual to be able to grip something as tightly as possible and maintain that grip for at least 15-30 seconds.

In addition to affecting the neck muscles, eyes, and hand strength, modern technology also influences the coordination between the eyes and hands. The use of gadgets also impacts motor skills or the ability to connect the mind and body so that the body can perform movements accurately.

Professor of developmental psychology and education at the University of Regensburg, Germany, Sebastian Suggate, stated that the use of technology does make people more skilled at clicking and swiping or scrolling. However, when examining the broader development of motor skills, particularly fine motor skills, the evidence actually indicates that gadgets have a negative effect.

However, so far, studies have better understood the impact of fine motor skill development in children than in adults. Suggate’s research shows that the more time spent looking at screens, the worse children’s motor skills become. This is despite the fact that children’s motor skills are correlated with their cognitive and academic development.

The use of gadgets also impacts motor skills or the ability to connect the mind and body so that the body can move accurately.

This situation is clearly concerning. However, Sugatte believes that merely prohibiting the use of gadgets is not a solution. Children need to be introduced to direct activities in daily life by engaging in practical tasks continuously, such as helping to prepare meals, tidying up toys, practicing music, creating art, and training to write by hand.

“It’s not the end of the world. It’s a subtle effect,” Sugatte said.

The issue is that, although the effects of motor skill disturbances occur at a small to moderate level, if they happen collectively and across generations, what is actually occurring is a potential decline in the intelligence of the community and the inability of the community to think realistically. The weakening of grip strength can sever the connection between humans and their sources of livelihood because, in essence, the hands are the primary tools that connect humans to the world.