Is our technology helping us, or is it getting in the way of our well-being?
The buzz of a notification. The endless scroll. The quiet pressure to be “always on.” If you’ve ever wondered whether your phone is making life easier or quietly draining your energy, you’re not alone.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately because of a course I’m taking for my M.Ed. on Mental Health and Well-Being in the Digital Age. As part of the course, and my own research focus, I’ve been looking closely at how technology impacts youth mental health, especially in relation to digital wellness. But the truth is, these issues touch all of us.
This blog series is all about navigating this complex relationship between our digital lives and our mental health. It’s not about giving up technology but about using it more mindfully and intentionally to support our well-being.
Technology: A Double-Edged Sword
Let’s be honest: technology is both a lifeline and a stressor.
The Positives: In many ways, technology is a powerful tool for good. It has made mental health support more accessible than ever before, with apps, websites, and online therapy connecting people to professional resources and peer support (Li et al., 2023). It helps us stay close to loved ones across distance, build community around shared interests, and express ourselves in ways that can feel liberating. For youth in particular, online spaces often provide belonging, identity exploration, and creativity that might not otherwise be possible (Anderson et al., 2023).
The Negatives: But the very tools meant to connect us can also work against us. Our brains are constantly hit with a stream of information—from breaking news to endless feeds—that can overwhelm and mentally exhaust us (Boston Children’s Hospital, 2025). Add the highlight reels of social media, and suddenly we’re comparing our hardest days to someone else’s curated best, which can erode self-esteem (Odgers & Jensen, 2020). And let’s not forget the pressure to be “always on”—replying to emails late at night or feeling guilty if we don’t respond instantly. The result? Blurred boundaries, chronic stress, and for many, eventual burnout.
And sometimes, the risks are far more serious. The story of Amanda Todd, a Canadian teenager who faced relentless online bullying, is a heartbreaking reminder of how harmful digital interactions can be (Dean, 2012). More recently, a 14-year-old boy in the U.S. died by suicide after misinterpreting conversations with an AI chatbot (Roose, 2024). While the chatbot didn’t directly encourage it, the lack of emotional intelligence—and the boy’s deep attachment—had tragic consequences. These moments underline why digital wellness isn’t optional; it’s essential.
As Dr. Jennifer Laffier’s Psychological Digital Wellness (P-DW) model reminds us, wellness online isn’t a fixed state but an ongoing process of balance (Laffier & Rehman, 2021).
(Image credit: Laffier (2021))
This model examines digital wellness as both a process and an outcome, a lifelong and temporary state one can achieve.
Why I’m Writing This Series
For me, the big question isn’t “Should we ditch technology?”—because let’s be real, we can’t. It’s “How do we use it more intentionally so it supports, rather than sabotages, our well-being?”
That’s what this nine-part blog series is about: unpacking our relationship with technology and mental health, and exploring ways we can build healthier digital habits.
Here’s the roadmap:
Week 1: Unpacking the Mind — We’ll dive into the fundamentals of mental health, exploring key concepts and current research to provide a solid foundation.
Week 2: From Childhood to Adulthood — We’ll examine how technology affects us differently at various life stages, from its influence on child development to its impact on adult performance.
Week 3: Screen Time & Sanity — This post will directly address how technology influences our mental state, exploring the pros and cons and examining how our devices are shaping our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Week 4: Beyond the Algorithm — We’ll shift from problem to solution, exploring the concept of healthy technology design and how we can be more mindful consumers.
Week 5: The Science of Serenity — This week, we’ll focus on psychological research, highlighting evidence-based interventions and how research findings can be turned into practical strategies.
Week 6: Game On or Game Over? — We’ll tackle the often-debated topic of screen time and gaming, exploring the mental health implications, from potential for addiction to the benefits of community.
Week 7: The Social Network & Your Sanity — This post will focus specifically on social media, discussing issues like comparison culture and “doomscrolling,” while also exploring how to use these platforms in a way that supports your well-being.
Week 8: The Future Is Here — In our final post, we’ll look at the emerging roles of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) in mental health, from AI-powered therapy bots to VR experiences designed for stress reduction.
Each week, I’ll reflect on what I’m learning, share relevant research, and (hopefully) spark conversations with you about your own experiences.
(As each week is posted I will hyperlink them above)
Let’s Start the Conversation
So I’ll leave you with this: has technology helped your well-being—or complicated it? Maybe both? Drop a thought or story in the comments. Let’s explore this together.
References
- Dean, M. (2012). The story of Amanda Todd. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-story-of-amanda-todd
- Laffier, J., & Rehman, A. (2021). Digital Wellness Summary Report: Moving Forward With A New Psychological Framework. Ontario Tech University.
- Li, H., Zhang, R., Lee, Y.-C., Kraut, R. E., & Mohr, D. C. (2023). Systematic review and meta-analysis of AI-based conversational agents for promoting mental health and well-being. NPJ Digital Medicine, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-023-00979-5
- Odgers, C. L., & Jensen, M. R. (2020). Annual Research Review: Adolescent mental health in the digital age: Facts, fears, and future directions. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61(3), 336–348. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13190
- Roose, K. (2024). Can A.I. be blamed for a teen’s suicide? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/technology/characterai-lawsuit-teen-suicide.html
