January 14, 2026 l Business Mirror
There is no denying the benefits of technology. Our world has benefited a lot from the positive impact of technology and I do not need to outline the advantages because a lot has been written and said about these.
However, we cannot also deny that there are also “downsides” such as cyber risks, social isolation, cyber bullying, fake news and the likes. Furthermore, there are also physical health risks; but maybe, just like me, some of us may not even be aware of technology’s pitfalls.
I was just caught “off guard” one day when, after my weight training without my training coach, I felt an excruciating pain in my left upper that ran through my left neck.
A Mayo Clinic study calls this ‘’tech neck.” It describes in its article dated April 10, 2024, how a “tech neck” is caused by using technological devices. When a person bends at 45 degrees to look at his mobile phone, the head that, on average, weighs 10-12 pounds puts a lot of pressure on the neck and upper back muscles.
Considering that an average person spends three to four hours on their mobile phones and more if they use computers in their work or business. That is quite a lot of time when a person’s neck and upper back muscles are strained and pressed. That is why, even at the early age of forty, people start to feel the effects of this neck problem.
Neck pain, according to this same Mayo Clinic study, is the fourth leading cause of disability, with an annual prevalence rate exceeding 30 percent and most of these are business people working on their computers or using mobile phones. Most of these may just be acute and the pain will just disappear with or without treatment. But 50 percent of those affected by this “tech neck” can be chronic and may have frequent occurrences causing some degree of discomfort or fatigue.
I checked my mobile phone and found out I was using it for an average of 4-5 hours each day mainly for information purposes. The average hours spent online in the Philippines is 8 hours and 52 minutes making the country third in rank in the world in daily Internet use – behind only Brazil and South Africa. And I was relieved that I am still lower than the average.
Furthermore, the majority of the users in the Philippines are in the 18-24 age group, (source: Global Digital Report 2025 dated June 2025). This means, that although they (18-24 age group) are not suffering from neck problems yet, because their neck muscles may still be strong and not yet overused. But if they are not careful, the statistics of “tech neck” occurring at the start of age 40 may increase.
And the Philippines, according to Kepios’s analysis in the 2026 Digital report indicates that the number of internet users in the Philippines increased by 789 thousand or +0.8 percent between October 2024 and October 2025, which is 98 million internet users. There is a total of 137 million cellular mobile connections in late 2025 representing 117 percent of the population. But the total population in October 2025 is only 117 million per United Nations data. The reason why cellular mobile connections of 137 million exceeds the total population of 117 million is because many people uses more than one mobile connections.
Thus, the Philippines’s statistics may not only be one of the biggest number of users or mobile connections in the world (not only now but possibly in the future), but on the downside, maybe the highest in terms of cases that will be affected by “tech neck” if we are not careful.
How to avoid and treat if you already have one? These are a few but there are more ways.
For one, keep your screen at eye level whether computer or mobile phone. What I did was to place my computer and mobile phones on a stand so I am not tempted to look down.
It is also important to take breaks. Maintaining good posture cannot be overemphasized by being conscious not to hunch forward which we usually do. Perform exercises too, that will strengthen your neck and upper back and stand. It is important to take breaks every 30 minutes to reset your posture and since sitting for long periods can tighten your muscles and increase neck pain (source: northeastspineandsports.com). And may I add, follow the 20-20-20-rule, which suggests that every 20 minutes look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds (aoa.com) not only to prevent eye strain but will help rest your neck.
Never neglect your neck or upper back pain because the longer it is treated, the longer it will heal and hopefully surgery will not be necessary.
Technology advancement is good, but health is still wealth.
***The views expressed herein are her own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of her office as well as FINEX. For comments, email wimiranda@inventormiranda.com. Photo is from Pinterest.