Claw-like hands, smaller brains, and 90-degree elbows? It sounds as ridiculous as it looks, but these researchers suggest it’s possible
CERRITOS, Calif. — Hunched back, clawed-hands, and second eyelids could be common features of human anatomy in the future, a recent computer model reveals. The shocking, hopefully tongue-in-cheek report warns that overusing technology could somehow steer human evolution in a direction that leaves people looking deformed compared to what we consider normal today.
There’s no question technology now plays a constant role in the lives of many people, but what is all that screen time really doing to the human body? Researchers worked with a 3D designer to create images of a “future human” that accounts for all of the problems long-term tech use may cause. Though StudyFinds takes a neutral stand on the content we post and leaves it to our readers to debate or debunk, we certainly can’t help but raise an eyelid…or two…on these images. After all, how could this creature be the result of natural selection?
Specifically, they were inspired by a poll that found the typical American uses the Internet for seven hours a day. With that in mind, the team factored in a wide range of scientific studies and expert opinions examining the physical and mental changes that come from consistent exposure to smartphones, laptops, and television. The results were shocking.
Hunched-back humans
The research project, commissioned by TollFreeForwarding.com (yes, really), led to the development of the 3D model, named “Mindy.” Researchers predict that office work and craning the neck to look at smartphones will lead to humans having a hunched back in the future. Currently, many people consistently adjust their position to look down at their phones, or to look up at their office screens. Studies show that this strains parts of the body that affect posture.
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“Spending hours looking down at your phone strains your neck and throws your spine off balance. Consequently, the muscles in your neck have to expend extra effort to support your head. Sitting in front of the computer at the office for hours on end also means that your torso is pulled out in front of your hips rather than being stacked straight and aligned,” says Caleb Backe, a health and wellness expert at Maple Holistics, in a statement from TollFreeForwarding.
Text claw and elbow problems
One of the most noticeable changes is the development of “text claw,” a new term that describes how the hand starts to permanently take the shape of a claw due to constantly holding a smartphone. Future humans may also evolve to have a 90-degree elbow thanks to the excessive use of cell phones to make calls. This condition would leave the elbow permanently bent at a 90-degree angle.
“The way we hold our phones can cause strain in certain points of contact – causing ‘text claw’ and ’90-degree elbow’ also known as the cubital tunnel syndrome,” says Dr. Nikola Djordjevic from Med Alert Help. “This syndrome is caused by pressure or the stretching of the ulnar nerve which runs in a groove on the inner side of the elbow. This causes numbness or a tingling sensation in the ring and little fingers, forearm pain, and weakness in the hands – keeping the elbow bent for a long time.”
Will humans grow a second eyelid?
Interestingly, the model of Mindy predicts that humans may end up developing a unique defense against too much blue light from digital devices — a second eyelid.
Previous studies have found that blue light exposure can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to insomnia and other health problems. Excessive screen time can also lead to headaches, eye strains, and even poorer vision — especially among children.
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“Humans may develop a larger inner eyelid to prevent exposure to excessive light, or the lens of the eye may be evolutionary developed such that it blocks incoming blue light but not other high wavelength lights like green, yellow or red,” says Kasun Ratnayake from the University of Toledo.
Tech neck and smaller brains
Finally, “Mindy” reveals that future humans will likely suffer from a serious case of “tech neck,” where the muscles grow to limit the damage due to poor posture. Moreover, Mindy’s skull is thicker to help protect the human body from damaging radiofrequency waves allegedly coming from smartphones.
Studies show that a sedentary lifestyle can reduce human brain capacity. With that in mind, Mindy also has a smaller brain than present-day humans. Additionally, all of these can lead to future humans being more vulnerable to mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, according to the researchers.
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“Technology gives us so much. Convenience, connectivity, entertainment, and so much more – but there is a trade-off. Overexposure to technology can sometimes come to the detriment of our health, and Mindy is our visual representation of a growing body of scientific research,” says Jason O’Brien, COO of TollFreeForwarding.com. “While the benefits of technology to individuals and businesses are too great to ignore, it’s worth evaluating your usage to ensure your health isn’t being damaged in the long-term.”
Editor’s Note: Based on many comments, it seems that there are plenty of readers who have no idea that StudyFinds does not take a position on any body of research it publishes, as unbelievable as some of the reports may seem to the average reader. The report above, very clearly, comes away with an extreme prediction. Though our writers individually may heavily disagree with or may heavily agree with a story, they must still present the findings to the reader as presented by the researchers. Our content is intended to stir debate and conversation, and we always encourage our readers to discuss why or why not they agree with the findings. We do not receive any compensation from the researchers, marketing firms, or anyone else behind the research for the content we post. We share who commissioned research (who paid for the study not to StudyFinds, but to the people who completed the research) to give additional transparency to the reader so that they can weigh that in their conclusions about the report. If you heavily disagree with a report — please debunk to your delight in the comments below.
Please, give us a break.
It would take at least hundreds, if not thousands, of years of humans using modern technology, or use or access technology in same way we do today, in order for humans to evolve in this way. Assuming that the technology, or the way in which we use technology, is the predominant form for at least the next few hundred years, then, sure, human evolution could go in this direction. But such an assumption seems highly improbable. Modern technology, or the way in which we use or access technology, today won’t be modern 20 to 50 years from now, let alone hundreds or thousands.
So we might evolve into Gollum? Yeah, right.
Wow. This is really a fullish “study”. If it is a satire then we’ll done. But activity does not necessarily predict selection of mate and viability of offspring. Maybe have a deeper read to gain better understanding of evolution.
This article has nothing to do with evolution. Really, what it’s about is demonizing technology.
How long have people been needing a third arm and hand?
As I recall High School Biology; It was Lamark who said, “Acquired Traits cannot be passed down through inheritance” That is still true, so far as I know.
Trust me, the smaller-brained people are already around, and in fact I think they are the majority!
I’m no biologist or tech expert but that is the dumbest flipping thing I’ve ever seen for a number of reasons, not the least of which being this sorta assumes we’ll have this technology forever and also that we’ll be spending more time staring at screens than we will in every other aspects of our lives combined, which is a remarkably pessimistic take on things.
Furthermore, what about people doing hard labor who would have absolutely 0 benefit from a “text claw” or hunched back because of all the lifting they have to do? Or athletes? Or law enforcement? Wouldn’t their genes get passed on too, likely at a rate that supercedes this kind of body? I mean, maybe I can see a world where humans evolve to utilize technology better, maybe even technology that resembles smartphones (which, btw, we’re talking MILLIONS of years down the line here) but it’s not like we’re glued to said technology 24/7, hyperbole be damned.
How stupid are people to think tech will be the same for a thousand years, or even another decade. We probably won’t even be using hand held devices much longer.
There was an episode of Shark Tank where a guy wanted to create a surgically imbedded Bluetooth earphone. You had to plug yourself in at night. Needless to say the Shark Tank didn’t bite, but if there was a way to “charge” it biologically, that may have been a different story.
Ridiculous. This is not how evolution works. This is the discarded theory offered by Limmark called “the theory of use and disuse “. Traits that aid survival will have a boost but those traits need to also aid elevation in the socioeconomic competence hierarchy as this is required for selection by females to mate and raise offspring. When these traits raise me up that hierarchy or appear more physically attractive to women and make women more attractive to men as life partners to raise viable offspring, then this evolutionary hypothesis might become possibly true. Right now there is an effort to make obesity attractive even though it offers no signal of health and viability for producing future grandparents. This article is bunk
This would describe Lemarkian evolution ( may be spelled wrong), we absolutely know that is not how evolution works. Stupidest study ever run by people who can’t actually be scientists and if they are scientist it is very much a testament to how bad the education system really is.
I want all the researchers names and educational background as well as actual credited work available because this looks like a bad science project done by a bunch of lazy middle schoolers.
Thank you, we who are open -minded appreciate your efforts, we @ the present time will not see these predictions come to frutation. All comes with a price..
Look around. People already look like that. Just go to a Walmart.
Bogus article. This article completely overlooks the only 2 things that truly drive human evolution: 1) traits passed on through competitive breeding and 2) genes that might be expressed through external factors that get passed on through breeding.
It is a fallacy to think that those that are addicted to technology will reproduce at an accelerated rate, and that certain genes like dual eyelids will be expressed prior to allele selection for eggs/sperm.
Most ‘humans’ in tech are b#tt ugly!
I guess that means our idea of ‘beauty’…
will also change also?
This is the stupidest article and I will suffer with a smaller brain from reading it.
This assumes we will not advance any tech for thousands of years? Lmfaoooo
Dumbass article. In 20 years cell phones will be antiqued memories
Am I the only reader who didn’t take this as a literal study about evolution? I think the author’s point is that tech is ruining young bodies. I’ve observed it in young people I work with. Tech IS causing teenage spines and vision to change. My interpretation was we need to be aware how it is affecting a generation. Satire serves a purpose in taking a serious problem and getting people to pay attention. Kids who use smart phones throughout development may have deformed bodies along with mental health struggles. I’m not afraid humans will “evolve” into these hideous creatures. But a whole generation is suffering from our ignorance of the side effects of the social experiment that is the smart phone. Parents don’t engage with their children and children have become depressed, sedentary, crook-necked and near-sighted. It’s a legit problem that warrants investigation and solutions.
This isn’t research, it’s a meme.
This. It’s a “kids these days” kind of thing someone’s uncle will post on Facebook.
I interpreted it the same way. It seems most people missed the tongue-in-cheek