Why Have Smartphones Destroyed A Generation?

1123 Words3 Pages

The addition of smartphones to today’s youth at a young age has improved communication among friends, parents, and family. These phones have allowed parents to actively track the location of their young children, placing their minds at ease. Conversely, these devices have also placed children at a substantial risk due to the ease of communication among their peers. Bullying on social media along with utilizing Snapchat for blackmailing purposes has possibly outweighed the benefits smartphones pose for today’s youth. According to Jean Twenge’s article, “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?”, smartphones have benefited children in becoming more social, but have also added to the prevalence of depression and suicide rates among children. Due …show more content…

The rate at which parents are supplying their children with smartphones at the young age is increasing. Children are becoming more and more accustom to using technology for entertainment as well as completing simplistic, daily tasks. According to a study completed at the University of Texas, the subjects involved failed at completing basic tasks and remembering information while a smartphone was within reach. As these phones continue to become more common, children grow more distant from their parents as they never are able to learn how to interact with others. As children fail to learn how to carry on conversations, along with not being able to interact with others, it makes it successful for them to develop into successful adults in the future, possibly changing their career paths permanently, disqualifying them from opportunities in the …show more content…

With the ease of communication due to the addition of smartphones and technology, bullying has become increasingly easier for the assailants. Instead of having to meet their victims in person or call them over the phone, assailants are able to slander their victims over social media, or simply send a text message with hatful text. The introduction of social media, due to the increased usage of smart phones, has allowed groups of people to exclude others, making them “keenly aware of it” (Twenge) due to the common practice of sharing events and images of hanging out with others. With the addition of Snapchat as a facilitator for instant communications, children are also able to blackmail others by saving and sharing private pictures and messages, leading to the degradation of the development of today’s youth. Furthermore, the excessive use of smartphones raises the likelihood of depression among teens. According to Twenge’s article, teens who heavily use technology and social media increase their risk of depression by twenty-seven percent. The use of smartphones can separate teens from their peers as they are more likely to remain isolated. While this isolation may be safer for the teen, it can lead to the inability to socially interact in the future. By allowing teens to isolate themselves from others, they are no longer able to create bonds and

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