Danah Boyd, a principal researcher at Microsoft Research, has spent over a decade observing young people’s interactions with technology and how they tend to use it in their daily lives. In her article, “Blame Society, Not the Screen Time,” Boyd approaches an ongoing debate: whether or not teens engage in too much screen time during today’s age of evolving technology. Boyd’s purpose in writing the article is to argue that teens should not be blamed for their consumption of screen time; we should blame society for overwhelming teenagers with heaps of daunting responsibilities, which in turn forces them to retreat to digital entertainment. She implements a compassionate tone throughout her article to build sympathy for strung-out and overworked
teens. This has the effect of compelling parents and other adults to feel guilt for being the source of their anguish. Boyd starts off by recognizing that most parents do not actually understand the reason behind why teens engage with technology at a seemingly obsessive rate. She goes on to ascertain that society has “trapped today’s youth,” by “locking them indoors because we see the world as more dangerous than ever before,” and because “[Parents and adults] put unprecedented demands on [their] kids, maxing them out with structured activities, homework, and heavy expectations.” Boyd demonstrates her feelings of empathy and commiseration for frazzled teens in order to establish that technology is merely a “relief valve” and that it “simply provides an outlet.” She also suggests, “If Americans truly want to reduce the amount young people use technology, we should free up more of their time… They aren’t addicted to the computer; they’re addicted to interaction, and being around their friends.” Her expression of solicitude for America’s youth conveys an overall compassionate tone and inspires sympathy for confined teens in today’s society. Boyd argues that children today are raised in “captivity” and that they turn to technology to “socialize, learn and decompress. With this in mind, she challenges society by asking why Americans constantly blame “the screens” for teens’ so-called “addiction” to technology.
“Get off your phone.” “I’m taking that laptop away.” Many children have dealt with their parents barging into their rooms and telling them to get off their electronics. Parents believe it is not healthy and therefore should be restricted. The two articles, “Blame Society, Not the Screen Time” by Dana Boyd and “Don’t Limit Your Teen’s Screen Time” by Chris Bergman, both talk about how parents should not limit their kid’s screen time. Both authors are writing to parents of children who they think spend way too much time on their electronics. However, Dana Boyd has a much better compelling argument for not restricting teenager’s screen time. Boyd has a much better appeal to both audiences. She manages to employ better uses of both pathos and logos
Doctor Jean Twenge is an American psychologist who published an article for The Atlantic titled “Has the Smartphone Destroyed a Generation?” in September 2017. The purpose of Twenge’s article is to highlight the growing burden of smartphones in our current society. She argues that teenagers are completely relying on smartphones in order to have a social life, which in return is crippling their generation. Twenge effectively uses rhetorical devices in order to draw attention to the impact of smartphones on a specific generation.
Though being exposed to technologies like computers from an early age may have given us the ability to do things more efficiently, technology has also made us less dependent on ourselves. Claudia Wallis, editor for Time, in her article makes known in The Multitasking Generation, “That level of multiprocessing and interpersonal connectivity is now so commonplace that it’s easy to forget how quickly it came about. Fifteen years ago, most home computers weren’t even linked to the Internet” (63). There are many things that students are able to do on their computer that their parents aren't even aware of or that the parents couldn’t do themselves. My parents always tell of how looking through the library’s card catalog and searching for the books they needed only to find out that they have been taken out. Computers have allowed us to do many things faster for example, write much faster than a typewriter or pen and paper and correct typing errors without starting over. The computers and technology we now have makes it easier to almost anything and with technology so easily at your fingertips it o...
The book: Crash Into Me By Liz Seccuro examines the themes of Sexual Assault(Pg. 49), Lack of Institutional Support(Pg. 68), and Alcoholism(Pg. 17). Alcoholism in the college culture is a conspicuous recurring element that plays a major role in the rape that occurs in the second chapter. Some of the major causes of alcoholism in college are; availability of alcohol(Pg. 44), social pressure(Pg. 46), and genetic susceptibility to alcohol. In Seccuro’s Crash Into Me, on page 44, it states “We all approached one of the many kegs and Jim poured a beer for each of us into those large, red plastic cups that are still a fixture at college parties today” (Seccuro 44). This gives a clear statement about how easy the alcohol is accessed for everyone at the party, even for an under-aged drinker. Seccuro also addresses the point of social pressure on page 46, “I was anxious to get home. But I didn’t want to seem like a loser, either. I figured one more drink couldn’t hurt” (Seccuro 46). This gives a glimpse of what kind of social pressure a lot of college students feel when they are at parties where rape and other occurrences happen. In a study done in 2015 by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence(NCADD); the institute implores; “Researchers have identified numerous genes as affecting risk for dependence on alcohol and drugs” (NCADD 2015).
She analyses how her data collections began to change around 2012, when smartphones really began to advance. Twenge’s article maintains the argument that, while many people have different ideas about the cause for the change in teen attitudes in recent years, she believes that smartphones are greatly to blame. To support her claim, Twenge states that the rates of depression have “skyrocketed” (p. 61) (Pathos). She also says that “There’s not a single exception …. screen activities are linked to less happiness” (p. 63) (Logos). Lastly, Twenge states “In all my analyses of generational data- some reaching back to the 1930’s- I had never seen anything like it” (p. 59)
In Renee Wilson’s article, “In Defence of the iGeneration” (2013), she explores her belief of the iGeneration being the smartest generation yet. Through the use of many anecdotes, Wilson reflects on her experiences of teaching the iGeneration and their ability to ignore negative criticism and still show their full potential. In her article, Wilson discusses the iGeneration’s reliance on technology and social media; however, she does not engage the disadvantages of technology, in particular laptops in the classroom, which, as I argue here, is in need of more study. In this essay, I argue that the use of laptops by students in a university classroom is distracting not only to the student, but also to surrounding students. Inevitably, multitasking
Think about the future, even now children and young adults can 't live without their iPhones, iPads, consoles and other pieces of technology. However, it 's not only teens and children that are practically addicted to their tech, businessmen/woman and anyone that works for a business or a company, small or big, are on their computers,
Times have changed and due to this new technological era that we live in, children are spoiled with various types as well as numerous electronic devices. Although these advances are rewarding, they are detrimental to the youth. From xbox to television watching children spend more time trapped in their house, t...
There has been a long lasting debate in the resent years on whether or not technology has a positive or negative impact on today’s kids. As the years move on, the negative effects have begun to outnumber the positive. The generations previous spent their childhood making forts, fishing, and using their imaginations, contrary to today’s generations who spend their free time texting, playing video games, and watching videos. Damaging effects such as decreases in school performances, addiction to electronics, and lack of brain development have all been linked to the electronic media stimulation. In order to prevent the future generation from following in the current generations footsteps, one must full comprehend just how much technology impacts
A mere twenty years ago, children played in their neighborhood all day, jumping ropes, riding bikes, and building forts. They were the masters of imaginary games. Children created their own play that didn't require any money or parental supervision. Children would play with sticks. It could become a slingshot, a pistol, a claw, or anything else that they could dream up (Sawyer 1). In the past, family time was often spent doing chores, crafts, and homework. The dining room table was where families came together to enjoy their meals and have conversations about their day. After dinner, the dining table became the center for baking and homework after dinner (Mendoza 1).Today's families are different. Technology's impact on the 21st century family is fracturing and altering its very foundation, and causing a disintegration of core values and breaking down the fabric that held families together long ago. Comparing to this current generation, children have been born into a digital world and grown up with the most advance and updated technology. Children are called “digital natives (Richtel 1).” They are contrasted with the digital immigrants, such as their parents and teachers, who have adapted technology much later in life (Richtel 1). Technology has advanced so rapidly that families have scarcely noticed the significant shifts and transformations to their family structure and lifestyles. According to 2010 Kaiser Foundation, the study showed that elementary aged children use on average 7.5 hours per day of entertainment technology, 75 percent of these children have TV's in their bedrooms, and 50 percent of them have the TV on all day (Mendoza 1). Laptops, phones, and televisions are considered as some of the most popular technologies...
Technology is one of life’s most impressive and incredible phenomena’s. The main reason being the shockingly high degree to which our society uses technology in our everyday lives. It occupies every single realm, affecting people both positively and negatively. There are so many different forms of technology but the two most often used are cell phones, and the internet/computers in general. Today’s younger generation was raised alongside technological development. Kids now a days learn how to operate computers and cell phones at a very early age, whether it be through their own technological possessions, a friend’s, or their parents. They grow up knowing how easily accessible technology is, and the endless amount of ways in which it can be used. This paper will be largely focused on the effects of technology on the younger generation because your childhood is when these effects have the largest impact. I am very aware of the subject because I am the younger generation. Aside from major effects on study and communication skills, there also exist the media’s effects on teen’s self-esteem and mental health. Maybe more importantly, there is our world’s growing problem of over priced and unnecessary consumerism. Over time, our society has created a very unhealthy form of reliance and dependency on technology as a whole. People essentially live through their devices. Cell phones are always with people making it nearly impossible to not be able to reach someone at anytime, day or night. In 2011, there were 2.4 trillion text messages sent, and 28,641 cell phone towers were added across the US. 1 We use our phones and Internet for directions, communication, information, self-diagnosis, games, movies, music, schoolwork, work, photos, shoppi...
Technology use was on the rise but has shown a significant increased rate in recent years. Technology was a beneficial tool that was used on a daily basis. Technology industries had developed many devices like computers, laptops, smartphones, iPods, and many other devices that made technology easier to access from anywhere and anytime. Technology expanded every day and the usage increased which had an effect on society especially targeting teens. Teens abused the use of technology that caused them to have serious problems mentally and physically. Teens mainly focused on technology use and caused a social disconnection from the real world. Technology use has a negative effect on teens by causing health problems and social disconnection.
Technology affects everyone! Whether positive or negative, we are all affected, how it manifests itself into problems for youth will be studied and debated for years. Balancing technology throughout the educational process and keeping with current trends and uses of technology will affect everyone. Technology has transformed our youth’s daily and social lives. How do we measure the effects of technology on our ability to socialize or have a successful social life? Socializing is not just talking face to face, it’s our ability to interact, learn, and create original thought. Technology hindering today’s youth and their ability to socialize is affecting their capacity to read, write, and communicate. Today’s youth depends on careful considerations for the implementation of technologies. Our youth do not have the capability to convey their emotions through the use of technology, understand sadness, happiness or joy through simple text or emails. Communicating through the use of text, chat, and social network sites is lost using abbreviations and slang, inhibiting the use of the Standard English language. Using computers and hand held devices for relationships, reading, writing, and entertainment, turning them into introverted and socially inept individuals. Current trends resonating from our educational institutions to our workplace can be examples of how technology has altered the way younger people communicate. This tragedy transcends from youth to adulthood affecting the workplace. Social networking sites have begun to take hours away from employers. How do students understand ethical and moral dilemmas unless they are allowed to make mistakes and work through a particular problem? Creative and original thought needs...
According to a study by Common Sense Media, teenagers in the U.S. are using media an average of 9 hours a day. There is no mystery behind why teens enjoy the internet; it is a wonderful place, with the world's largest libraries, arcades, and stores. Anyone can do anything on the internet; but, with great power, comes great responsibility–something many teens lack. Parents should be protecting their children by monitoring internet usage, in case of internet predators, inappropriate websites, and to prevent cyberbullying.
Technology addiction is almost similar to drug addiction. Technology is useful in many ways. Using computer, internet, cellphone, television etc. make peoples’ life easier and comfortable. Young people are the most user of it. They cannot think of a single day without use technical device. Tara Parker-Pope is an author of books on health topics and a columnist for the New York Times. In her article , she expressed that, “The International Center for Media and the Public Agenda at the University of Maryland asked 200 students to refrain from using electronic media for a day. The reports from students after the study suggest that giving up technology cold turkey not only makes life logistically difficult, but also changes our ability to connect with others.” ( Parker-Pope, “An Ugly Toll of Technology: Inpatients”). Her point is that, for the young generation it is quite impossible to give up from becoming addict...