The Terrible Costs Of A Phone-Based Childhood Summary

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Purported Tool, Actual Impediment The growing reliance on technology is rewiring childhood development and stunting entire generations as a result. Technological developments meant to improve the overall standard of living have proven to be exceptionally damaging. The far more risk averse and monitored parenting system only serves to exacerbate the problem: a systematic alteration in life stemming from raising children in the clutches of a phone-based childhood. In “The Terrible Costs Of A Phone Based Childhood,” Jonathan Haidt elaborates on the critical state that a supposed tool has rendered the entire population. Social psychologist and published author, Haidt’s article featured in The Atlantic educates readers about the sheer scale that …show more content…

Growing up with cell phones fundamentally alters the development of children’s brains. “Smartphone-based life, it turns out, alters or interferes with a great number of developmental processes”(Haidt 3). The purported tool that the cell phone has been revered as is growing into an increasing impediment that is crippling youth. The reach of this ‘genius’ technology is hindering the connection of vital neurons. Still, the world remains partial and intentional ignorance of the quite literally anatomically injurious dependance that humanity has on cell phones. The entire world is being damaged as a result of progressing technology and a phone-based …show more content…

My experience with cell phones and internet access as a whole has been slightly different from my general age group and peers. My parents hesitated to get me a phone call until the end of my 8th grade year. At the age of 14, I had an iPad which I had monitored use of, and I never even had a flip phone. Despite my parents' apprehension, at that point, it was crucial I had the ability to contact people and combat my busy schedule. The phone that was christened ‘The Brick’ by everyone who saw it was extremely old, small, and had a difficult time holding a charge. While I did have access to social media, I very frequently would have my device taken away, or had an activity that prohibited the use of my phone. This lack of a phone made it so my accessibility to these programs was limited. That limitation might be the most critical difference between those with smartphones and those without. With this in mind, Haidt reflects on how when technological advancements hit the public in two distinct waves, Millennials in the first seemed to avoid mental and social repercussions. Phones and advancing technology are framed as tools, as that truly was the original intention. “Young people couldn’t access social media.” in most areas of their lives, Haidt says, and while communication was

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