Do Smartphones Ruin A Generation?

Thesis: Twenge effectively uses emotional appeals to persuade her readers into believing that the excessive use of smartphones has ruined a generation.

Many times our fears of what is unknown to us are often the strongest fears we hold as human beings. However, what if it was the fear of things we already know that were the most powerful and influential in our lives? In modern society, many hold within themselves a deep-seated fear of the technology that the world has become so revolved around. Additionally, it has recently become debatable whether or not this technology has become a hindrance to members of the so-called iGeneration, born between 1995 and 2012, who have grown up in a world surrounded by technology. Truly, the members of older generations, including millennials who have had themselves split off from the apparent technology obsessed generation of the youngest millennials, have expressed their concern as to whether or not these vast differences in generations have to do with the unhealthy use of technology. Among those to have analyzed this phenomenon is writer Jean M. Twenge who in her article, “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?,” utilizes the study of a modern 13 year old girl named Athena to exemplify a plethora of determinants that technology has imposed on young people and the slow deterioration of everything from independence and social skills to a decline mental health due to technology use. Many of Twenge’s statements reveal the belief that many members of iGen are unequipped to handle adulthood and are even less happy because of the technology that has played a significant role in their lives

In her article, “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?”, Jean Twenge discusses how the new generation of teenagers are becoming highly dependent on their smartphones and need them alongside them at any given point in time. Twenge calls this new generation born between the late 1990s and early teens “iGen” after a recent survey found that majority of teenagers owned an iPhone. She argues that with every new generation, new habits form, both good and bad. The technological developments that have occurred in the last ten years Twenge argues are not a bad thing, it is how the “iGen” teenagers are becoming reliant on their phones and using them to avoid social interactions. They would choose to stay home alone in their rooms and talk to their friends virtually on social media versus actually leaving the house and doing something face-to-face with their friends. Twenge argues that if teenagers decide to leave the house, phones still have a strong presence, often not leaving the hands of its owner for longer than a couple minutes with social media like Snapchat and Instagram tagging along. Twenge worries that the strong dependency on smartphones and increasing rates of obsession with social media are a couple of the largest contributors to the rise of depression and suicide among the teenagers of “iGen”.

Besides the cell phone, does technology really affect us in our society? Today’s generation of teenagers are using smartphones much of the time. Researchers also found that many teenagers are using more smartphones. This constant use of technology has had negative effects on today’s youth. Constant use of technology by teenagers is harmful because it causes depression and affects education

Since 1975, the telephone has altered the way youth communicate with one another, and after decades of development it has ultimately led to touchscreen mobile phones which are known as ‘smart phones’. The versatility and convenience of mobile phones has revolutionised lives of all ages, surging across generations of X, Y and Z. However, despite mobile phone technology advancing to the stage where enough is never enough, constantly changing the way people live, learn, work and think. In addition, there is a massive social change between both generation X and generation Z, because of a vastly different methods in communicating via telephone, languages that are distributed, teenage behavior and relationships with others. In addition, Mrs. Nguyen part of the generation X, growing up in Vietnam, was interviewed to explore her youth and her thoughts on mobile phones.

For some of us, it is difficult to comprehend why our education systems have not yet made the transition to technology-based forms of teaching especially when we are in the era of technology. To others, the reasoning is clear and they support the original, dated usage of textbooks in a “traditional classroom” setting. The changes in our society are undeniable with the innovation of technology and social media. Although some authors, such as Neil Howe and Jean Twenge, argue that technology is deteriorating the minds of Millennials, technology is also providing Millennials with a way to create connections across communities.

cell phone and numerous children too, although I cannot speak for everyone, I would assert

Traditional broadcast media primarily exist to communicate with the masses, today however, newer devices and technologies allow for personalization of messages (2011, p.269). Some of these devices or technologies include cell phones, social network sites, and Wi-Fi which remain beneficial to many but they too have drawbacks.

People live in a world where new technology allows us to communicate more effectively. Wherever people go, they will see others using their phones and texting, emailing, chatting and tweeting to connect with others. According to pew Research Center shows that 90 % of American adults and 64 % of teens own cell phones. Whether people have a Smartphone, or a basic phone, eventualities are they check their phone, even when their Cell phone does not ring or vibrate. People should ask themselves if they can leave their phone for a week. I think they may feel lost. Cell phones are changing the way that human interact with each other and changing their expectations for social communication. People who are using the cell phone more than is necessary, it will affect negatively face to face communication and caused major health issues that affect their body.

The onset of cell phones has had a great impact in the modern society, and especially the millennials or the teens, and as such it has led to the destruction of a generation. It is apparent that what researchers call the iGen, people born between the year 1995 and the year 2012, depend greatly on their cell phones and their well-being majorly depends on their cell phones (Twenge 188). Researchers also prove that the iGen value their cell phones more that the real people because which proves that the cell phones dictate every aspect of their lives. The onset of the smartphones has defined the characteristics of the millennials which has led to a great change in the social aspects of the teens in

In my Unit 4 essay, I propose to argue that smartphones are harming the younger generations. Since the younger generation is born into a society where every data, learning, amusement, and everything else, is just one search away. They are certainly living in the information age with technology that is just a few years ago was unthinkable. Numerous individuals do not understand how this is an issue.

Some people believe smartphones have a negative effect on people, because they waste a lot of their time playing with their phone. We worry about where the nearest Wi-Fi is and what is new about social media. But, instead, we should pay attention to how much we use smartphones. Though smartphones are beneficial because they help us find people and information we need, they can also be detrimental since they are addictive and they get people hurt.

The smartphone has revolutionized the world of communication, besides making phone calls. Nearly all smartphones can provide directions through GPS, take pictures, play music and keep track of appointments and contacts. With the simple click you can install any app, the list of possible smart phones uses grows every day. But with everything we do/use always has downsides. Smartphones can mess with our sleep, stress us out, and take over our attention. Psychology may be the connection to helping people take back control of technology to prevent negative effects.

In the past 20 years there has been a significant increase in technology and technological dependency. A large portion of this dependency has been derived from smartphones, which have been dominating the phone market, primarily since the iPhone was introduced in 2007. There is nothing inherently wrong with smartphones, however they are causing more harm than help to this society. Smartphones and the dependency humans hold with them have become detrimental to society through creating a decline in human interaction, emphasizing value on inanimate objects, and ultimately creating a greater and more dangerous distraction than it’s worth.

Kids when they are younger are now exposed to cell phones and technology at a young age to keep them interested or busy, which is beneficial for the moment, but not in the long run. For example, I nanny a three-year-old boy who has year old twins in his life. Taking care of the twins and satisfying him at the same time was hard work so they introduced the cell phone to the little boy. This did the job by keeping him entertained, but a couple months later, he is constantly consumed by the phone. He watches it while eating dinner, going to the bathroom, taking a bath, and while getting dressed. When family members talk to him, he does not respond, and they then continue to ask until around the fifth time when he answers. They have started to realize the problem and they are trying to end the cell phone use until he is older. It is very hard, but it has become a problem that they need to fix. My solution to this, and to any other kids who are consumed by phones is to first of all, not introduce the devices to them until a good time when they can control their use. When they are that young, they should only have screen time for about a half hour a day, or whatever is a good amount of time the parents think. For those who do not know how much cell phones or any devices effect the attention spans of children should know the what happens before allowing so much screen time for their children. Next, there should be no phones at dinner because that is a time to interact with family