21st Century Generation

Without our digital devices, do you think we would last a day without being bored to death? The answer would probably be a “No”. The reason being that we depend too much on our devices. Technologies is very seductive, especially when what it has to offer meets our human vulnerabilities. We, as human beings, are very lonely and network is very seductive. Our network life allows us to hide from those we do not wish to see. We are increasingly demanding and expecting more from technology while demanding less from those around us, like our family, friends, and colleagues. While technologies does help us explore who we are, the world around us and makes us more knowledgeable, it is taking away what we once called interaction. In the book, Alone

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

People rely on technology to survive in today’s society. People feel like they have to always be on their phones to be accepted, but they are missing life as it passes right in front of them. For example, I tend to get annoyed when I try to have conversations with my little sister and she sits on her phone not talking or paying attention. I have to take her phone to get her to look me in the eye and talk about things. People in today’s society lack socializing skills and that is all thanks to technology.

In his June 12, 2015 article “Flick, Flick” published in the commonweal, Rand, Richard Copper wrote that people are addicted to their phones and they don't have time to make new conversation with others. People are using their phone to talk to their friends instead of talking to them in person. According to the article, people are “farming out” conversation, a significant part of their lives and their selves. In the article author gives an example, where his three friends and himself went to see the red sox game, instead of watching the game all of his friends were playing games on their phones. In the article he also says “ our here is disappearing” meaning that people do not want to talk to anyone in person; they just want to use their phones

Every individual is in constant exposure to all sorts of different types of technology. This continuous display then creates a major decline in all social interaction. People are content with their lives and remain unaware of what’s really going on in the world around them. In modern day society this can also be seen. With technology becoming more and more part of people’s daily lives, it has become more evident that we are drifting apart from each other. Communication is now being done through the use of social media instead of talking face to face. All through the day the average person is using such devices as phones, computers, and TVs during their free time and also when working. Activities such as writing letters along with the use of things like newspapers are slowly being replaced with the use of newer technology. Even books are starting to be a way of the past just like in the

Children and teenagers are distracted by their cell phones which causes less communication. Now technology is enforced to be used in school's. Another reason why technology causes people to be alone because of the use of social media. As of today the use of technology has started to take over people lives.

Whether alone or together many people blog video chat, and snap chat themselves and even share with those they are sometimes right beside. Young children are also having their own phones so they keep to themselves or they just don’t to anyone because they are so engrossed with the device. Everyone I observed exhibited moments of loneliness and happiness when on the phone with friends. Some even shown that whether friends or family were around that the phone would hold more of their focus than people around would receive.

“Little by little, Internet and mobile technology seems to be subtly destroying the meaningfulness of interactions we have with others, disconnecting us from the world around us, and leading to an imminent sense of isolation in today’s society.” (Melissa Nilles “Technology is Destroying the Quality of Human Interaction”) Because of technology, the interactions with other people have no meaning, and that we are no longer in touch with the world that we live in. Since technology makes it easier to connect and converse with friends, family, etc. it gives people the opportunity to avoid face to face interaction at all, which leads to isolation and loneliness. This is because as human beings, physical touch is something that we

Almost all connections and communication is at lost with human beings, so is their isolation. “Were lonely, but were afraid of intimacy. And so from social network to sociable networks, were designing technologies that will give us the illusion of companionship without the demand of friendship.” (Sherry Turckle) One can agree that Turckle speak the truth about society. Moreover, people have become afraid of friendship and intimacy, there no longer a cozy atmosphere. When our vulnerabilities take over us, considering that technology is our weakness, technology appeals to us forming an intimacy with the phone. There’s a lost of confidence in one another, there’s no trust, personally expecting from technology and it appeals to us. The feeling of loneliness makes us afraid of comfort and intimacy, feeling like no one is there for us. According to the article Watch out: Cell phones can be addictive by Kathiann Kowalski, she informs to the reader the boundaries between emotions and the usage of the cell phone. “Certain people use smartphone to lift their moods.” (Kowalski). A Cellphones removed human contact and interaction, loss of emotional intimacy and connection with another human being. With the usage of the cellphone our communication is instantaneous and efficient, but true intimacy and emotion is loss. In addition, we are trying to

In the article, “Baseball a Hit for Special-Needs Kids,” author Vikki Ortiz Healy uses examples and evidence to portray the message that coming generations are slowly becoming more understanding and inclusive of those with disabilities. Healy first uses evidence to prove this as she writes, “Specific Olympics Unified Sports, an international program… has grown to include 115,000 people in the U.S. and 700,000 around the world since the mid-1980s, according to Amie Dungan, director of marketing and communications for Special Olympics North America” (Healy para 6). Here the author describes the increasing number of people who are joining disabled-inclusive programs. Healy then uses exemplification to illustrate the message and writes, “...the

The new advances in technology are leading us to a dystopian future, the technologies were made to help us and make our lives easier are misleading us to the lives which will end up in loneliness. Technology is basically an application of science, which is used for the advancements for mankind and beyond, though it has made our lives more effortless and comfortable, nevertheless simultaneously it has made us alienated from our loved ones and our surroundings. Through technology we are all connected, yet find ourselves disconnected. Nowadays people are so carried away by the online social networking sites as well as digital gadgets, they are always fronting their smartphone's screens, and preferring texting or chatting over a real life conversation,

Not only teenagers and middle-aged adults, but even young children are addicted to staring down at a blue screen. How many times during the past year have you walked by a playground and heard the contagious laughter of young children playing? I bet that this number is very small. When I was nine years old, I remember what my favorite thing to do after school was. It was to play. Similar to every other child at the time, running around an open field or zipping down a slide was all I wanted. But today, the hushed silence I experience as I walk past the devoid park gives me chills as I watch the swings and slides wait to give joy to laughing children that used to frolic here everyday, but now remain quiet in their secluded houses. Not because it’s cold outside, but because nine-year-olds today are copying our technological obsession. Did you know that on average, children get their first cellphones at age eight? Our generation is becoming the most antisocial generation yet. Although many people disagree and believe that using technology, especially cell phones, make them more social, I don’t understand how sitting at home on a Friday night, texting or blogging, is more social than hanging out with your friends and enjoying the company of others. Although numerous people disagree with me, stating that technology is making people more social, I remain committed to my belief. For people who

Technology separates people because it nurtures addictions. For example, in her CNN article, Sandee LaMotte says that the overuse of cell phones has made people addicted to them, and as a result, has negatively affected people’s relationships with friends and family. Specifically, she says that people can get ‘nomophobia’ characterized by anxiety when they don’t have their phone on them. This can cause depression, which in turn distracts people, and affects relationships, because no one wants to have face-to-face conversations. LaMotte quotes Caglar Yildirim, who created a scale to test addiction ‘ “[Overuse of phones] might negatively affect your social life and relationships with friends and family," [...] those who score high on the test tend to avoid face-to-face interactions, have high levels of social anxiety and maybe even depression” ’ LaMotte believes that addiction to phones can reduce physical time with other people, to an extent at which it can harm relationships, and slowly tear people apart. In another example, in her 2011 social media article, Deborah Mackey that addiction to phones and social media can limit the amount of time people spend with each other. Mackey states that a large percent of people use their phones while with friends or family, and many even use their phones at meal times.

In today’s society, everyday technology separates people through underdeveloped social skills, addiction, isolation, and distractions. One major way media separates people happens when a fun, entertaining game becomes too addictive. Which in result, creates a difficult cycle to break from. Many people have addictions to their phones causing them to isolate themselves from others, giving them less time with friends and family or even avoiding human contact and conversations all together. One source has claimed this statement, “Daniel Goleman, author of several books on the subject, says that the expanding hours spent alone with gadgets and digital tools could lower EI due to shrinkages in the time young people

How does being on your phone affect your family and friends? Smart phones are not good for your social life, not including social media. You are not hanging out with your family or friends as much as you should be. Cell/smart phones affect your family and friends because you are on your phones all the time and don’t talk or/and interact with them. This website, www.scientificamerican.com says,“Cell (smart) phone usage may even reduce our social consciousness….” Also another website, www.today.com said, “kids feel