Are Cell Phones Destroying A Generation Essay

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”.

In the article, “Has the Smartphone Destroyed a Generation,” Jean M. Twenge uses rhetorical devices and appeals to build her credibility on how smartphones are destroying this generation's teenagers. The author presents several pieces of evidence to prove she’s correct, and shows how teenagers of this generation think and behave differently than their predecessors.

In American author and psychologist, Jean Twenge’s article, “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?” Twenge argues that smartphones have seriously taken a toll on Millennials. She claims that smartphones are wreaking havoc on Millennials’ mental health, as this generation is apparently “safer than ever” physically, they are “seriously unhappy” with life in general (Twenge 4). According to Twenge, children who see their friends on social media more than they do face-to-face feel lonely and excluded. I feel that with a majority of my generation, this is accurate to an extent. Many fights and arguments between younger people stem from Instagram and Snapchat posts. For example, innovations like the SnapMap now allow people to view their friends’ locations. Various viral memes, a humorous image, video, etc. copied and spread rapidly throughout the Internet,

“Put down the phone, turn off the laptop, and do something-anything-that doesn’t involve a screen” (Twenge 63). It is astonishing the amount of time teens spend on phones. Jean Twenge discusses the negative effects smartphone usage has created among the young and past generations in the article, “Has the Smartphone Destroyed a Generation”. The purpose of Twenge’s article is to aware readers about the many issues the smartphone usage has created on generations. Twenge narrates different stories about young teen’s experiences with phones and social media. Twenge also provides readers with statistics and some studies of many effects caused by smartphones. Twenge gives emphasize to differences between generations. According to Twenge, today’s

After the postwar era of World War II, many people eagerly anticipated a bright and prosperous future and were anxious to start a family. As a result, children were born in remarkable numbers, thus the Baby Boomers. Generation X and Millennials followed, with the latter making up a large part of today’s population. The current generation is one that has never known life without all the conveniences of technology. Dr. Jean Twenge of San Diego State Univesity refers to this generation as “iGens”. In her article, “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation,” she explores the influence smartphones have on iGens specifically. Twenge does not spend time reflecting on what some would call “the good old days”, but emphasizeS the seriousness of the ramifications teens are likely to suffer because of the smartphones, while alluding to the fact there are also some positive aspects that cannot be ignored. The implication of a generation being destroyed seems an extreme view, but there is evidence to support how cell phones are defining iGens.

There are many reasons I think smartphones have ruined our generation and one reason is because it took away our skills of having actual conversations and communicating. Instead of having contact in person many teens today just text their friends and family. Since they are able to text them, they don’t feel the need to talk in person or at least call

“Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?” by Jean M. Twenge on The Atlantic in September 2017 are changing people generation by generation. Twenge's thesis is that smartphones are changing the way teens act. Twenge is comparing baby boomers when they were teens to teens now. Teens now are shaped by phones. Smartphones are affecting teens by changing their personality and the way they look at themselves. She is stating that because of smartphones, teens are becoming disconnected from the outside world. In addition, smartphones are making teens less social and less independent. Also, another effect with smartphones is that they are making teens depressed and suicidal. In 2012, 50% of people had smartphones after 2012, is when suicidal and depression rate kept rising. The only good things Twenge states about smartphones, is that teens are more safe now. If there is an emergency, they can immediately contact someone. Furthermore, teens now have more individualism than millennials did. Twenge interviews a “13-year-old” girl and pulls her audience in by telling the girls story with phones. Twenge pulls back to the question, “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?”. Teens today do not see the bad affects a smartphone has on them. They are too attached to their phones and also blinded to see it from another person's perspective.

Over the past decade there has been an increase in the purchases of cell phones. As the company's improve the technology, people have started to desire them more. Technology is no longer just a way to communicate with others, but it is now a way of entertainment. People can now play games and watch movies on their phones . Cell phones help people with work . You can look at emails, there are calculators, and dictionaries. Technology has also helped people make relationships, whether that is a good thing or bad thing is still undetermined. The popularity of cell phones has increased so much that children now have them and parents use them as babysitters. In Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman says,

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

Teens are being less happy due to the amount of technology they are given to them as they’re growing up. Technology has its good advantages with improved technology for our everyday usage, for example using a GPS to get to your destination easily or calling a friend to notify them that you’re on your way to pick them up. On the other hand, technology has a lot of disadvantages that is taking over our everyday lives. Teenagers seem like they can’t go a day without their devices. They have access to Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and plenty of other apps. The most popular one today is snapchatting where you keep streaks with the people you send a picture of everyday. You must snapchat them once every 24 hours in order to not break the streak. In my school, I’ve seen so many people get mad at each other for breaking streaks and stopped being friends, which leads to connecting with the Article “Have smartphones Destroyed a generation?” Jean M. Twenge aims to show that technology is destroying our generation by stating the following statement, “There is compelling evidence that the devices we’ve placed in young people’s hands are having profound effects on their lives—and making them seriously unhappy.” This is showing a negative impact to technology usage more than it is positive. In the same article, Jean also did an interview with a girl named Athena. Athena mentions in the article, “We didn’t have a choice to know any life without iPads or iPhones. I think we like our phones more than we like actual people”. This proves that young teenagers do see the impact technology is doing to them and others leading to unhappy teenagers. This also shows that teenagers are less likely to hang out in person or to be social. Many people seem to use their phones when they’re in uncomfortable situations like walking past someone they don’t like or

With the span of cell phone production in America, it’s unlikely you will see someone without one. Across the US, millions of people have a mobile device and many of which are teenagers. Adolescents can be found on their phones constantly; whether it’s at school, in public, or at home. Teens are so caught up in their devices that they fail to experience the world around them. In today's generation, millennials are walking zombies. Cell phones have completely attracted teenagers attention, making them so oblivious to reality. Teens are too susceptible on smartphones.

Ask your local teenager or “millennial” their favorite accessory, companion, or resource, and you will most likely receive a common answer: their cell phone. Confusing and recent changes in social interactions have led our devices with access to the internet into becoming an extra limb. Because of the reality-altering effect of social media and the ever-growing availability of information, a quick search or refresh leads to an abundance of answers and outlets through tabs on tabs of various websites. In response to the “digital age” enveloped by social media, “connectivity”, and open information, adolescents with easy internet access are attracted to the availability and secrecy the internet has

The article “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation” written by Jean M. Twenge viewed the role of technology only in the lives of teens and excluded a large amount of the population. Adults are equally affected by technology if not more so than teenagers. Technology has revolutionized our lives as we can get access to information in a matter of minutes from anywhere in the world. This access allows us to connect with people and events in different countries. We are more aware of our surroundings. Technology has made us more efficient while reducing our costs for work and production. However, we are paying a large price for temporary ease. While logging my technology usage I observed others and I realized we are too reliant on technology. While it gives people a chance to change their lives, it also destroys lives. Technology is an illusion of people progressing forwards while we have lost our values.

Gone are the days when cell telephones were considered as extravagance thing to have with. The developing rivalry in portable makers has brought down the costs of cellular telephones to that degree that these days, purchasing a cell telephone is not a major ordeal. Simply spend a couple bucks and you are pleased proprietor of a cell telephone. In today 's opportunity, it 's elusive a man who does not possess a cellular telephone. The little contraption is an essential need of life. In any case, why everybody labels the cellular telephones as essential need of life? What is the significance of cell telephones in our lives? Here is the answer.

No wonder so many of them consider the cellphone (for some it is a BlackBerry or an iPhone) an essential part of their lives. Half of all young people between the ages of 8 and 12 own one such device, according to a Harris Interactive poll conducted in July 2008. The rate rises to around four out of five for teenagers; that’s a 36 percent increase over the previous three years, which means that these tools have swept into young people’s lives with the dispatch and coerciveness of a youth fad (like Pokemon and Harry Potter). The devices are more than just consumer goods. They are signs and instruments of status.