Article Analysis : Cell Phone Use While Walking Across Campus

Jean M. Twenge despises smartphones! That is the initial reaction to the title of her article “Have Smartphones Destroyed A generation?” . This will be an analysis of the effectiveness of the article written by Jean M. Twenge about the effects of smartphone usage on younger generations. With modern reliance growing more heavily on smartphones and younger generations being born with these devices around them, Twenge has gathered information pertaining to this new generational adaption that began to show signs around 2012. “Around 2012, I noticed abrupt shifts in teen behaviors and emotional states. The gentle slopes of the line graphs became steep mountains and sheer cliffs, and many of the distinctive characteristics of the Millennial

Within the decade, people can agree that technology has gradually impacted lives every day. Whether people believe it is progressive or destructive, it is established that for some, the impact of technology is quite concerning. An ongoing topic is whether teenagers are in fact addicted to their smartphone devices and social media. In Sherry Turkle's’ piece “Growing up Tethered” she provides student testimonials that only proves that teenagers from the ages sixteen to eighteen feel the need to be on their smartphones at all times. Although, technology does have positive outcomes and uses, Turkles’ points that teenagers are too tethered to their devices and are not as safe while using their device is correct because society is able to recognize

Carr’s diction heightens the power and control behind the cellphone. He argues that even though cell phones offer “convenience and diversion” they can additionally “breed anxiety”(Carr 1). Smartphones create our anxiety which amplifies our problems. The more people use their phones, the more anxious they become and their only relief to anxiety is to look at our phones. “Using a smartphone, or even hearing one ring or vibrate, produces a welter of distractions that make it harder to concentrate on a difficult problem or job” (Carr 2). The word ‘welter’ illustrates a profusion

Murphy’s essay tries to convince the reader that cell phones are limiting and distracting. He compared

As much as I regret to admit it, I’m attached to my phone. I’m constantly reaching into my pocket to check the time, make sure I haven’t gotten a new update, or to send a message. I do this even when I’m not talking to anyone! It’s become an addiction, having to make sure I’m not missing anything, and I'm not the only one who has this problem. Seventy-five percent of the world population has a cell phone, and that number will only increase. With the creation of new technology portions of life have become easier. Technology has changed the way we go through life. It’s made talking to people easier, as well as keeping up with the lives of others. However, the effects have affected the aspects of our lives that don’t include technology.

With the development of the telephone that was connected to a dialer via cable to wireless transmitted mobile phones. Reflecting on how she communicated in her youthful days, Mrs. Nguyen stated, “If we wanted to meet up somewhere, we would go to each other homes or meet at school and plan there, there were no such things as phones.” It is obvious to see that social change has taken place between generation X and Z. As the youth of generation Z are very reliant on mobile phones, found from the age of 13-17, 73% of teenagers obtain or are granted access to a smartphone and whereas 12% either choose not to have one or do

Within the essays, “Our Cell Phones, Our Selves,” by Christine Rosen and “Disconnected Urbaism” by Paul Golderger, both authors expressed concern about the usages and the path our society is heading down. It is remarkable that within 30 years the cell phone went from a large mobile phone called the brick to what it is today. If we are not careful with the cell phone and our dependence on it, our social communication skills will be permanently damaged. Cell phones have inhibited the way we interact with each other and the way we communicate.

Technological advances during the last fifty years of human history have given billions of people instant access to unprecedented communication methods. Individuals are no longer limited to letter writing and sending telegrams to convey a verbal message. E-mails, text messaging, video chat, instant messenger, and various social media outlets are all platforms for human communication in the modern world. One of the most significant communication devices to surface from the technological serge is the cellular telephone. Every individual with a cell phone has the ability to call any person, place, or agency at anytime as long as the individual is within the service provider's coverage area. The prevalence of cell phone owners has increased the use of cell phones in public places, such as schools, restaurants, and theaters, and their use in public is associated with both positive and negative implications. Some argue cell phones should be banned from public places because they are a social distraction, inhibit the user from being able to focus properly, and can cause safety concerns by interfering with airplanes and hospital equipment. Despite the negative impacts associated with cell phone use in public places, cell phones must be allowed in public for safety reasons, emergency scenarios, and to support the individual's right to personal freedom.

With 87 percent of American adults owning a cell phone (Jerpi, 2013), it becomes obvious that cell phones have become a staple device in today’s society. Although cell phones offer convenience, they arguably come with negative affects. Cell Phones have become one of the fastest emerging technologies (Campbell, 2006). With 87 percent of American adults and teenagers owning a cell phone (Jerpi, 2013), it becomes obvious that cell phones have become a staple device in today’s society. Since the release of the first cell phone, they have immensely evolved and some would say, have become an essential to everyday life. Although cell phones offer convenience, they arguably come with negative and impactful effects on our social

People have cell phones everywhere, especially teenagers. Teenagers are glued to their cell phones; they need cell phones almost everywhere they go. Today teens are depending on their phones for everything. The number of cell phones users has increased and as of 2010, there were more than 303 million subscribers in the U.S., according to the cellular companies (Hanna). As a result of teenagers over using cell phones, teens are being impacted emotionally, socially, and physically.

Technological advances have increased dramatically in the past 40 years. Martin Cooper invented the first cellular phone in 1973, which was called the Dyna Tec, while working for the famous company Motorola. The first cellular phone did not sell well because it was as large as a brick. So now knowing how technology has advanced, it is obvious to see why it is advancing. Although technological advances have affected both the generalized public and society’s teenagers, it seems to have had a larger effect on society’s teenagers, specifically the advances in cellular phones. Not only does cellular phone usage affect a teenager’s social life and literacy, but it also affects their health. Cellular phones have a great impact on a teenager’s social life. The following solution would also be in their best interest without them even realizing it. The over use of cell phones by teenagers will have a negative effect on their academic, social, and mental development.

The cell phone has become a centerpiece of everyday life as cell phones are evolving and have been increasing their functionalities. Today, we use them today for many others reasons than what cell phones were originally designed to do. People are using them so often that they are becoming dependent on their phones that they have even become addicted to them. Those who are addicted to their cell phones struggle to stay away from them for a certain period of time and become so indulged in all of the unique things they can provide. With cell phone addiction comes many problems or issues that can occur in an individual’s life. Cell phone addiction has lead to differences in people mentally, physically, and behaviorally.

One problem with cell phones in today’s society is that they have become major distractions. Cell phones are distracting employees in the workplace and are leaving them with their jobs halfway done. Everywhere in the business industries, the employees are hard at work re-tweeting and catching up on the latest newsfeed rather than managing their time more wisely. Not only are cell phones a distraction in the workplace, they are also a distraction and disruptive in school districts, causing students’ attention to be elsewhere. Many students would rather text in the middle of class instead of pay attention to what the teacher is reviewing. In this case, students do not gain the amount of education provided for them. In addition to cell phones being distracting, people often like to multi-task by walking or driving while texting. These things cause them to be unaware of their surroundings. Texting while driving has become a major issue because texting and driving can lead to car crashes which are often fatal. On the other hand, texting and walking isn’t too bad, but can cause a little bit of embarrassment. There are stories of people walking into walls and bumping into people or tripping over a table because their nose seems to be stuck in their phone. To some, being on their cell phone is more important than grades, clients, and others around them.

Blacker (2006) discusses how researchers from the Henley Management College interviewed people about their mobile phone usage and almost half of a study group of men and women in their twenties and thirties revealed that they "could not live without" their mobile phone.

For my observation, I went to the Buckland Hills Mall in Manchester, Connecticut. I sat a table located to the left of the Forever 21, inside the main entrance by the Panera. At the eight table positioned in a semi-circle across from the escalators, I sat at the table at the far right end. This gave me an open view of shoppers going up and down the escalators and shoppers walking through the mall, as this table was located at a busy intersection which a person must walk through to get from one end of the mall to the other. In addition, shoppers coming in through the main entrance had to walk by me to enter the mall, allowing me to also observe those shoppers. I observe all shoppers walking through the mall, and I divided my observations by male and female. For my operational definition of using a cellphone, it included holding a cellphone in their hand and looking down at