Reflection Paper About Digital Nation

We rely heavily on technology because it has altered our brains to only be able to think in the way that technology presents information. This presentation is a rapid, surface level feeding of information. A study on multi-tasking, video games, and learning preformed at UCLA stated that “most visual media sources are real-time media that do not allow time for reflection, analysis or imagination — those do not get developed by real-time media such as television or video games” (Wolpert). This means that because visual media is live, people are unable to think critically about what is being displayed, therefore their comprehension on the subject is lower. The extent of influence technology has had on our generation is especially apparent to me because of the age gap between my parents and I. I constantly have my parents making fun of me for taking too many selfies, criticizing me for having my phone with me when I go to eat, and even making me put my phone in my purse when I drive to and from places for safety precautions. They have made me much more aware of how I constantly need a distraction or think I can multi task by being on my phone when I am trying to complete an assignment. Ultimately, my parents have made me more aware of my habits but because of the society I am living in, these habits will be hard to

The general thesis of this book is “How the digital age stupefies young Americans and jeopardizes our future,” which happens to be the subtitle of this book. In the first chapter, Knowledge Deficits, the author talks about how the teens in the 20th century have the same or even lower education level as teens 30 years ago. Bauerlein goes on and talks about how the government is spending more for education compared to 30 years ago. In the second chapter, The New Bibliophobes, the author argues that teens are reading less books and their literary skills are not improving as fast because they are more interested in digital and pop culture. In the third chapter, Screen Time, lots of studies and surveys prove that teens are spending more time playing video games and socializing with each other online than studying. In chapter four, Online Learning And Non-Learning, the author talks about how teens are abusing the technology and pretending to use it for educational purposes, but in reality, the are using it for entertainment. In chapter five, The Betrayal Of The Mentors, the author explains if all teen follow this pathway they will utterly destroy their future by not making suitable for having a degree, job and poetically family.

Technology is an essential part of the American life and it's constantly changing with the newer generations. A few people view technology as a positive addition to life while others believe it is a negative thing and will take over their lives. Nicholas G. Carr a well known American, the author of The Shallows a novel about the various distractions that come with internet and how people are losing key skills. In the start of the book the negative effects of modern technology on the masses. Carr’s argument is effective and flawed for various reasons such as don't include the helpful advances have improved education, medical field and business.

Many people are being distracted these days by the overuse of technology. It has become very difficult for people to focus on one task at a time. Also, people are forgetting some old ways of increasing their intelligence and ways of developing skills. In the article “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” By Nicholas Carr, he argues that internet restricts the minds from increasing our ability to fully understand what we read online. He also argues that spending “too much” time online causes to lose the focus and train our minds to think more like machines. Also, in the article “Why Gen-Y Johnny Can’t Read Nonverbal Cues” by Mark Bauerlein, he argues that people are less interactive because of the more use of texting and online chatting. He argues that

Kids, teens and adults are now constantly navigating the internet or using some sort of technology. In the article “Is the Onslaught Making Us Crazy” by Tony Dokoupil, different psychologist claim that technology has a bad influence on the human mind. Throughout the text, real life examples, showing psychological breakdowns, are used to support the statement.

Increasingly, there is a large dependence on technology today as opposed to ten or twenty years ago. Technology has changed a lot of how life is lived today. It affects shopping, job seeking employment opportunities, entertainment and academics. There is no doubt that technology has set its foundation and is here to stay. One area in which the effects of technology can be clearly noted is in the lifestyle of children. The addiction to technology by children today has increased over the years. This is clearly seen in the developmental progress of children today. This dependence has greatly influenced how children

The use of technologies in the younger generation is very outrageous. “Raising Generation Tech,” “Kaiser Foundation,” (37) talked about the study, that shows how adolescents are wasting their time on the technology. He explained that, they are using technology for about more than “five and half” hours a day without including their school programs. And those whom spent their time on technology are the age of “eight – eighteen.” It seems difficult for children’s to have a good relationship between their families anymore; because they are more into spending time on technologies and not giving attention. Gary Chapman, the author of “Growing up Social,” also talked about one particular family’s who has three kids under the ages of ten years

Technology has become an important part of the American lifestyle. Everything from work to school involves technology in some way, shape, or form. For example, computers have made gathering and transferring information much simpler and accessible. This is a benefit to society because people are able to become better educated in a convenient fashion. Convenience has always been one of the main goals that technology has tried to accomplish. All major inventions, from automobiles to the internet, were created to make life more convenient and easier for people. Whereas automobiles made it easier for people to travel long distances in short amounts of time, the Internet has made gathering information, doing business, and learning much more convenient. Although convenience is a major benefit that technology gives us, there are also negative effects on society as a result of new inventions. Not all technology is beneficial, many new technologies have had a negative impact on our youth. Therefore, technology has hindered the American society because it has made people more self-centered, encouraged laziness in American youth, and made establishing relationships much more difficult.

What effect does modern digital technology have on individuals who rely on it heavily in their everyday lives? Innovations such as video games, internet search engines, and online databases receive great praise as well as great criticism depending on who answers this question. Nicholas Carr and Steven Johnson have both written pieces stating their opinions on technology’s effect on the human brain. Carr’s article “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” explains how accessing information quickly and easily through search engines like Google negatively alters the way people seek and read information and think. Johnson’s book “Everything Bad is Good for You: How Today’s Popular Culture is Actually Making Us Smarter” covers the positive attributes of digital technology, video games in particular. He explains how video games are intellectually stimulating and help develop complex skills. Digital technology has interesting effects on the different processes of our mind.

Over the years, technology has increased in usage within many ways and has caused successful changes in a person’s lively routine. However, technology has evolved since the very beginning which concern has grown over the negative effects of its excessive use. Nicholas Carr’s article “Is Google Making Us Stupid” addresses the tendency of technology to create a sort of mental laziness where people look for instant answers rather than thinking for themselves. Daphne Bavelier, C. Shawn Green, and Matthew W.G. Dye have written in “Children, Wired: For Better and for Worse” on the transient and persistent effects of technology on children, particularly in terms of media exposure of television, movies, and video games. Additionally, Matt Richtel, writer for The New York Times, states in “Attached to Technology and Paying a Price” that the tendency of the brain to respond to immediate stimuli has a negative impact on the average user, ranging from disinterest to daily tasks to the risky behavior of texting and driving. Ultimately, these three articles agree that regardless of potential conveniences of heavy technology use, the tradeoff is something to be strongly considered.

On the negative side, children are spending more time indoors playing computer games or the equivalent, but they are not developing interpersonal relationships. As the internet is becoming less of a modern convenience and more of a necessity for humans, young and old, it should be noted that the internet can cause impaired academic achievement, bad time management, and problems with health and interpersonal relationships (Lai & Gwung, 2013). In another study, Laverick (2009) states the children of the 21st century have lives that are interwoven with technology. These children do not know of a world without technology; in the study, this is called “an Eculture” (Laverick, 2009).

Technology has more negative effects on today’s society than positive. Due to technology in the past few decades Canine Shock Collars have been increasingly popular. Students in school pay more attention to texting than they do their classes. Violent addictive video games have made their way into American homes. Parents encourage their children to not text as much, but them to face the problem of constant communication. The Internet gives the students easier ways to cheat in school, and reinforces laziness. Internet Porn gives every bored male a chance to look at the seediest film in the comfort of his own home. Technology has taken the innocence and mystery away from the American family.

The film “ Digital Nation” is an exploration of diverse people's views on digital media, in today's world. Some of the most important topics were on the virtual world, and the pros and cons of technology within different groups like gamers, students, families, teachers, administrators, children, military and businesses, as well as the experience of general people. In the movie, Prof. Sherry Turkle said, “Technology challenges us to assert our human values. Technology is not good or bad, is powerful, and it is complicated which means first we have to figure out what they are”. Currently, technology has taken over, wherever one, goes one will find it. Over the past years, social media in particular have spread worldwide; from Facebook to Instagram. There is constantly something new, extra advanced and creative. Overall, the technology has evolved the way humans interact with each other. In particular, technology influences by motivating students towards learning, saving time, building literacy and communication skills.

My older brother, Jack, always excelled at any and all tasks that required a strong sense of reason. Despite his giftedness, Jack never worked well in any group, or even acclimated socially with many other kids. He wasn’t concerned with communicating his ideas to his peers, couldn’t make the effort to consider his words’ effects on other kids, and he was prone to angry outbursts when he didn’t get his way. While most other children grew out of these phases, Jack continues to exhibit these qualities even today at 23.

In today’s society, modern technology is evidently developing rapidly and it is portrayed as a negative impact. It can be seen that technology is a substitution of all characteristics of life. The purpose of every technological invention is to benefit the lives of mankind; thus re-enforcing the positive connotation of technology. However, in long term it may not be beneficial; such as, education, work and leisure are all becoming dependent on technology; cyberspace is dangerous and child obesity is increasing.