Smartphones Destroyed A Generation

    (summary) In the article “Has the Smartphone Destroyed a Generation?”, Jean M. Twenge discusses the effects smartphones have created on younger generations. Twenge is a psychologist who has been researching the differences in generations for 25 years. In accordance to Twenge, smartphones have significantly increased the rates in teen depression and suicide. Twenge describes the generation iGen (born between 1995 and 2012) as being on the verge of the worst mental-health crisis in decades. Twenge’s research shows statistics on many factors that are affected by social media, smartphones, and the internet. For example, the number of teens feeling lonely or depressed has increased significantly since 2011. The number of teens that do activities outside of home is another example. According to Twenge, the number of teens that go out with their

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

“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,” (Paragraph 2). The upcoming growing generation Mrs. Twenge discovers that they are growing up with a smartphone within arm’s reach. She talks to this little girl she calls Athena and asks her if she goes to the mall with her friends alone. Athena tells her no, that when she goes to the mall with her friends its always with her mom and brothers, but they stay a little behind. She says that she had to check in every 30 minutes with her mom and let her know what they are doing. As Mrs. Twenge is talking to Athena she starts to find out how teens today communicate. She finds out that snapchat is one way they communicate and according to Athena it’s also another great way to blackmail someone to. Jean M. Twenge paints a frightening picture of how smartphones are destroying the upcoming generation.

In her article “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?”, Jean M. Twenge discusses the effects on “generation i” with rising smartphone and social media usage. In the article, she provides multiple statistics to support her claims on what’s happening with the “i generation”, and generations past through social media use. She concludes that while smartphones have some positive social impact on the generation (like lower teen pregnancy rates), there has been real damage to the generation as well. I have concluded that, our generation has been more negatively impacted through smartphone usage than positively impacted. This is a strong point to make but, through my own experiences and, after reading Twenge’s article I find myself thinking about what smartphones have done to us as a growing generation. I have witnessed firsthand numerous downsides to having a smartphone that Twenge reports on.

Today I think people, especially teens, are on their phone way too much. When I walk down the street, all I see is the top of people’s heads. The things that really stand out to me are how we overuse our technology to the point where people are being distracted when they drive and how people are becoming lazy and passive learners. While some might say we should not limit how much we use our cell phones, I think we would be better off limiting our time and usage on our phones.

However, Twenge makes an emphasis on the decline of mental wellness that smartphones seem to cause. She includes quotes from teens in her article stating how certain environments on smartphones, such as social media, effect their emotions. Twenge says that teens not invited to social events are made very aware through posts from friends on social media, leading to feelings of loneliness and exclusion. In addition, cyberbullying is a majorly targeted issue, teens who spend more time on their phones are more likely to be bullied online which can lead to depression. There are also percentages of the increase teens who report feelings of loneliness or wishing for a good friend, things that can lead to depression. She explains how allowing for more room for feelings of loneliness and exclusion to lead to depression can eventually lead to suicide. The article explains how smartphones can become a hazard if slept with in bed as well as how they can lead to sleep deprivation. She explains how teens use language of addiction when they speak of their

In September 2017, Jean M. Twenge articulates the development of generation “iGen” in the article “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?”. In the article Twenge talks about post-Millennials and how they are generally safer and cleaner then past generations have been. The facts Twenge provides are enlightening to the problem areas that need improvement in this generation. Generation “iGen” has become more dependable of technology and has been spending time with technology more than ever before. This generation has become powered by their smartphones; it has changed the way several people live today and has brought many individuals to a point of mental illness.

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,

In the September 2017 issue of The Atlantic, Jean M. Twenge factually accounts for the brisk changes in “Generation Z’s” ways of living as compared to generations before. The article, entitled Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation, propels valid evidence justifying that the release of smartphones and tablets has procured an entire generation to develop unfamiliar habits. An iPhone or Android in the hands of a child who has yet to reach the middle school level is becoming increasingly common. Twenge explains how Generation Z, or ‘iGen,’ grew up with technology and has not known about a time before the internet. With this upbringing, there have been evident “shifts in teen behaviors and emotional states,” as found through years and series of national surveys. Emerging from these changes, they are physically safer; however, tend to have higher rates of suicidal thoughts or poor mental health. Also concerning to those raising the generation, teens are less likely to strive for their own individual freedoms, such as obtaining a driver’s license, going out with friends, and finding a job. In this article, Twenge elaborates on both the benefits and disadvantages of the newest generation growing up with various technologies at their fingertips.

In “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?”, Jean M. Twenge criticizes how smart phones have negatively transformed today´s post-millennial generation by putting them into a mental-health crisis. The author compares her generation when they were teenagers, with the kids of nowadays who spend most of their time in their phones instead of having social interaction. Twenge also states how this post-millennial generation tends to fall into depression, and homicidal rates have risen due to this technological impact. I believe that as the technology advances, the generations that come tend to go backwards in the way they behave in their everyday life.

I have had many times where I have been invited to a party or even to go get something to eat. Nine times out of ten I would and still will say no. This is because I have a passion for gaming. I love to play video games so much that it gets in the way of me spending time with my friends. Sometimes I only leave my room to go eat and go to the bathroom. My personal relationships are at stake with this obsession. If I do not receive an invitation, then I wonder why I did not get one. Was it the way I act or did I make them mad? The real reason is that I have not put myself in the position that benefits me to make a better personal connection with each of these people. I have a friend group that will play games with me all day and that is how I connect with them. Once doing so, I feel like I have wasted the day

Are cell phones taking over our generation? The average teenager uses their phones nine hours a day. Cell phone use should be cut down because they can cause cancer, bring grades down, and cause the user to expect instant gratification.

Much of the world today is dependant on cell phones. Whether it's for calling family or just talking to a friend they are part of our daily lives. They are progressively getting better and better each day. Did you know that 91% of adults own a smartphone or just even a regular flip phone, and that 60% of teens own a cellphone. Everyday the number of teens with cell phones increase. Cell phones come with many positives. For example, they allow you to have mini computer in the palm of your hand which allows you to use things like a calculator. Although there are many good things that come with a cell phone there are many negatives. For instance, radiofrequency exposure and increased stress levels are just a few of the many bad things that come with having a cellphone. Cell phones can not only affect your mental health they also affect your physical health (Borreli). Even though there are some good things that come from cell phones, there are a significant amount of more bad things that come along with having a cellphone. Cell phones are bad for your mental and physical health.

“Technology can be our best friend, and technology can also be the biggest party pooper of our lives. It interrupts our own story, interrupts our ability to have a thought or a daydream, to imagine something wonderful, because we are too busy bridging the walk from the cafeteria back to the office on the cell phone”, said Seven Spielberg. Everywhere you are no matter what, you will see someone in contact with his or her cell phone. The effects of them cause negative and positive outcomes within our society. Cell phones have influenced society both positive and negative ways regarding teenagers life, social interactions, emergencies & crimes, and health.

There’s no denying that technology has improved most people’s lives. Most people, including teens and in some cases children carry cell phones with them at all times. People no longer get lost when they travel because they have a navigational system to guide them on their phones. In case of an emergency, people be reach though different social platforms. People are depending on technology to work for them all the time, but when it doesn’t people feel lost. Smart phones are no longer used for what they were meant for, people don’t talk to each other over the phone anymore. Technology that allows communication through social media like smart phones has impacted the everyday lives of people in good ways: however, it has also been detrimental to the social lives of adolescents.