Often throughout history there have been contention between generations, as the older generation disapproves of the younger generation’s attitudes and morals (Cortez). As social values and priorities change and evolve, for better or for worse, the older generation are often nostalgic for “the good old days” while the younger generation often embrace and even find relief in the new lifestyle. This generational conflict can be seen today in the disdain many older adults have with the so-called Millennial Generation, which Strauss and Howe describe those born from 1982 to 2004 (Bump). However, the conflict has been widened with the rapid growth of technological advances in communication devices such as smart phones and specifically in social …show more content…
However, there is research that suggests overuse of social media may be more than just abuse.
A study at the University of Maryland had 200 college students disconnect from their phones for 24 hours and then blog about it: the students described the experience in terms similar to drug addiction going through withdrawal. Symptoms such as anxiety, craving, depression, and jitteriness were described, which coincide with symptoms familiar to drug addicts attempting to quit (Merrill Study). The feelings while using the social media are also similar to those of drug users, with one student admitting that social media provides “a constant feeling of comfort” and reduces feelings of seclusion from loved ones (Laster). However, regardless of this study, it is cogent to note that the American Psychiatric Association has not formal recognition of Social Media or Internet Addiction as an official psychological disorder. For this study in particular, critics such as blogger Zack Whittaker point out that the results were misinterpreted: the diagnosis of addiction is not a strongly supported one and this “addiction” is merely an escalation of the amount of time that individuals spend on social media sites that naturally coincides with the recent increase in their presence and importance in daily life (Whittaker). While investigation continues into whether the social media epidemic should be categorized as overuse,
Millennials have dominated the use of technology and social media over the years to a point where it is not even debatable. According to a report on adweek, the millennial generation has used smartphones over 70% in the bathroom and over 50% at the dinner table with their respective families. However, some would argue that generational separation is still apparent in today's modern day America. Beth Mcmurtrie, a senior writer of The Chronicle, considers that the young students of today can be deemed as too sensitive and conservative concerning the arguments that are found offensive. In the article, “A Free Speech Divide’’ she argues that the students often need attention and protection is discussed in the topic of conversation. Looking
As generations go by, our predecessors assume we are skipping out on important aspects of life just to get a few extra minutes on our devices. In Catherine Rampell’s “A Generation of Slackers? Not So Much”, it is said the older generations believe Generation Y is “coddled, disrespectful, narcissistic, and impatient” (Rampell 388). In all reality our generation is just doing what it has to in order to thrive in the world we live in, where technology is one of the largest parts of our everyday lives. If the older generations that criticize Generation Y had grown up in Generation Y they would realize the world we live in requires the use of technology. The advancement of society with technology has shaped Generation Y to be the people that they are, relying on technology; however, older generations believe Generation Y is lazy.
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
This simile describes social media to be, “Like a drug, we think getting a fix will help, but it actually makes us feel worse” (Walton). By comparing social media use to drug addiction, the author inhabits fear into social media users. This simile continues throughout the article to show that over-dependency and addiction are common when it comes to social media. The author states, “We have known for some time that people who are over-dependent on digital devices report feelings of anxiety” (Walton). Additionally, with t words related to addiction and drug-use used as descriptors for social media such as addiction, withdrawal, and fix, the simile lingers to help demonstrate how social media’s effects can be very destructive towards one’s mental health just like drug addiction.
There are currently six living generations in the United States, each with different characteristics, beliefs, and values. The things that define each generation’s culture are derived from their history, upbringing, and the lifestyle of their time. Our generation was born between 1980 and 2000. We are called Millennials. More specifically, we grew up in the South, which typically lends itself to being more conservative and religious. These characteristics, along with our instant gratification attitude, define who we are, what we believe, and how we view other generations. For example, we might have differing views with the Silent Generation. Some Millennials may feel the Silent Generation’s social, religious, and economic conservatism is outdated.
The purpose of this news article was to bring light to a topic that adults and non-millennials probably would not comprehend and or understand otherwise about the current generation and what they gravitate towards. Examples of this could be an elderly parent or grandparent wondering why their child/grandchild loves social media so much or a young person being curious of which app they use the most. The article is mostly focused around college and high school students. The research study further goes on to explain why this trend is happening through questions, graphs, and exact numbers. It goes on
Over 70 years has passed since the end of World War II, and since that time our society has seen 4 generations transition into the next on a bridge scarcely understood by those preceding or following them. These cohorts are known in their chronological order as The Baby Boomers (born 1946 – 1965), Generation X (born 1965 – 1981), The Millennials (1981 – 1994), and now The Centennials (born 1994 – early 2000s), or Generation Z, a group whose exact demographics are still largely undefined. The disparity between the Millennials and their postwar predecessors, The Baby Boomers, can be noted by studying characteristics of each generation, and how the socioeconomic factors surrounding war and technology have shaped them. While their basic needs and core similarities are innately human, objectively speaking, their views, biases and outlooks have most certainly been impacted by the events and advancements of their time.
This research has helped me understand how students in our cohort and from all over the world feel this over-reliance on media, by proving that there is a direct correlation between too much social media communication and anxiety and depression (McHugh, 2011). This experience has taught me that I rely too much on all forms of media and that it would be better for me to learn how to manage my use of media. This challenge would be something I would consider doing again in the future, with my family, to see if we can actually stay offline for the entire 24 hour
Everyday Facebook is used by millions around the world, the social media platform is said to be used for connecting and sharing with people in our lives. After watching “Generation Like” a bigger use for Facebook and many other similar social media websites is brought to the viewers attention. After watching this documentary I felt scammed, how could I have been sucked into this vacuum of marketing? I wanted to go to every profile I had ever made and edit each one. After being shown what to look at I agree that most people don't know how much liking things on Facebook can alter their ads, suggested friends, and even celebrities they follow. It definitely has made me change my mind on the pages i'm going to like and pay attention to. In a way
Have you ever had a good or bad experience with social media? Have you ever been a part of a protest that was started on social media? I think that social media is a good thing because you can have so much fun on it and even make friends on in. Without that you would be limited to the kids in your neighborhood and in some places there are not a lot of kids that you can make friends with or they do not live close so you have to drive there. That is all fixed with social media. Like recently I have found some friends on social media that I play games with. They are super nice and without social media I would have never had that experience I would have to play be myself all the time and have no one to talk to. But now I have the chance to make friends and have fun with them even tho they live far away. Also colleges and most jobs look at your social media account to see what kind of person you are and if you are able to work so not only can you have fun but you can also potentially make money from it and you can make friends. Things like Facebook are so convenient to talk with friends or family without that we would need to call them and that is just so much harder to do then
The most genuine complication of social media is addiction. A reporter on Salem health characterized that text messaging is no longer the biggest teenage obsession, and enormous phone bills from lengthy phone calls are no longer the biggest doubts for parents. These teenage addictions still remain, but in our generation and in analogy to the Facebook mania, it’s quite insignificant. Facebook addiction is advised to be a disorder driven by a craving. Not being able to access Facebook creates anxiety among fanatics. It is one of the most prominent social networking sites and has over one billion users without exception. People detach themselves from family and friends. Further symptoms of Facebook addiction have been related with needy sleep patterns. Researchers have also attempted to evaluate certain personality traits to the obsession. Being in touch with friends and family might clarify the logic why people are unreasonably obsessed.
Social media seems to be one of the many hot topics of discussion recently, and consequently many people have the false sense of security that they have a profound knowledge on how it affects the health of the teenage population. A sedentary lifestyle, decreased sleep, as well as other physical health conditions seem to come to mind when one links health and social media. However, there is a much bigger problem that can go unnoticed because it can be impossible to see: the impact it has on mental and emotional health. These branches of health are just as important, and even arguably more important than physical health is. Social media can be utilized to connect with distant friends and express oneself; however, teenagers should refrain from the overuse of social media due to its detrimental effects on their mental and emotional health.
In today’s society almost every individual has some type of social media, whether it is Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, or Twitter, People have accustomed to utilizing these types of social media and it has become part of their life and daily use. According to the essay “Students Addicted to Social Media” by the International Center for Media and Public Agenda, the study from the University of Maryland claims “American college students today are addicted to media” (Signs of Life in the USA 403). The university discovered that when these students are restricted from using media it is similar in terms of drug and alcohol addictions. During the study that the university conducted, students discuss how boring it is without media and how it gives them anxiety about not receiving information through social media. Other students claimed that texting and IM'ing gives them comfort and if they do not have these items then they feel alone and isolated from the world ( Signs of Life in the USA 404). Students are not the only ones who have an addiction of media but also parents and non-students. However, the International Center is accurate in some aspects and the responses students gave are very relatable which some people can agree with.
This study relied on survey data and was cross-sectional research. Future research could include a qualitative approach in order to better understand the levels of addiction to social media, and the severity of mental health amongst participants with depression and anxiety.
Despite the fact that we’re already in the 21st century, society continues to show signs of progress and development strongly leaning towards the direction of advancement, constantly evolving. This pattern is no different from the world of advertising, as it has also evolved through the years and quite recently an unexpected technological innovation took the world by storm. It made such a tremendous impact that eventually led to the transformation of traditional marketing, and it’s no other than social media that we all learned to love.