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Post by Admin on Nov 1, 2017 17:06:48 GMT -4
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Post by Margaret Meyer on Nov 1, 2017 19:07:59 GMT -4
In the article “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?” the author, Jean M. Twenge discusses the correlation between smart phones/tablets/social media usage and mental health of teenagers. She talks about the overall trend of teenagers spending more time at home on their phones and increasing rates of sleep deprivation, loneliness, depression, and suicide. I found the article surprising, while it is clear that phones have become more prominent in everyday life, I had not realized the degree at which it has changed the social structure of teen interaction. The statement that shocked me the most was, “12th-graders in 2015 were going out less often than eighth-graders did as recently as 2009.” While the decline in high risk teenage behavior such as drinking and sex has had a positive affect, I do not think it is worth the decline in mental health and lack of social development. While this article discusses correlations and not causations, it does make me think that the affect of phones/social media and mental health should be further investigated, and not just for the iGen, for all the other generations as well. Although my mothers generation did not grow up with internet and social media, they are definitely using it now and judging from my mom, they are using it with gusto.
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Post by muqaddam on Nov 2, 2017 23:36:25 GMT -4
This is a very interesting article. It depicts how much the “smartphone and social media era” has an effect on us and on the new generation. It brought up some facts that one might consider as saddening. I will be quoting a few lines from the article that I wanted to talk about. The minor, Athena, said, “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.” What an intense and overwhelming statement. We have come to an age and time where our minors like phones more than actual people. This is because they spend all of their time with phones and neglect the world that is actually and realistically around them. I personally would mostly blame this “way of life” and “way of perceiving the world” on social media rather than completely on the phone itself. Phones have always been available. Yes, they have developed drastically till the point we call them “smartphones”, but it is how and what you use these smartphones for. The real issue is that these minors have a feeling of needing to be a part of social media to either fit in or to be known. No longer does one need to “go out and about” to meet and interact with other people when they can simply create a profile describing themselves (honestly or falsely) and meet and connect with others that way. The article also states, “Like her peers, Athena is an expert at tuning out her parents so she can focus on her phone.” It is worrisome how not only do these minors have different views of this world and spend their time mostly on their phones, but they do not even make time for their family members and when they do, it is more for show, as their full attention is not given. Rather, they find ways to master “tuning out” of the people around them or the real world in general for that matter. I am sure this negatively affects the bond family members should have together. Lastly, I do not like how the author decided to call this generation “iGen”. Just my opinion and wanted to say that.
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Post by Jason McKinley on Nov 6, 2017 11:09:38 GMT -4
There is an underlying tragedy presented in this article. smartphones and social media bring us in such immediate contact with one another at any time and from almost anywhere. And yet avid users of social media often feel more disconnected and lonely than ever. No doubt what is missed are the physical bonds of friendship: facial expressions, hugs, real-time interactions!! Words on an illuminated screen just does not cut it. What's worse, is that the nuances of social development are delayed or even lost; navigating through a physically social environment actually takes practice. As a 39 year old who only purchased his first phone (never-mind a smartphone) 5 years ago, I am acutely aware of breaches in social etiquette which Athena laments about at the end of the article. However unintended it may be, looking at a phone during a conversation communicates to others a lack of interest. My daughter is 5 years old and I cannot help but think how I can mitigate the deleterious habits formed from an addiction to smartphones. As the author points out, it may be tough to stay on top of a young child's usage of technology, but we must try and it goes beyond just telling them to "put down your phone". As a parent, our everyday behaviors influence the habits of our children and so we need to be extremely cognizant of how we use the technology ourselves. My wife and I must exemplify the behaviors we want to see in our own children: Unplug and interact!! Be involved with and get excited about activities outside the house and off the web. Instill in them a love for being active in the real world with physical people. These devices are here to stay and are indeed important. We just need to strike a balance.
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Post by rahimjiwani on Nov 6, 2017 22:52:03 GMT -4
its amazing the depth of tech available to children today. almost every child over the age of 10 gas a phone or at least a device with some wifi capability. the content of what young people are looking at is hardly controlled and is causing numerous issues within society. today its often to see parents give there children a smart phone to watch something or play a game to keep them active in public as to not disrupt the dinner or what ever the family may be doing. this practice is detrimental to children's learning as they learn to lean on electronic devices to be occupied. I wonder what we all did as kids in public, how did our parents ever take us out?
the mis-representation of peoples lifes on social media create a chronic state of misconception in society about other peoples lives and experiences. its all to common to see a perfect family picture posted to Instagram accounts while there can be underlying issues, especially mental health ones that are not being communicated. the 'social media era' where one needs others for gratification is frankly one with a bleak outlook for young people today and undoubtedly contributes to mental health issues. i think clinicians can take a bigger role in helping parents with social media restriction
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Post by Taylor Vaughan on Nov 9, 2017 19:18:01 GMT -4
Like most technologies, smartphones aren’t inherently good or bad; it’s the way they are used that determines their effect. As a tool, smartphones are incredible. I think the issues raised in this article stem more from social media than smartphones themselves. It’s just that smartphones provide the means for that nonstop access to social media that’s so ingrained in this generation. For many teens, social media doesn’t just serve as a communication media, but an actual social realm, akin to school, the playground, etc. Of course, being a virtual realm, there is significantly less sex and drugs among this generation, who spend much of their free time there. While those stats may seem positive, I don’t think they reflect increasing teenage maturity or judgement, but rather decreasing exploration of their independence. Teenage years are a critical period of defining oneself. And with the almost obsessive use of social media(made possible by smartphones), teens are looking outward at a world they feel disconnected from, perpetually comparing themselves to their peers, instead of exploring who they are as individuals.
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Post by Ukpono Inyangudoh on Nov 9, 2017 23:50:11 GMT -4
This topic is a relevant one in our society today because smartphones are a part of our daily existence. From waiting at the train stations to walking/taking evening strolls averagely 7 out of the 10 people we meet are engrossed in their phones and letting life,possible friendships and opportunities pass them by,I am also guilty of the above despite my best efforts to live in the moment and not behind a tiny screen.It is also common to see teens at concerts and social events more concerned about posting to social media sites to gratify their need for popularity and to mask their loneliness and depression, despite the negatives there are still positive aspects to smartphones as stated in the article. There has been a decrease in amount of teen sex with simultaneous decrease in teen pregnancies and behaviours such as alcoholism as seen in previous generations and we can't deny smartphones also makes access to information and carrying out day to day tasks alot easier.
In conclusion parents have a vital role to play. Gadgets should not be handed to growing children and if it is they should be monitored and daily usage of smartphones should be regulated.Families should also have a set time especially during or after dinner to share their daily experience and bond this will encourage more social interactions with peers,as the saying goes "Charity begins at home".
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Post by Mohammad Ballout on Nov 12, 2017 0:54:47 GMT -4
The arrival of the smartphone has changed every aspect of our lives, i know it has changed mine. Today many men, women and children spend their days glued to their smartphones and social media accounts, these devices have not only taken control of our lives but how we interact with others as well. This article explained the huge impact these devices have on our social communication skills hence indirectly impacting our mental health. I think real life connections to other human beings not digital ones nourish us and make us feel like we count, like we exist. It is very important for a child to receive the right amount of care and emotion growing up, or else the child can have social problems in the future. Add on the fact that today's kids are surrounded with the latest devices and are isolated more than ever, meaning that the physical and emotional family bond isn't as strong. In my opinion if child grows up having a weak bond with family members it will reflect on how they establish social bonds, thats why i think the main focus should be on todays parents. we should educate ourselves more about the impact these devices have on our social and mental health.
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Post by alexzayid on Nov 14, 2017 17:02:03 GMT -4
If you've ever been to a restaurant in recent time, you know that it's no secret that the use of cellular devices has had an impact on our communication skills as a society. What began as a platform to share thoughts or photos as memories, facebook/twitter/snapchat/Instagram has instead become a platform that people chose to live through, rather than use to store memories. I believe this will begin to have long term effects on the youth of today as their parents' generation are more involved in the use of social media which drives them towards less physical, social interaction. This lack of physical attention, or drive to "act out" in front of the camera for a popular snapchat video may instill the wrong values and motivations in today's youth. The lack of face to face interactions may lead to more withdrawn, socially inept individuals we are producing and sending out into the community.
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Post by Tobin George on Nov 15, 2017 16:27:35 GMT -4
Smartphones have changed the way humans connect. Children born after the 2000s don’t know a world without the internet and teenagers all have some sort of social media. This article talks about the correlation between how long a person spends on their phone and their feeling of loneliness. People who are constantly on their phones feel more isolated from the world around them making them feel more depressed. The article talks about how young people with smartphones look to their phones before bed and it’s the first thing they wake up to. I can definitely say I am one of those people who sleep right next to my phone. Like the article said my sleep has definitely changed since I left high school because I stay on my phone longer instead of trying to go to bed. The article also talks about how homicide rates among children are going down while suicide rates are skyrocketing especially in girls. Athena the girl interviewed states she feels a certain type of way if she doesn’t get enough likes on a picture. I’ve heard this same thing from many people. The more likes they get on anything they post it ties into their self-worth. Children today definitely spend more time indoors and when they do spend time with their friends they are all on their phones instead of talking to each other. As we become more interconnected we are also becoming less connected to the world around us.
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Post by Terry K Tran on Nov 15, 2017 20:40:51 GMT -4
This is an interesting subject. Prior to coming to PACT Atlanta I was rotating through pediatric rotation with several other classmates, and I remember having discussed this same subject with them. My observation was consistent with the author. I've seen kids with language delay able to navigate their parents' cellular device with ease. What's disturbing is seeing parents giving up their cellphones to their children as a mean to control them. This does nothing for the child except for reinforcing a bad behavior. Recently I read an article on whether or not parents are aware what their children are watching on Youtube, as it is one of the main use by children. There are some video makers that makes inappropriate sexual contents that are not filtered because the characters in the video were fully clothed. The thumbnails were very misleading as well to evade parental screening.
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Post by robin chowdhury on Nov 25, 2017 17:17:05 GMT -4
I think cell phones have become such a norm nowadays that it is difficult to convince people about the topics that this article is discussing. Parents seem to be giving cell phones to their kids as early as 10 years old. "It may be a comfort, but the smartphone is cutting into teens’ sleep: Many now sleep less than seven hours most nights". this is interesting to me because i can apply it to myself. When i was in high school i used to stay up very late at night using my phone, and since then even i have made a habit of keeping my phone with me during bedtime. I think this subject should be explored and researched more because the more everyone becomes aware of the negative outcomes from constant cell phone use, the more people can try to change.
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Post by RC Arsalan on Dec 3, 2017 23:53:49 GMT -4
Unlike many people, I am not against exposing children to electronics from an early age. Our world is moving toward virtualization of most jobs. Therefore, it is actually good for the kids and the future of the society if children are exposed and familiarized with electronics since childhood. This would be most beneficial if done under correct and firm supervision of the parents. This would prevent exposure from becoming overexposure, which would not do any good to anyone. Overexposure could negatively affect children’s socializing skills, communication skills and many other aspect of their lives in the future.
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Post by gabriellewade on Dec 11, 2017 18:43:01 GMT -4
On one hand, I do believe that smartphones have played an integral role in "destroying a generation. In my opinion, persons have become somewhat addicited to their phones. It has become a routine to check to see what new updates have been added to our socialmedia timelines as the first thing we do on awakening and the last thing we do before going to sleep. If one happens to lose one's phone in the sheets of the bed or forget where we put it down one goes into a frenzy trying to find it. Smartphones have even joined us in the bathroom and in some cases may be the reason we stay longer in the bathroom due to constantly refreshing our timelines. They have added to the loss of interpersonal skills as persons now prefer to network on socialmedia rather than have actual conversations in social settings such as on a date or family gathering. What was once a means to escape from the "real world" has now become our real world. On the other hand, I do believe that smartphones and socialmedia should not just be examined for their negative contributions because they also allow for the existence of situations such as long distance relationships as relationships which were once lost when persons relocated miles away are now replaced by "Skype me when you land". This makes it a whole lot easier as we now have the option to be in constant contact with those miles away.
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