Katie Hafner of the NY Times submitted and article claiming "Texting May Be Taking a Toll on Teenagers". The article brings up data from physicians and psychologists who have notice behavioral trends evident in this generation that were not previously as prominent before the explosion of the popular cellular devices attached to nearly everyone.
The devices were explained by psychotherapist, Michael Hausauer, as an "enormous tool. [Offering] companionship and the promise of connectedness. At the same time, texting can make a youngster feel frightened and overly exposed"(par. 12). Communication has been broken down into the nano second. The need for instantaneous responses from peers or parents has become the status quot. Parents are able to keep tabs on their children like never before. Kids have yet to know what it is like to be 'disconnected'.
The article makes clear that proving any solid theories that disease or illness result from continued cell phone use are too soon to tell. Several issues that have been correlated with the increased use in texting include but are not limited to "painful cramping...musculoskeletal disorders...anxiety, distraction in school, falling grades, repetitive stress injury and sleep deprivation".
I find this article very intriguing, many of the concerns are physically identifiable yet there is neglect for the changes in socialization that have occurred in the past decade. Routines have adapted so quickly and willingly to incorporate the new technology that its hard to imagine the world without it. What once called for face to face interactions, was belittled to phone conversations, and now has been briefly stated in a few shortened words of a new hybrid English.
Social interactions have become minimal as people everywhere succumb to the temptation of delivering news through email and text messages. Personality and concern seem to have been thrown out the window with symbolic interaction such as :), 143, 2n, 2m, g2g, ttyl, bc, l8r, k, u, r, tx, 2 (to, two, too). It is not a surprise that the communication on personal levels is reaction new heights of aggression. People do not know how to express themselves and vocabularies are shrinking as grammar flies out the window.
I wouldn't even know what today if suddenly all cellular phones just stopped working, thats how Im so used to and dependent to it. Smart phones can do so much things nowadays like gps, connecting to the internet and so much apps that we can use. Cell phones are so handy that most of us cant leave our house without it. Yea sure there are disadvantages of this technology but the advantages outweighs it way more. I see it as a way to improvement in our lives, as far as face to face interaction i don't think I have a problem with that at all but some may.
ReplyDelete