Technology Doesn’t Always Have Our Back

Regina Flynn
Sep 1, 2018 · 4 min read

Living in today’s world with all of its technological advances hasn’t been easy but it has also shaped our culture for the better and I am thankful to be living in the digital age. I had never really taken into account the ways in which my phone works as a life-changing device, but these changes are not always with our best interest. While the designated reading and film that we used to learn about this subject shed insight onto the many highlights, they also made it clear of how damaging the downfalls of technology are in our culture, in my own life these reflections can be seen. Most notably the impacts have been brought on by my cellphone but also the sheer vastness of today’s Internet.

Everyday I wake up and get ready only to go throughout the day looking at my phone every five minutes until I go to bed. A constant cycle of being glued to my phone in hopes that I don’t miss out on anything and am always available, wears down a person and creates bad habits. I do know without this technology I wouldn’t be as close to some of my friends as I currently am because of distance and schedules. There is an unhealthy reliance because moments without my phone have caused discomfort so many times and I feel that I have become addicted to the presence of my phone and its capabilities to have anything at the touch of a button. So many times we are left alone to tend to our own affairs and handling them completely by ourselves can seem daunting but with the aide of mobile devices we never have to have that feeling of isolation again. I know I find any reason to check my phone and the knowledge that someone is always with me digitally is a huge comfort when going through the struggles of life.

In Jean Twenge’s article “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?” these negative impacts on the millennial generations are shown clearly throughout. Independence for myself isn’t a priority because I know I can always have someone to talk to through my phone. In the reading, children of the digital age are viewed as lazy and dependent on human connection and the need of constant socialization. As Twenge (2017) explains “the allure of independence, so powerful to previous generations, holds less sway over today’s teens”, this information gathered from her own research and studies by other generational analysis expert’s holds true from looking at my experience. I just hadn’t seen my dependence as a flaw from technology, but most of society seems to be afraid to be out alone. People waiting for class to start or at the doctors office can’t sit and take in their surroundings, instead they must immerse themselves into their mobile universe to avoid the risk of face-to-face interaction because it is uncomfortable and unknown to them.

This isn’t the worst of it because teens are facing some of the highest rates of suicide and depression than ever before. This could simply be that we are in a time where mental illness is a discussion but the takeaway from Twenge was that it is due to the steady increase in cellphone use and the rise of social media. Twenge (2017) elaborates that this connection is due to the constant documentation of teen’s activities and the accessibility to viewing it right away, it is easier to see that you are left out. It creates a culture of proving yourself but also worrying that you are missing something because you don’t have any moments to curate at every moment. As the kids say “did it really happen if you didn’t Snapchat it?” and this seems to be more true as we become increasingly addicted to our devices. But it is important to see that this constant recording of events means that kids are connecting more easily and able to check in and see how people are at any time of the day. The depression aspect has a chance to go down if the connections formed on these devices become stronger and more meaningful but much of it can be superficial.

After reading this article it felt like a life sentence that couldn’t be broken was made, we would forever be stuck on our phones creating terrible mental health patterns, but the alternative might not be any better. Well in the film by Werner Herzog he would have you believe it has it’s perks to put those devices behind us. The most interesting part of the film followed a group of people who moved out in the middle of the woods to reduce their exposure to radiation and with the absence of much of today’s technology they have found themselves in a very tight community. They show their lives as full and happy but not without its challenges from leaving our society. Their families are often not seen again and getting jobs becomes a nightmare, leading one to believe there is no perfect way to live one’s life because there will always be issues. Communication is beneficial to our lives and either way we get it, in person or online, there are bound to be limitations on the effectiveness of the interaction method.

Highlighting the often attached connection we have to our phones in the digital age. (Shutterstock)
Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade