Texting

In “Compulsive Texting Takes Toll on Teenagers” by Roni Caryn Rabin, Rabin focuses on the detrimental effects of texting on today’s generation and how it impacts students’ performances in high school. In the study stated in the article, it looked at “several elements of school performance, not just grades, but school engagement or “bonding,” as well as student’ perceptions of their own academic competence” (Rabin 1). Through a series of questions, the researchers were able to determine that girls compulsively text more than boys and overall, there is an active correlation between texting and poor performance in school.

In this text, it is clear that Rabin is against texting. She introduces multiple studies and facts about poor academic performance, lack of sleep and how girls have an increase of anxiety because of texting. It doesn’t include how efficient and important texting can be today, especially as teenagers.

In “How Are Media Born and Developed?” by Brian Winston, he introduces two major concepts when analyzing media. Out of the two ideas, technological determinism and cultural determinism, Winston agrees with culture coming before technology and outside factors having an influence on our daily decisions. In technological determinism, however, he challenges the concept because it states that technology determines what we say and do. In “Compulsive Texting Takes Toll on Teenagers”, cultural determinism is present because it’s based on technology disrupting today’s youth to a point where society changes. Teenagers would rather spend time texting others than talking face to face.

Lastly, based on the ideas presented by Winston and how he categorizes media, I agree with this article being more cultural determinist; it proves that culture was overpowered by teenagers through the use of technology. It’s crucial to understand Winston’s perspective because it allows our generation to reflect on our actions and how much we use our phones for texting.