The Juggle of the Digital Age

Living in the digital age has rapidly produced many advancements to all aspects of life. Some examples of these advancements are the ability to instantly contact a family member or friend, the increase of opportunity for people to earn college degrees due to online learning, robots can enter dangerous environments to solve an issue instead of endangering a human, and you can order coffee off your phone so you do not have to wait in line. Technology is creating everyday tasks for humans even easier and to the point where the actual human themselves sometimes do not have to physically do the task. These advancements have certainly contributed positively to our world. At the same time, the advancements have created many problems.
Humans have become dependent on the technology, which has formed addictions, illnesses, and even causing people to lose their jobs. In the article, “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?” by Jean Twenge, it was mentioned that Millennials are owning smartphones and social media before they even enter high school; the internet “ever-present in their lives, at hands at all times, day and night.” The constant access to social media that this generation is exposed to has caused intense bullying and body image issues, further resulting in an increase of depression and anxiety in teens. Twenge also mentions that since Millennials can contact their friends easily through their phones, their desire for independence and to leave the house has decreased. Twenge claims that today’s teens are less likely to physically go out on dates and engage in sexual activity. They simply form relationships virtually and hardly leave their bed.
Millennials are not the only ones affected by living in a digital age. Technology impacts humans no matter what age they are or even if they try to avoid it. The film, “Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World,” by Werner Herzog, discussed the “dark side” of the internet and how it could be used as a detrimental tool. A family featured in the film suffered from hate mail and had photos of their daughter’s disfigured body, who died in a car accident, leaked all over the internet. The parents discussed how they no longer of the image of their daughter while she was alive, only as the what the gruesome images show. They also mention how “evil” the internet allows humans to be because they aren’t hold accountable for their actions while on the web. The film also discussed the issue of internet addiction. A young woman who was featured explained how she would sleep for six hours then for the rest of the day she would spend playing video games; neglecting her academics, social life, and basically her reality.
My own experience of living in the digital age reflects this juggle of pros and cons due to the internet. I personally love social media and the way I can connect to others no matter where we are. I go away to school and having the ability to send pictures to my best friends instantly on Snapchat, share important accomplishments to family on Facebook, and FaceTime my mom at night makes college life easier for me and honestly has kept me sane at some points. Not only has social media kept me connected back home, it has connected me to fellow peers on campus. Becoming “friends” on social media with classmates, fellow organization members, and just other people who have “University of New Hampshire” in their profile bio has led me to have a better sense of connection to the campus and create real relationships. The internet is also a vital and helpful tool for my academics. As a journalism major, having the internet allows me to write, live tweet, edit photos and videos, then publish them quickly to anyone. I pretty much could not do what I love without the internet.
As part of the Millennial generation, I do agree with Twenge when she claims that Millennials are owning smartphones and social media very early and are suffering from an increase in poor mental health. I myself have absorbed the negativity of caring about the number of likes I receive on a post and comparing myself to “Instagram models.” Social media can easily consume you, become your main priority, and make your mental state crash. Cyberbullying was a big issue during my time in high school due to the fact that on the internet you are faceless and un-accountable for your actions, as mentioned in Herzog’s film.
Living in the digital age is an amazing but risky venture. Technology is advancing faster and faster as each day goes by and I believe us humans need not to stop the advancements but to not let technology control us. We can not forget what life and relationships are like past the screen.