Fechter 1
Arielle Fechter
Ms. Lennon
Media and Communications
6/2/08
Over the years, technology has advanced. Most think for the better and some think for the worst. All teens use technology atleast once a day. More and more technology is being created and it helps, but it pulls people away from nature and not doing things they used to do; like going outside, hanging with friends, excersizing etc. The world is changing quickly and so are the teens, but no one seems to care how it’s affecting people.
Now a days, instead of natural communication there’s high technology communication that takes its place. Because there’s phones, internet, newspapers etc. there’s no emotion involved. AIM for example, teens can talk on it, but conversations can turn bad. Someone can make a joke and the other person can take it the wrong way because the other person can’t tell the sarcasm or the tone of voice. It just ends up as a misunderstanding and most of the time it ends up in arguements. Another example is, if someone is upset and they try to talk to their friend, but their friend doesn’t know what to say or do, it makes things worse, because it would be better if the conversation was in person. If it was in person, there would be physical contact involved like a hug. Also, if a couple or someones’ parents went somewhere, the child would miss their parents and wouldn’t be able to see them till they get back. They can talk on the phone, but it isn’t the same thing as in person.
Fechter, Arielle. “Advanced technology.” 5/4/08 In surveys of teens in high school, twenty-six of the teens have atleast nine of the technology listed; cell phones, computer, camera, dvd/vcr player, MP3, laptop, video recorder, printer/fax machine or a car. (Lee) Lee, Dason. Personal interview. 4 May 2008. Dasom has made clear that she can’t live without certain technology by saying, “Yes, I can’t live without my cell phone/laptop.” She uses her laptop 24/7 and is dependent on it the most. (Chung-yew) Chung-yew, Darol. Personal interview. 4 May 2008. Darol has notified that he uses technology a lot. He’s said, “I use my computer eight to ten hours everyday and I get a new cell phone every year.” Teens have been getting more and more cell phones because they either lost it or broke it.
Four of the teens interviewed, said that they world wouldn’t progress without technology. Everyone relies on it too much and it seems like they think technology it what makes the world today. Since many teens rely on technology so much, it makes others think; what would happen if one day all the technology disappeared? Everything would turn into chaos and nothing would be in order. If teens and everyone else is that dependent on technology, then what is there to look for if the world changes for the worse? Everyone can do what they want if they put their mind to it, but it doesn’t seem like anyone takes the advice, especially teens. Most of them just give up on one try. Teens can play sports without technology, shop, play board games, party, talk to one another and many other things. If technology is taking away from teens, then there’s no reason to encourage it more.
Technology has brought the world far, but mayhem has been caused because of it. Teens have died by being on their cell phone while driving. They begin to text, not able to wait till they stop or talk on the phone. Because of this, many parents have lost their children all because their child looked away from the road for a few seconds. There have also been car accidents from teens trying to change the radio station, which only takes a second to change. If a second changes someones’ life, then it makes the possibility of teen death very high. There’s technology everywhere and it distracts people. Another example is when friends talk to one another. Friend A can be talking to friend B as friend B is texting. Friend B can say that they are listening as friend A is talking, but the truth is friend B is engulfed in texting someone else and just pretending to listen. This happens everyday and it’s not conciderate to anyone.
Some people think that just because teens and other people can find out what is going on around the world and talking to people with technology, doesn’t mean the people understand or connect with the world. There’s a difference with knowing what happens in the world and actually seeing and feeling the emtions. If no one can truely understand how someone feels like Hurricane Katrina, then they aren’t connected to the world. Technology susptatutes for teens actually being “connected” to the world when really, they aren’t even close. In the future technology is just going to continue being advanced and everyone is going to be more dependent on it. Who knows, maybe technology will soon take over.
