Who has sat at a table where every single person is on their phone? It seems like it happens to me more and more everyday. Often times, when I am with my friends we will each set our phones at the middle of the table. Whoever touches their phone has to pay for everyone’s meals. This actually works really well because what college student can afford to pay for a bunch of meals?
As for teens and technology, I think that it is becoming more and more of a big deal. The amount of teens that struggle to hold a face-to-face conversation is starting to become larger. I read an article that discussed how parents worry about the effects that technology may have on their young children while they are developing. Teens are still also developing at a rapid rate. Along with still developing, they are more developed than a child, which means that they can understand and remember a lot more.
There are studies that have shown that social media lowers a teens self-esteem and causes them more anxiety, but why? Almost all social media platforms have made teens feel depressed, anxious, lonely, and have a poor body image. Many teens are too focused on the idea of having a bunch of likes and comments. If they are not competing with other teens in that aspect, they might feel very bad.
A quote from Childmind says “When they’re not doing their homework (and when they are) they’re online and on their phones, texting, sharing, trolling, scrolling, you name it. Of course before everyone had an Instagram account teens kept themselves busy, too, but they were more likely to do their chatting on the phone, or in person when hanging out at the mall” (childmind). I find this to be very true. When I was a teen I did many things other than spend my time on technology. I played sports and when I was done with sports I went home and ate supper with my family. Then I did homework and hung out.
https://childmind.org/article/how-using-social-media-affects-teenagers/
Another important part of being a teen is learning how to make friends. Making friends forces you to be aware of your emotions and it also helps you come to senses with talking to others. You have to talk to your friends about good and bad things and you have to learn how to communicate them. If you can’t learn how to do this without the internet, then you have some issues.
In my opinion, social media has more negative effects than positive effects. I see it in my life too. I need to start spending less time on my phone and more time with the people that I love and care about.
Digital Literacy with Shayla D. 