Sledd 1

Michala Sledd
Mrs. Scaife
Rhett 1311-9:00 am
19 November 2016

The Impact of Technology on Society

How would you describe your childhood, remembering some of your fondest memories?
Childhood has not been defined and experienced in all of the same ways as the different societies
have passed. Everyday, people from all over the world listen to the radio, read newspapers,
watch television, and surf the internet. In todays society, this is how people take in information.
In the modern world today, many youth and even small children are seen preoccupied with
technology while at a social gathering. MIT professor and technology expert Sherry Turkle in
her Ted Talk suggest that Our phones are not accessories, but rather potent devices that change
not just what we do, but who we are. What Turkle means here is that youth are so busy studying
who celebrities are that they dont allow time and space to reflect who they are. For much of our
youth, digital communication, such as social media and texting are harmful in the proper
development needed for the social and personal skills necessary in order to mature into a young
adult. We are lacking self reflection, personal identity, and even missing a desire for face-to-face
communication.
Today, the internet is sweeping across many nations and becoming a part of everyday
use.

Sledd 2

Technology is becoming more important with jobs and use for knowledge. Although, many
Americans would argue technology impacts our youth in a positive way, studies have shown
otherwise. Digital communication, such as social media, restrict adolescents from developing
personal identity. The Kaiser Family Foundation study in 2010 discovered, the average 8- to 10year- old spends nearly eight hours a day with a variety of different media, and older children
and teenagers spend more than eleven hours a day. (Brody). Adolescents are growing up in a
society where the internet is teaching youth it is acceptable to create who we want others to view
us as. Technology allows us to be who we want to be. We create, edit, and delete the things we
want to share for everyone to see on social media. Digital media gives youth the time and tools
to craft an attractive identity, as well as an audience to view and respond to it. This allows youth
to create the packaged self (Gardner and Davis). By doing this, youth are lacking their own
personal identity and are instead creating a glammed up version of what their identity truly is.
Digital media has given adolescents a plethora of new tools and contexts to express and
explore their identities. From social media, instant messaging, video sharing, and virtual world,
youth often turn to their phones rather than their peers. Technology creates a companionship for
youth so that they do not have to feel alone. Often times, we are so lonely that we turn to social
media for relationships. Turkle argues, Multitasking comes with its own high, but when we
chase after this feeling, we pursue an illusion. (Turkle, Ted Talk.). What Turkle means is that
youth go after a feeling that is just a feeling and not reality. Young people often turn to
technology for grief. Our phones allow us to feel like we are receiving attention, being heard,
and the thought that we are never alone, when in reality, we are.

Sledd 3

In todays generation, digital communication promotes a lack of desire for authentic,

face-to-face relationships. Youth are so caught up with technology that they are often distracted
from their surroundings. Often, adolescents end up hiding from each other although they are
right in front of each other. Turkle acknowledges that I share, therefore I am. (Turkle, Ted
Talk.). Turkle means that we create our identity online instead of face-to-face. This is like
saying if you do not post on social media, do you even exist? Turkle also concedes, We have
the illusion of a relationship without the demands of friendship. (Turkle, Ted Talks.). This
means technology is a way to escape the reality of having a real face to face relationship. Today,
youth would rather turn to technology instead of personal interaction. Lacking face to face
relationships is harmful to our future generation, and it does not need to go unnoticed.
Although technology is affecting the way our future generation is growing and learning,
it is also helpful to keep in touch with friends. Digital media allows us to communicate with
people from all over the world. It may he helpful if you want to check or keep in touch with
someone who is far away. Also, technology does have some positive impacts on adolescents. A
study was done and fifty two percent of online teens have had an experience that made them feel
good (Maden, Pew Research Center.). Furthermore, some kids that lack social skills may
benefit from digital media.
In conclusion, digital media is beginning to recreate the way children and youth are
learning and communicate in everyday activities. Many adults encourage the use of technology,
but it is beginning to take over our personality. Adolescents are obsessing over the thought of a
packaged self, and finding a way to escape reality. In todays society, it is important to escape
our own life instead of feeling, for example,grief, that we miss out on the important things while

Sledd 4

admiring someone or something else. We have the whole world on a tiny screen right in front of
us, but will our youth get the proper development needed to survive in the real world?

Works Cited

Brody, Jane. "Screen Addiction Is Taking a Toll on Children." The New York
Times. The New York Times, 6 July 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 20
Turkle, Sherry. Connected, but Alone? TED. February 2012. Lecture.
Lenhart, Amanda, Monica Anderson, and Aaron Smith. "Teens, Technology and
Romantic Relationships." Pew Research Center Internet Science Tech
RSS. N.p., 01 Oct. 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
Madden, Mary, Amanda Lenhart, Sandra Cortesi, Urs Gasser, Maeve Duggan, Aaron Smith, and
Meredith Beaton. "Teens, Social Media, and Privacy." Pew Research Center: Internet, Science
&Tech. N.p., 21 May 2013. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.