The issue I'm dealing with is the fact that younger or 'Y' generations seem to be getting addicted to social newtworking, television, texting, and media so much that it could hinder their potential for education and intelligence. Since the iPhone, Blackberry, Driod, and other smartphones have been coming out, it makes it easier for teens and younger people, amongst everyone else with these phones not only to text one another, but to check facebook, myspace, twitter, and other social networking devices almost constantly, leaving people with less time to be simply alone, or doing schoolwork and other important tasks. Though the world seems to have gotten 'more social' with all of these applications and such, it actually has gotten less so, in that many people would rather text than talk on the phone or face to face a lot of the time, and they might not even realize it.
The parts of the rhetorical situation that are already in place for this essay are the audience, the issue, and the viewpoints that will be discussed. The people interested in this issue are the young people being targeted and probably older generations who have seen said shift in this social issue and who may want to stop it, or who have seen their children grow up with this heavy influence.
Positions that are being held on this issue are as follows:
Professors think that these could be tools used for growth and good, but they are simply distracting and insulting instead. They think this because they want their students to be able to learn the 'old-fashioned way': without distractions and fancy tools that could hinder them. These devices are fine if utilized by the professor, who gives dissent and can moderate their use.
Parents are frustrated and think that their children should be less addicted to these things, and yet they buy them anyways. They want their children to be happy, and it seems that the only thing that will make them happy is if they get the latest iPhone so they can play Words with Friends all day to no avail in class, instead of paying attention. The children are unresponsive and distracted however, and the parents wonder why.
Their children, teenagers, and young adults are addicted to these things because they make life more convenient- something they have grown up with. (add, shorter attention spans) They have grown up in the age of information- where the answers to a million questions are at your fingertips- literally- and they truly believe that they cannot live without their technology, facebook, and the like. They live for convenience- they have gotten lazy.
The manufacturers of these products believe that they are also essential- they have created this era of technology, and now they must continue it because people expect them to. They believe that the revenue they are making with all of the new technology coming out will be worth the toll it may take in the future, depending on if it stays afloat or just sinks completely.
Personally, I think that social networking devices are essential now that we have them, but we could definitely live without them. Being a member of this 'Y' generation gives me specific insight to what this age of technology is doing for people my age. I think that everything being utilized by this younger generation could be used for good, but a lot of people are using it for unnecessary things (ie distractions, avoiding face-to-face contact, etc.) and that it could be harmful for their potential for education and intelligence.
Sheby, this is a very interesting issue to explore, and a timely one. You have clearly given it much thought and identified several different groups that are affected. As I understand you are trying to determine whether generation Y is addicted to technology (whether they can function without it). I wonder if any of your sources suggest that this generation is, in fact, using technology as much as people think. I also wonder if professors should all be lumped into the old-fashioned group. While you are right, some professors resist technology, here is a drive in the academe to incorporate modern technology. Have you seen this article about our USC professors, for example? http://www.sc.edu/news/newsarticle.php?nid=1404#.TrkiNnO1nNI
ReplyDeleteHope this helps!