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The global growth and development of technology have played a remarkable role in changing the lifestyle of many individuals. Over the years, technology has grown and played a pivotal role in gadgets that help human beings connect with others across the world. Rather than increasing connectivity and making the world a global village, Sherry Turkle’s “Growing up Tethered “ reflects the negative effects technology has on the life of modern-day youth in a time of rapid technological growth. The article demonstrates the impact of technology in the presence of teenagers and how it changes social and behavioral patterns. Past generations had no access to technology and thus had physical contact. Individuals could visit their friends and relatives but after the growth of technology people have decreased in physical contact as they communicate with the rest of the world from the comfort of their home. This feeling of comfort that many young individuals receive from their technological devices causes them to detach from daily life, hindering the youth society from real-life experiences. This “shield” that technology provides youth from real-life experiences will ultimately hamper their state of maturity and ability to connect to reality. By creating a technologically advanced universe we’ve developed a deceiving bond in which teenagers rely on their devices for the feeling of mere connection sacrificing real-life experiences and conversations, hindering their overall state of maturity.
Initially, Turkle’s main idea depicts that adolescents have developed a severe attachment to the growing technologies and more so to the mobile phones and gadgets that deny teenagers independence. Sherry Turkle, a professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, claims in her excerpt, “Growing up Tethered” that “ We make our technologies, and they, in turn, make and shape us” (251). New affordable devices are emerging every day, making their accessibility easy. With new devices and their cheap alternatives meeting the tailored needs of most individuals, the issue of dependency too these gadgets spread to those privileged and less fortunate. A focus group studying generations born after the initial technology boom suggests that reliance on mobile phones and gadgets detaches an individual from the regular daily lives that would advocate for more social contact and growth of an independent person ( Hundley, Shyle 2010). The readily available gadgets and the current development in the technological world are changing the rules of engagement that, in the past involved physical contact. Lack of physical contact reduces the social nature of human beings and thus, lowers the chances of verbal discussions every day. The increase in reliance and consistent positive outlet that young individuals are provided with mobile devices change human beings into antisocial characters who fail to engage with people close to them. Therefore, technology tethers individuals causing them to be dependent on mobile devices to communicate and find comfort amongst their peers hindering their ability to connect with the real world outside of their deceiving technological gadgets.
Additionally, Sherry discusses the addiction teenagers have to cell phones and how the same brings forth changes in the styles of bringing up children, and aspects that delay the maturity of children. Eugenia A. Ives, an educator with a Masters in Education from Dominican University of California states “[…] addictive qualities associated with digital consumption and cyber usage is gaining prominence as a serious concern” ( Ives 2013). Over-reliance or overuse of technology can bring about changes in technology that trigger an alteration in the structure and how children are to date ( Ives, 2013). Correspondingly, the routine and lifestyle of the parents and their children. Parents are investing too much time in their gadgets such that they have little time for their children. Turkle argues that “ Excessive attachment with cellphones undoubtedly changes the rules of engagement” (Turkle, 172). The connectivity of teenagers with their parents and other people becomes less every day. Therefore, parents are not in a position to address the issues affecting their children, and such has a significant impact on their morality and their future lives. Though parents have little social contact with their children, the availability of the gadgets makes it possible and easy to reach out to the parents any time a need arises. The devices narrow down the gap needed for contact since parents are just a call or text away from their children. The convenience that cell phones give to the lives of people is a core aspect that provides a sense of independence as well as ensures the security of children. Although cell phones provide ease with communication and security, having a dependent relationship with these gadgets will obstruct a young individual from gaining their independence because an answer or comfort will always be a call away.
Furthermore, in her excerpt, Sherry Turkle shows the idea of the lifestyle of the current generations that are majorly affected by technology and cell phones to be specific. The facet of technology tethers the lifestyles of people and shapes their lives. Today, the majority of teenagers are glued to their gadgets, and this undoubtedly makes them slaves of their cell phones ( Sharma, 2018). Most people who are engrossed in their phones fail to observe the realities of the world as they are tethered to a technological life that is not real. In an interview with Turkle in the chapter “ Growing Up Tethered, “ Roman, a young adult eighteen years of age, admits that he cannot stop texting while driving. “ I know I should stop, but I cannot. If I get a message posted on my Facebook wall, I have to see it “ ( Turkle, 430). Teens consider phones as their paramount company and friends, thus their lives are incomplete without cell phones. People are losing their true identity first and are keen on developing a profile on online platforms that are a fundamental part of life. Teenagers, before the emergence of technological devices, were social beings who valued friendships as well as social contact. In today’s world, people have shifted the paradigm significantly to create associations on networks rather than in the real world. Some go to the extent of forgetting the existence of actual people in the course of life.
One cannot deny that technology tethers teenagers and inhibits their ability to interact and experience the world outside of their screens. However, technology can transport many individuals from the world they live in and give them a more broad perception of the world The exposure that technology gives to growing teenagers increases their chances of learning, and, thus, every teenager with access to technology receives equal opportunity. Although, accessibility can provide equality for less fortunate individuals, many teenagers without a proper understanding of how technology can help abuse their devices, not realizing just how detrimental it can be towards their growth into adulthood. In an interview with Turkle in the chapter “ Growing Up Tethered, “ Ricki, a fifteen-year-old high school freshman at Richelieu states that she has a list of friends that she calls to validate her thoughts or actions. “ I check with her if I have gotten this right “ ( Turkle 241 ). Then Turkle goes on to claim “ Technology […] encourages a sensibility in which the validation of a feeling becomes part of establishing it “ ( Turkle 241). This constant availability of validation or company that many teenagers have within a click away produces a fragile adult who cannot be independent and is not fully mature due to the ease of connection that their devices have always been able to provide. For that reason, technology can be useful to provide an outlet for a variety of difficulties catered to an individual, but in this society, many teenagers choose to abuse their technological devices in a way that will ultimately be detrimental to their journey to adulthood.
In conclusion, growth in technological advancement has a significant impact on the lifestyles and maturity of young individuals in current generations. The reality that technology has overtaken reality rather than improved everyday life is evident that people cannot ignore the same today. Technology tethers people in a way that limits their lives while dictating behavior practices and social lives. Cell phones are commonly used gadgets in the wake of growing technologies. The devices have created an imbalance between the actual experiences and technological developments. It is good to use technology to advance lives but overreliance on the same causes addiction and this affects the ordinary course of life making young individuals detach from reality impeding their independence and overall maturity into adulthood.
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