Deficit: The Brain Syndrome Of Our Era, By Konnikova

In his June 12, 2015 article” Flick Flick”, published in Commonweal, Rand Richard Cooper argues that the technology of “handheld devices” interferes with being in present with others and being present with ourselves. He measures pieces of evidence to illustrate his point; for example, he mentions teens in a school bus busy with their phones and they do not communicate with each other. The author uses technology; however, he agrees that with the excessive uses of technology we lose the ability to communicate, the personal freedom and our time to our selves. Also the author claims that we lose the appreciation of nature around us and our ability to do the daily actions. Cooper even explains how people interact with their phones and cannot stop

one chooses, Gchat, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, all are suitable ways of keeping in touch with friends and family. Throughout the article, Wortham contributes examples of how technology and modern communication has provided a practical means of communication for her and her boyfriend, despite being on different schedules. Wortham states, “…adding the Internet to the mix can strengthen a relationship over all, because online interactions have their own entertaining rapport that can coexist with their offline counterparts” (p.396). In making this comment, Wortham urges us to realize that distance is no longer a deterring factor, although it does not replace face to face conversation, it undoubtedly creates a sense of closeness and intimacy. Furthermore, she stands by her argument for the usage of modern technology such as the many Apps.

Bonanno continues by discussing some of the reasons social media has such a substantial impact on relationships: “it allows the luxury of easily keeping in touch”, “it can help combat feelings of loneliness”, “it allows us to keep tangible markers of times and places, archived for us, and available for all to see, but no intimate; and lastly, it just is not a real connection as it would be face to face. Viable solutions to the problem, Bonanno suggests, maintaining and real life relationship with individuals rather than just online and also enabling balance into

When everything we do depends on technology, we often don’t notice how much it affects us. Most of the time technology isn't so bad, and is very useful. For example, it has modernized the way we chat and communicate with others. It has also changed the way we travel from location to location not matter the distance. However, the effect of it all really depends on how and why it is being used.

In “The Limits of Friendship” by Maria Konnikova, social media has significantly changed the way we interact with friends and family. Everybody thinks that using social media is the best way to talk to friends and family, however, in my opinion, they are wrong because it doesn’t give you the face-to-face connections we need as humans for social interaction. On the other hand, the great thing about using social media is you can connect with more people, but in a superficial kind of way. Therefore, we do not get the face-to-face interactions with our friends and family. We, the people that are addicted to social media, learn that without face-to-face conversations we wouldn’t have a normal “social” life outside of social media. The question

“…are symptoms of how technology captures our attention and disrupts our connections” (Goleman 5). The more people are on their phones, the smaller the opportunity is to look someone in the eyes and have a human moment—to talk, to share, to comfort. Living in Seattle, I’ve used public transportation plenty of times and in all those times, I’ve noticed no one is looking at one another or outside—everyone is glued to their own phones. Go into a crowded room full of people—regardless of age—and the majority will be on their phones instead of communicating with one another. “You know it’s not right to check your phone when you’re with someone, but it’s addictive” (Goleman 8). While some may see nothing wrong in constantly checking your phone, the majority recognize it is an issue, but decide to overlook it. The ability people have in quickly overlooking a major issue, despite age or gender, proves the level of addiction towards our technological

However, it accidentally disconnects us from our kith and kin. Nowadays, we communicate with each other mostly by phone calls, messages, Facebook, and other types of online communication instead of face-to-face conversations. Emotional stickers on Facebook is gradually replacing physical smiles and actual eye contacts. We are too captivated on phone screen to say “Good morning” to everyone we meet on the streets as we used to. We share daily stories on social networks, but we are silent when having dinner with family.

When people are too into their phones they forget about the people that are actually around them. In “The Pedestrian” Mr. Mead explains a futuristic world where people do not go outside or do much of anything that does not involve a screen. The story makes the statement, “... deciding which way to go, but it really made no difference; he was alone in this world of A.D. 2053, or as good as alone.” This shows that by being too “plugged-in” people lose touch with what being human really means. Even though most people use technology as a way to stay in touch with people who they normally would not talk to in real life the conversation lacks what an in person conversation would contain. Some of these are the empathy that is not all the way there when sent through technology also, context is shortened and not as in depth than if it was in person. Right before Sherry Turkle’s TED talk in 2012 she got a typical text from her daughter saying “Mom, you will rock.” Sherry explained that getting this text was “like getting a hug” but even though this was a good message in her eyes people should acknowledge that no matter how much a text could touch someone being there in person to deliver the message yourself will always be better. These are the reasons humans should watch how much time is spent on technology instead of time with the people around

Social networking has become an unquestionable part of our everyday lives. Little by little, internet and mobile technology seems to be subtly destroying the meaningfulness of interactions with others, disconnecting us from the world around us, and leading to an imminent sense of isolation in today’s society. Instead of spending time in person with friends, people just call, text or instant message them. It may seem simpler, but people ultimately end up seeing friends face to face a lot less. Ten texts can’t even begin to equal an hour spent chatting with a friend over lunch. A smiley-face emoticon is cute, but it could never replace the ear-splitting grin and smiling eyes of a friend. People need to see each other. While technology has allowed us some means of social connection that would have never been possible before, and has allowed us to maintain long-distance friendships that would have otherwise probably fallen by the wayside, the fact remains that it is causing ourselves to spread ourselves too thin, as well as slowly ruining the quality of social interaction that everyone need as human beings.

Sherry Turkle makes the point that there is an immediate sense of connection that we get when we receive a text from someone far away. However, activities such as checking smartphones and emails can provide individuals with the ability to disconnect from having intimacy even when individuals are right next to each other. It allows for individuals to be selective about what they pay attention to in their daily lives. This is probably because we can easily escape the here and now through the use of a technology. Turkle argues

Technology has an eliminating effect of intimacy. The document states “ Sometimes people experience no sense of having communicated after hours of connection.” Humans who are so intact with technology, feel that if left alone for a long period of time feel as if in isolationism. So many rely on technology alone to feel the role of the human interaction.

Today, people think that when they are texting someone or direct messaging a person that it is the same as a normal conversation that would take place in person. In the article, “Screen Addiction Is Taking a Toll on Children,” Jane E. Brody agrees when she writes, “Technology is a poor substitute for personal interaction,” which is a very true statement. One is not fully interacting with a person without face to face interaction. People are lacking these social skills and becoming socially awkward because of isolation and not engaging in face to face contact. People get on their electronic devices for hours at a time and isolate themselves from everything. Not only are people lacking social skills, but they are lacking social bonds. Without the one on one connection and a conversation in person, a bond cannot be created. People are using technology as a poor excuse to not have to take time out of their day to actually create social bonds with people and practice their social skills. Not only that but the lack of social skills not only effects teens and adults but it can be a problem in young children when they are

Now, people generally use text messages and emails to have instant contact with colleagues and relatives. This way, you can actually share experiences with friends and relatives quickly. Technology has made it easier to be socially active. Still and though, coherently it's obstructed face-to-face interaction and communication between

Human interaction is vital for us to grow and learn more about each other, but when we are always connected to some type of technology it is very challenging to disconnect and make connections with each other. Nowadays more people can be caught inside using some type of technology more than they are outside interacting with one another. Due to such an addiction to technology, many nerve fibers in the brain are similar to those of addicts, according to Chris Morris from CNBC. People now are on their phones while they wait on their food and while they are with each other more than

Some may say that technology has reduced the quality and quantity of our face-to-face interaction with others. However, in a recent study by Keith N. Hampton, a professor at Rutgers University has found that our tendency to interact with each other has only improved since