Resist The Internet Summary

How has technology affected mankind over time? How has it affected the youth of our country? How has it affected the adults? We rely on the internet for almost everything, do we still have the power to detach ourselves from it? The article, “The Virtues of Reality” written by Ross Douthat caught my attention with a thesis that is quite realistic. Douthat theorizes that the main cause of both the youth becoming safer over time along with the adults growing more immature is the virtual reality that the internet provides us with. Douthat then leaves the readers with a thought to ponder about. He questions if we as human beings have become so reliant on technology, that we can’t take a step back. What I wish to know is why should we need to take a step back when the world that we live in has infused technology along with the internet into everything that we do in life?

24% of teenagers say that they go online “almost constantly” everyday according to a study from the Pew Research Center. In our society today, adults, teens, and children are always using some form of technology. Technology can be used for important purposes such as school or work. Other times technology only serves as a distraction from what really matters in life. We get very attached to technology and that can become a problem. In Fahrenheit 451, the main character Montag is a firemen who is trained to destroy books because the society’s government thinks that books are dangerous because they cause conflict. In place of books, many people use parlor wall TVs as their entertainment. The screens on the parlor walls serve as an unhealthy distraction.

Within the decade, people can agree that technology has gradually impacted lives every day. Whether people believe it is progressive or destructive, it is established that for some, the impact of technology is quite concerning. An ongoing topic is whether teenagers are in fact addicted to their smartphone devices and social media. In Sherry Turkle's’ piece “Growing up Tethered” she provides student testimonials that only proves that teenagers from the ages sixteen to eighteen feel the need to be on their smartphones at all times. Although, technology does have positive outcomes and uses, Turkles’ points that teenagers are too tethered to their devices and are not as safe while using their device is correct because society is able to recognize

People spend a lot of time on technology each day. Right now, according to cnn.com, “Adults in the United States devoted about 10 hours and 39 minutes each day.” From spending so much time on technology we are becoming addicted. It is becoming a big problem.

Ever since technology began so prominent in the modern world, can anyone remember going outside for more than 30 minutes and not see a cell phone or computer? Probably not, as these pieces of technology have become so ingrained in people’s lives, no one wants to leave their home without still being connected. And there is no reason to, as friends, family, and strangers share the same sentiments. Unplugging from technology is not only a decision people don’t make for personal reasons, it simply isn’t conducive to a productive life, as many people’s work and social lives wouldn’t be the same, if exist at all, without being connected to other people or the internet with just a single touch.

According to CNN news the average American spends more than 10 hours a day using technology, 9 of which is on social media! This is a staggering 42% or more of our time spent in front of a screen tweeting, posting, and sharing; so what are the effects? While technology has its benefits making life “easier,” such as a way to quickly find information and the ability to easily communicate with people on the other side of the world, the drawbacks are more pressing. It is getting worse as we keep diving headfirst into our societies technological revolution. This is why we as a school should participate in “Shut Down Your Screen Week.” Critics oppose “Shut Down Your Screen” because in life today it is necessary to have technology, however by putting down our phones and other electronic devices we get a break from the harmful effects that the overuse of technology has on our brains. According to scientists, technology even rewires our brains according to Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse, it even happens on a chemical level causing it to become addictive. People should shut down their

Electronic devices are consuming the lives of everyday people. Everywhere you look someone will be locked in staring at their phone screen, unaware of what’s happening around him or her. Electronic devices have become a daily necessity for people. Electronic devices are a controversial topic today. While some believe that electronic devices are harmful, others believe these devices benefit society. In, “A Thing Like Me,” Nicholas Carr brings up the extent on which humans depend on devices. The dependence on electronic devices has consequences. The consequences that come from electronic devices are in takes away from face to face communication, the devices cause distractions when driving which can lead to serious injuries or even death. Electronic devices also have changed the way of learning, people no longer feel the need to learn when typing a question into Google gives people the answer. Electronic devices are a part of society and can cause negative impacts in peoples lives everyday. People do not realize the consequences that electronic devices bring into their

These tech-enthusiasts propose ideas to refute the rationalization that technology is too addicting; technology is needed in order for us to survive because everything is technological, ultimately forcing us to rely on it. Technology, however, is not perfect, and many times the important forms that we depend on fail. A perfect example of such is the use of Blackboard. In college, professors use Blackboard or other forms of online communication in order to post assignments, quizzes, and grades. What if the Internet crashes? How will you reach a professor, find your assignments, retake the quiz you were automatically kicked off of, or know that your class was moved to main classroom instead of the business building if the Internet is down? Additionally, this reliability takes away from our common knowledge that is essential in instances where technology has failed. Society depends on typing instead or writing, using GPS instead of reading a map, and watching the news instead of reading a paper. These simple tasks could be completed without technology, yet we rely on devices to do these tasks for us. In fact, children are being taught to type rather than to handwrite a paper, and almost everyone has a GPS on their phone or in their car. Technology allows life to be much easier and allows us to complete projects more efficiently, but it is not guaranteed to work one hundred percent of the time. As a country that strives for success, it is important for us to have intelligence and knowledge of the world around us at all times; however, our focus on technology and technology only puts us at a disadvantage because of the errors it often

In the end, while Lyon and Hafner give us an entertaining story regarding how the Internet was discovered, we are still left wondering about what effect the Internet is actually having. True, we see all of the hard work that occurred behind the scenes in the making of the Internet in this book, but now the question must be asked: where does the Internet take us? This is a very important question in the context of where technology takes our culture, and takes humanity in general. Indeed, every piece of technology has an effect on the people within the culture. There is, after all, certain political and social consequences to the progress in technology. In his essay "Do

In the movie WALL-E, everyone had been so consumed by technology that they rode around on floating chairs sipping slushies and watching screens. When someone fell out of their chair, robots would come help them and all the other chairs would be detoured around them. As glued to screens as teens are now, it seems at least a bit likely that humanity could end up like that. they think that they need their devices all the time, so when issues occur, they will probably look for a way around it, like riding in chairs with a screen mounted at just the right level so the neck does not have to be bent. Avoiding a world like in WALL-E is not the only reason why teens should have limited smartphone use. People under the age of 18 should be banned from smartphones because

The world is moving fast, and telecommunications are running as fast as possible. Can you imagine your life without your tablet or cell-phone? These devices have become huge parts of our lives. We are addicted to them, moreover, we are totally forgetting what our parents and grandparents used to get their knowledge. We’ve already forgotten how awesome of a feeling it is to open a book with a cup of coffee, to become a part of this plot, to live a story of our favorite characters. Is it too late to redeem ourselves? Could we have a chance to stop this? Are we going to be like a strong offensive line and protect ourselves from venomous electronic devices, which step by step kill our brains and bodies? Let’s seriously think about it.

While some young people utilize technology to create great content such as music, literature, or coding, it has created a budding effect of a generation that is obsessed with consumption. The truth is the majority of youth’s time has been excessively dedicated to passive activities like watching tv or online videos, gaming and scrolling through social media. According to Common Sense Media, when it’s summed up America’s youth is using an average of 6 hours of media daily, not counting for school or homework. That is a massive chunk stolen from a child’s day and the effects can be extremely damaging. It is leading the young generation of today to become overstimulated, over-scheduled and under pressure to perform both academically and beyond

In the article Attached to Technology and Paying a Price, they show the story of of Kord Campbell who is a often user of technology. For which states, “Even after he unplugs, he craves the stimulation he gets from electronic devices. He forgets things like dinner plans, and has trouble focusing on his family. This is your brain on computers” (Richtel, Matt) Here is a pure example on the effects that technology has on an individual, how it changes one’s behavior. Imagine a student who was once a focused student but then was introduced to electronic devices. Overtime they begin to separate from friends or family and just spend time on the web. If a family member threatens to take their devices away they can become aggressive. One can see the change in behavior and see the negative effects. In the article, The Toll on Children stated that, “Researchers worry that constant digital stimulation...creates attention problems for children with brains that are still developing, who are already struggle to set priorities and resist impulses.” (The Toll on Children) Teenagers are passing through a great change in hormones and many other factors, which makes them vulnerable to digital stimulation. Many begin to change by what the web has to offer as well from many other things. If schools participate students can be able to take a break and rethink things to make their lives not revolve around

As asked by the English alternative rock band Muse in their famous song “Screenager,” “Who’s so phoney and always surrounded?” This song perfectly depicts the effects of technology on America. People are engulfed by different types of technology everywhere they go and even carry around technology such as phones, laptops, and iPods. These items may seem like a blessing, but they are potentially dividing America. Every day, eight to eighteen-year-olds watch four and a half hours of TV, listen to two and a half hours of music, use the computer for an hour and a half, and spend two and a half hours on their cell phones, two hours for texting and one half hour for talking. This adds up to eleven hours dedicated on the media per day (Crawford).

Technology has more negative effects on today’s society than positive. Due to technology in the past few decades Canine Shock Collars have been increasingly popular. Students in school pay more attention to texting than they do their classes. Violent addictive video games have made their way into American homes. Parents encourage their children to not text as much, but them to face the problem of constant communication. The Internet gives the students easier ways to cheat in school, and reinforces laziness. Internet Porn gives every bored male a chance to look at the seediest film in the comfort of his own home. Technology has taken the innocence and mystery away from the American family.