Tartt 1

Kennedy Tartt

Professor Malcolm Campbell

UWRT 1104

4 April 2019

I Share Therefore I Am: Is Digital Communication Technology a Path to Prosperity or

Destruction? Commented [EC1]: Very strong title

In my friend group, there are usually about 8-10 of us that eat together on a regular basis.

We are always having interesting conversations and catch up with one another on how our days Commented [EC2]: catching

have been. Most of the time we are not on our phones, but one friend is almost always. Commented [EC3]: try “although there is one friend who
almost always is”
Sometimes they sit in the middle of the table and so the conversation does not reach both sides.

They just sit there on their phone the whole time with no regards to anyone. I don’t know about

you, but this bothers me like crazy. Do not sit in the middle of the table on your phone and not Commented [EC4]: but this really bothers me
Commented [EC5]: You should not
engage in any conversation and isolate others from the conversations going on. It is rude and Commented [EC6]: I find it

disrespectful to do this, and it not only bothers me but bothers some of my other friends. Commented [EC7]: And my friends do as well
Commented [EC8]: Very good use of anecdote to engage
On a day to day basis, teenagers are constantly on their phones checking the multitude of the reader
Commented [EC9]: daily
messages and notifications that come across the phones. Dating apps, social media, and text Commented [EC10]: their

messages dominate teenagers' interactions and exchange of communication efforts between one Commented [EC11]: teenager’s

another. Rather than using their own vocal cords, teenagers allow their thumbs to speak for them

and hide behind their own screens. How has digital communication impacted a teenager's ability Commented [EC12]: I like this phrasing

to communicate with one another? Has our ability to have face-to-face communications become

distorted in the long term?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines technology as “a manner of accomplishing a

task, especially using technical processes, methods, or knowledge.” In this case, technology is
 Tartt 2

the word used to place cell phones/smartphones, computers, social media applications, and

personal home devices, such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa, all into one category. In 1984,

only 8% of United States households own a personal computer in their homes. In 2013, that Commented [EC13]: owned

number jumped to 76% of United States households. As more people continue to learn and

develop skills, technological advances will still continue and become better and better. This has Commented [EC14]: omit

been witnessed through history and at the present. The continued growth and expansion of

technology in many fields of study will continue to grow and become better. Humans will

continue to draw themselves to this expanding technology and use it in whatever they want. Commented [EC15]: insert “way”

Statista, a leading provider of market and consumer data, has found that Snapchat is the most

important social network by teenagers in 2018 and Instagram is a close second. While most

teenagers use social media platforms and text messaging, there are other uses of technology in

their everyday lives Commented [EC16]: insert a period

Everyone these days has a cell phone of some type, whether it is an iPhone, an Android,

or even a flip-phone. In 2013, the US census recorded that 97% of adults under the age of 44

living in the United States have a cell phone of some kind. Yes, flip-phones still exist. Both of Commented [EC17]: connect these two sentences

my grandfathers have one and they use them only to call people. A study done by the Kaiser

Family Foundation, a non-profit organization focusing on national health issues, as well as the

U.S. role in global health policy, found children and teenagers, ages 8-18 "spent more time on

media than any other activity…an average of 7.5 hours a day" (qt. in Drago). There are people

who get less sleep than the average time these children and teenagers spend on social media,

alone. This is a major red flag. 7.5 hours is just short of one-third of a single day. Spending Commented [EC18]: omit

almost one third on the day on social media is a bit absurd and unhealthy. Commented [EC19]: Try presenting it being “absurd” as an
opinion, and make the idea of it being unhealthy a fact: “I
think spending this amount of time on a phone is absurd and
it is proven to be unhealthy.”
 Tartt 3

According to Scientific American, more positive interactions (face-to-face) with others

can increase your overall daily happiness (qt. in Jones). Everyone would be happier and enjoy

life more, as opposed to everyone being stressed and overworked all the time. Teenagers get Commented [EC20]: omit

worked up over so many different things, large and small, such as school work and their social

life. Vijay Kumar, a Freelance Web Developer/Designer, Career Development Skills Trainer & Commented [EC21]: avoid using the ampersand sign and
use the oxford comma
Writer, believes that the use of technology to communicate between each other creates stress in

communication itself, which leads to an increase in competitions for “winning in society.” Commented [EC22]: cut the sentence off here and make the
second part its own sentence, it makes it easier to read and
adds an impact to the statement
Having to keep up with what is going on, the pressure teenagers put on themselves and others,

creates stress and anxiety that we have all become too used to. If teenagers would stop caring

about the opinions of how others perceive them, so much weight would be lifted off their

shoulders and create a better society. They would be focused on so much more and could do so Commented [EC23]: I totally agree

much more with their lives than stare at a screen all day.

“I share therefore I am,” is a powerful statement made by Sherry Turkle, a professor at

MIT, researcher and licensed clinical psychologist who studies people’s relationships with Commented [EC24]: Insert oxford comma

technology. This is a statement defines today's society. Instead of communicating with one

another face-to-face, teenagers post on Instagram or where ever, and let their words on the screen Commented [EC25]: Try rephrasing this to make it sound
more professional
do the talking. Those feelings inside of them are bottled up and they never come out. Eventually,

so many feelings become bottled up that we can’t control our emotions anymore and we can’t Commented [EC26]: Try not to use contractions

control what goes on. Messages that come across from technology often are interpreted the

wrong way or are hard to interpret. Many people, especially teenagers, have difficulty with Commented [EC27]: Try to connect these two sentences

decoding what others say. Communicating through technology lacks empathy and true emotions.

We cling to a piece of metal to provide us with comfort and human emotion, which is not
 Tartt 4

possible, rather than be face-to-face with another person. We use technology as a digital security

blanket (Jones).

The research on the way technology has impacted human communication efforts,

especially between teenagers, is still very new. Only recently, within in the 10-15 years, has Commented [EC28]: The last

social media become one of the main means of communication between teenagers and other Commented [EC29]: modes

people. Research is very new, and the public has not been exposed to the research. The long-term Commented [EC30]: people, especially teenagers

effects have not been determined; only short-term effects have been discovered. There are some

predictions to what could happen, but it is all hypothetical. Similar to this topic, research is also

being conducted about using digital technology in the classroom and how it affects the learning

process. But we do know, so far, is that using technology to engage students is working inside Commented [EC31]: What

and outside the classroom. “Shared computers are found to lead to increased group interaction

and cooperation, and to facilitate communication” (Fitton). All of this research is very new and Commented [EC32]: omit

there are still many tests being completed in order to further understand the effects on human

interaction, especially through verbal communication.

Using digital technology to communicate is not all bad. In fact, there are some positive

aspects to using technology all the time. Victoria Fitton, a Clinical Associate Professor Endowed

Clinical Professorship in Children Services at the University of Michigan State, with a Ph.D.

from Michigan State University, completed a study with teenagers and found that technology

allows teenagers to understand the functioning world and, specifically, their place in the world.

The internet allows teenagers to explore so much that goes on around them and around the world Commented [EC33]: what

in an instant. In addition to this, there have been studies that have shown that using technology to

communicate between one another, leads to people interacting and conversing with strangers Commented [EC34]: omit

more than ever before. This is contradicting to what more studies have shown. When put in a Commented [EC35]: other
 Tartt 5

situation where people are placed with strangers, most people would believe that everyone would

go back to their phones and cease all communication or, even, prevent a conversation from ever Commented [EC36]: , or even

taking place. This study shows that the opposite would occur. The research on this is very little, Commented [EC37]: There is little research on this

but still significant to what other researchers are showing.

One solution or way to reduce this issue is to have what Drago calls an "internet sabbath" Commented [EC38]: omit

occasionally. What this boils down to is taking one day to have no technology usage, such as Commented [EC39]: to occasionally have what Drago…

video games, phones, or television; everyone takes a break from using technology to spend

family time together. Instead, families can go exploring outside, play board games, or read. This

gives everyone a chance to detox and relax. If no action takes place to combat this epidemic, the

essential skills necessary for life will be lost. This includes verbal communication, critical and

complex thinking, the ability to process information, or even the way society tells us to be this or

be that. Relying on digital communication efforts will cause us to be lonely. We will rely on

pieces of metal to give us empathy and have it, try to, reciprocate it back, only to find out,

technology does not work like that. Humans like to feel and know that other humans feel what Commented [EC40]: try to cut back on the use of commas

they feel. A name on a cell phone where messages are exchanged will not and cannot replace the

true meaning of a real conversation. Emily Drago, an alumnus from Elon University who has a

B.A. in Strategic Communications, mentions from a study that teenagers and children who spend

more time communicating through technology as opposed to face-to-face, it could cause

significant consequences for the development of social skills and presentation of self.

I have always grown up knowing to never use your cell phone at the table and if someone

speaks to you, you are to respond back in a respectful way and try to keep the conversation

flowing. After looking more into this topic, I personally need to reevaluate my technology use

and my ability to have conversations, even basic ones, with those closest to me and even those I
 Tartt 6

have just met. It is nice to use technology to relax sometimes, but nothing beats reading a good

paper-back book in a hammock on a nice warm sunny day or even going for an easy walk.

Something I might try to implement with some of my friends, especially to my one friend who

sits on their phone the whole time, a no technology afternoon or maybe start with a no

technology meal. I do realize that the most difficult part of this would be my technology use on

my school work, but I am more focused on working toward fixing how much time I spend on

messages and Snapchat.

What needs to be researched more and explored more is the actual impact on the brain.

Does the brain function more slowly? Will the part of the brain that deals with a verbal exchange

between humans even still be needed if we do not change our ways? In what ways will the

human brain evolve to combat the drastic changes in our ability to communicate? Will the part of

the brain that deals with talking and responding change to where it will not even cause our

mouths to even open and form a response? The actual scientific side, dealing with the human

brain, needs to be looked more in depth. If the increased use of digital technology continues, will

we even be able to speak any more to anyone? Could the increased use in digital communication

increase loneliness so much that it creates mental illnesses or even lead to increased suicide rates

amongst teenagers? These issues need to be focused on in order to benefit all of human society

and our well-being. A hunk of metal is changing all the entire world, but are the changes that are

being made really going to benefit us in the end?

 Tartt 7

Works Cited

Cellan-Jones Rory. “We Don’t Talk Any More-Is Technology Harming Communication?” BBC

News, BBC, 29 Dec. 2011, https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-16313832 Accessed

25 Feb. 2019

Drago, Emily. “The Effect of Technology on Face-to-Face Communication.” The Elon Journal

of Undergraduate Research in Communications, Elon University. Vol. 6, No. 1, 2015,

https://www.elon.edu/docs/e-

web/academics/communications/research/vol6no1/02DragoEJSpring15.pdf Accessed 13

Feb. 2019

Fitton, Victoria, et al. "The Role of Technology on Young Adolescent Development:

Implications for Policy, Research, and Practice." Child and Adolescent Social Work

Journal, vol. 30, no. 5, Springer US, Oct. 2013, pp. 399–413, doi:10.1007/s10560-013-

0296-2. Accessed 22 Mar. 2019

Jones, Kelsey. “Is Technology Crippling Our Communication Skills?” Search Engine Journal,

Search Engine Journal, 21 Mar. 2017, www.searchenginejournal.com/technology-

crippling-communication-skills/190423/#close. Accessed 12 Mar. 2019

Kumar, Vijay. “How Technology Has Affected Communication.” KLIENT SOLUTECH, 30

Aug. 2018, www.klientsolutech.com/how-technology-has-affected-communication/.

Accessed 18 Feb. 2019

“Preferred Social Networks of U.S. Teens 2018 | Statistic.” Statista, 2018,

www.statista.com/statistics/250172/social-network-usage-of-us-teens-and-young-

adults/. Accessed 22 Mar. 2019

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Turkle, Sherry, “Connected, but Alone?” TED, Mar. 2012, Long Beach, California

www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together#t-27731. Accessed 9 March 2019