Negative effects of technology towards teenagers

As the world is lurching towards the new era, there are several transitions in technology. This
rapid grow of technology has somehow ease the human being. Internet is one of the most
frequently use technology, these days. Research found that teenagers are the active user of
technology. The regular usage of technology has somehow give negative impact on them.
One of the impact of the everyday use technology is it can affect a person health and get
disease from it.

It is considered as threatening human health because one can get eye

irritation when they spent too much time facing the screen. The brightness of either computer or
hand phone can harm the eye, which will follows on affecting the brain, too and also cause of
short-term memory. As from that, our body tends to bellow if we spent too much time in front of
the computers. Slouching body posture will then happen.
As the growth hormone of teenagers, this is the phase which they need to socialize, make new
friends and interact with other people in order to increase their clique and construct their self
personality. Not only cell phones and computers negatively isolating teenagers, ipods are too.
Ipod and mp3 players also isolate teens by putting them into their own world instead of
communicating with others. Therefore, teenagers who love to be anti-social, will leads to social
isolation which is categorized by lack of contact with other people in normal living life. Studies
show, people who are socially isolated will live shorter live.
Technology has done and can do many great things, it allows us to communicate with people
across the world instantly. I believe, everybody will at least sign up to one social network to
interact with other people around the world. The use of online social media outlets cause them
to meet face-to-face with much less frequency, which then resulting a lack of much needed
social skills. Communication not only sends verbally, it also spread by non verbal
communication. Body languages, facial expressions are part of non verbal communication.
What will happen if teenagers now days only use social network as the only medium to interact
with other people? In this case, they will lose ability to read body language and social cues in
other people.
Technology is advancing every minute of every day. New phones, computers and other
electronic devices are improving last years or even last weeks devices. Teenagers are
obsessing over having the newest and best phone, computer or ipod. They are not only

dependent on technology but also addicted to it. I am very sure, every teenager owns a smart
phone and brings it everywhere they go.
Technology has changed rapidly, it is hard to predict what will happen in the next six months. If
we ask question whether media technology is good or bad, I believe there is no answer to this
question. It can be used for good purposes or for bad purposes. As we can see, countless
number of violent video has been uploaded on the internet and been viewed by people all other
the world. But, no actions were taken from that. The use of technology has caused an increase
in cyber bullying. It is also easier to get more kids involved in bullying because people are more
likely to say things online that they wouldnt say in person. The increase of cyber bullying has
also led to an increase in teen suicide. After people lose empathy and are accustomed to
violence, it becomes the social norm.
Although technology advancements are improving the world, teens need to be careful to avoid
the negative consequences. Teenager these days need to avoid addiction to electronics and
isolation from family and friends. Instead, teenagers should engage in verbal conversation more
frequently. Awareness of the consequences will help teens enjoy technology advancement in
positive manner.

Parents have good reason to feel overwhelmed by the digital revolution consuming their teenagers. As far
as the physiology of our brains goes, we adults will never keep up.
The adolescent brain is a natural wonder forged by evolutionary forces which have differentiated it from
both the child and adult brain. Although adolescence was barely acknowledged before the 1900s, and
teenagers are often referred to as a modern social invention, our brains suggest otherwise. The teenage
brain is distinct in its extraordinary capacity to adapt to the environment around it.
Imagine, then, what might be happening inside the heads of the first generation of digital natives? In the
United States, teenagers are averaging 8.5 hours a day of learning, playing and interacting via
computers, mobile phones and other screen based devices (which jumps to 11.5 hours if you allow for
multi-tasking). In Australia, the comparable average screen time was 7 hours and 38 minutes in 2009.
Digital communication has ushered in more changes in the past 15 years than in the 570 years since
Gutenbergs printing press. And teenagers are the worlds stand-out early adopters as the pace of
technological change accelerates. It took 38 years for radio to reach its first 50 million people, 20 years
for the telephone, 13 years for television, four years for the World Wide Web , 3.6 years for Facebook and
even less for Twitter. For Google + it was 88 days.
In terms of evolutionary adaptation, even 10,000 years is merely a blink of an eye. So, our brains did not
evolve for reading, which dates back about 5,000 years, let alone spending most of our waking hours
sitting down dealing with words and symbols. Todays remarkable adolescent brain was honed to cope
with the demands of learning to survive independently while securing food and shelter, which required
rapid, efficient adaptation.
We know this largely because of the relatively recent insights offered by magnetic resonance imaging
which show that both the decision-making and reward circuitry of the human brain undergo dramatic
changes around puberty.
From then, until the mid to late 20s, human brains are especially plastic, which means they can enhance
certain pathways and related abilities, and eliminate, or prune others depending on what they need to
achieve. After the late 20s, however, we do tend to get more set in our (neurological) ways.
Teams of researchers all over the world are currently poised, watching for signs of various technologydriven adaptations, such as the superficial mile wide, inch deep thinking of multitasking sidelining the
persistence, patience and focus required for in-depth scholarship.
We already have decades of scientific consensus about the perils of multi-tasking; talking on a mobile
phone while driving, for example, is as dangerous as driving drunk. Thats because we cannot truly multitask. The brain is actually constantly switching backwards and forwards between tasks, for which we pay
a toll in speed and efficacy.

But, will the plastic teenage brain adapt by learning to switch more rapidly and effectively to enable it to
do lots of things at the same time with less impairment?
And what of the digital content our teenagers are consuming? Ninety-nine percent of US teenage boys
and 94 per cent of girls play online games and the burgeoning global industry is engaging our brains
rewards system with ever increasing intensity, mostly through violent and sexual themes.
From a neurological point of view online games are stimulating the teen brains reward circuitry mainly via
the brain chemical dopamine just as puberty is ushering in profound changes in the brains reward system
driving sexual interest and aggression, evolutionary necessities for survival.
Could such easy access to online games, then, raise the threshold for what our brains deem rewarding?
Could the instant gratification available in virtual worlds stunt the next generations capacity to work
towards long term relationship, work and life goals which do not offer such quick, dopamine-rich returns?
Much current discussion is seeking to characterise the digital revolution as either good or bad when it is
probably both. We already know teenage brains are wired to take risks; the neural circuitry involved in
impulse control, judgment and long term planning undergoes dynamic changes well into the 20s. That
gives parents reason to fret. But, on the other hand risk-taking is an essential launching pad for young
people to forge their own paths with optimism, creativity and a sense of the endless possibilities of life.
As one counterintuitive recent trend suggests there isnt much point in making premature judgments.
Teenagers may already be working through powerful emotions online, without potentially negative real
world consequences. The soaring popularity of increasingly violent and sexual explicit online games has
coincided with a decline, not an increase, in the juvenile murders and violent crime and teen pregnancies.
However, the ways in which the plastic teenage brains do adapt to the most ferociously paced change
humanity has even seen will certainly define our future.
It could be that we are coddling a generation of shallow thinkers obsessed by superficial Facebook
friendships who are too busy staring at screens to bother with saving the world. But, technology is also
offering phenomenal educational opportunities, great entertainment and expanding social interactions
which will certainly change the worldin ways that those of us with older, less plastic brains cannot
even imagine.
Source: UNSW Australia

http://www.parenthub.com.au/news/parenting-news-news/effects-technology-teenagers/

On March 4, 2012, the Victoria Times Colonist, published an article about how technology is affecting
teenagers. Over 1000 technology insiders, critics and students were asked by the Pew Research Center if
always being plugged-in to technology was going to be a benefit or a detriment to the teens that are
now called Generation Y. Fifty-five percent agreed that in 2020, current teenagers will be wired
differently than those over the age of 35. Forty-four percent did not view this different wiring as a
good thing because they believe that technology will keep teenagers distracted, prevent them from
thinking deeply, and encourage an attitude and mindset of instant gratification.

Recently, the Otago Daily Times ran a story entitled, YouTube phenomenon has teens talking ugly. The
story begins by referencing a teenage girl in a video asking people if they think she is ugly. The video was
posted in December of 2010 and since that time, over four million people have responded; many of
them have been hateful and negative.

This is becoming a popular trend. Somewhere between 300-1000 similar videos have been found and
many child psychologists are concerned with how this will affect a young persons self-perception during
some of the most critical times of their development. Taking into account the first article, shouldnt this
be something that we ALL should be concerned about? Bullying and negative comments are nothing

new, but before children had daily access to laptops and cell phones, parents had more control; they
were more aware of a childs social level of interaction. Now teens can ask millions of random strangers
their opinions and base what they think about themselves on those peoples opinions; people that dont
know them and will probably never meet them.

Although some of the teens interviewed for the story claimed that they didnt care what people
thought, why would they spend so much time posting up such videos if they didnt? A parent, Gibson,
whose child posted a similar video, brought up a valid point: Hopefully it will open up the eyes of the
parents, Gibson said. The kids arent letting their parents know whats wrong, just like Faye *her
daughter+ didnt let me know.

Technology makes life more convenient, but when it comes to a young persons personal development,
problems can arise with teens being always plugged in. Just like those people who were polled stated,
if we dont monitor their usage, when it comes to having a good self-image, many teens may end up
being distracted, not thinking deeply, and eventually looking for instant ways to satisfy the voids within
them.

Until next time

Traci
Source : http://traciscampbell.com/negative-effects-of-the-internet-on-teenagers/

Technologies negative impact on Teens

By Ashley M., Moraga, CA

More by this author

Email me when Ashley M. contributes work
Technologies negative impact on Teens Image Credit: Treza R., Kalispell, MT
Everyday an average teenager spends up to 8 hours on electronic devices, which is more than 56 hour in
one week (Schulten). How much is too much? Technology is advancing every minute of everyday. New
phones, computers and other electronic devices are improving and outshining last years or even last
weeks devices. Teens are obsessing over having the newest and best phone, computer or Ipod. Since
teens are using technology devices everyday, they are beginning to isolate themselves from family and
friends while limiting their communications skills. Technology is continuing to advance; however it is
consequently affecting teenagers.
Teens are becoming addicted to technology, making them isolated from the real world. Teens mostly
communicate through texting, online chatting or facebook. Teens have stopped picking up the phone to
call a friend or family member. Without verbal communication skills, what will happen to the future
generations? Not only are cell phones and computers negatively isolating teens, Ipods are too. About
86% of teens own an Ipod or MP3 player (Reinburg). Ipod and MP3 players also isolate teens by putting
them into their own world instead of communicating with others. The appearance is also isolating
because the head phones in teens ears hints that they just want to listen to music. While headphones
are on it is hard to get a good conversation going. These electronics are isolating teens and causing their
verbal communication skills to hinder.

Teens argue that cell phones are a quick easy way to contact family and friends. However teens are
becoming glued to their phones. 75% of teens own a cell phone and 87% of them send and receive
text messages everyday (Reinburg). Teens are constantly receiving messages and texting back whether it
is at a family dinner, a movie or while driving a vehicle. They just cannot put their phones down.
California has enforced a law to prohibit using cell phones while driving due to the numerous amounts
of accidents. Even in school, teens are texting during class distracting them from the teachers lecture.
Electronics result in spending less time with family and friends. They also can be dangerously distracting
from schoolwork and driving. While cell phones can be an easy way to contact someone, teens are using
them in an obsessive manner.

Not only are teens not paying attentions during class; they are also taking the text language into their
real writing assignments. 38% of teens say that they have used text shortcuts in schoolwork such as
LOL (which stands for laugh out loud)(Lenhart). Abbreviations and slang created for texting does not
follow proper English grammar. Since teens are constantly texting, they subconsciously use this
language in schoolwork. The teen texting language is limiting teens vocabulary and written
communication skills.
Although technology advancements are improving the world, teens need to be careful to avoid the
negative consequences. Teens need to avoid addiction to electronics and isolation from family and
friends. Instead, teens should engage in verbal conversation more frequently. To avoid electronic
distractions, teens must follow school rules and state laws. Phones should be put away during class or
while driving. Finally, teens need to utilize proper English grammar as much as possible during formal
writing assignments. Awareness of the consequences and trying alternatives will help teens enjoy
technology advancements in a positive manner.
Source : http://teenink.com/hot_topics/all/article/179836/Technologies-negative-impact-on-Teens/

Technology's Negative Effects on Teenagers

ekjaer
November 20th, 2012 12:27 pm (GMT-6 DST)

http://www.salisburync.gov/Departments/InformationTechnology/PublishingImages/InformationTechnology.jpg

Technology has done and can do many great things, it allows us to communicate with people
across the world instantly, we can also capture precious moments that otherwise would have been
lost, and technology can both teach and entertain us. However, in recent years technology has
become a hindrance to many people, especially teenagers. Technology hinders teenagers the most,
it distracts them while they are learning, it prevents teenagers from having the social interactions that
are necessary to survive in the business world, and in some cases technology can completely hinder
teenagers by killing them.
Teenagers today crave technology. In fact, most teenagers would rather be on their phones
than learn. Even if teachers prohibit the use of cell phones or other electronic devices in their
classroom, many students will try harder to use their electronic device and not get caught than they
would if they were working on a school project. The teenagers that do not attempt to use their
phones or various other electronic devices during class are still being distracted by those that do.
For instance, one day, I was diligently working on an assignment before, while the person next to me
was playing Temple Run on his phone instead of doing something productive. It was immensely
annoying when this happens; it became even more annoying when my table partner (for we were
sitting at the same table,) decided to play music through his phone. Thankfully he put headphones
in; however, all they seemed to do was make the music a tiny bit quieter. That day I could have
completed my assignment, but because my table partner was distracting, I neither understood my
assignment, nor did I complete it. Despite all these negatives, technology can help teenagers learn.
Technology can aid in research and various other assignments. However, being a teenager, I know
for a fact, that this is not how teenagers use the technology that they are given. Most if not all
teenagers will use the in-school technology to surf the web, look at clothing or playing online games.
Technology takes away the opportunity to gain the precious knowledge that teenagers will need to
survive on their own. Unfortunately, technology also prevents teenagers from having the necessary
social interactions that they will need in their career.
Most if not all jobs today require a certain level of social interaction. Whether it is talking to
customers, running a meeting, or simply interacting with customers, the social experiences that
people have as teenagers prepare them for these situations. However, todays teenagers are not
having those necessary interactions that prepare them for their future. Because of technology,
teenagers do not personally interact with one another. They would much rather be on Facebook or
Twitter. Social media sites, along with video games and television, do more than just prevent
teenagers from personally interacting with one another; they keep teenagers from going outside and
being active. The more attractive social media sites become to teenagers, the more they will stay
inside being lazy, which is in no way, shape or form beneficial to them or the world. Most teenagers
will argue that they do interact socially and intimately while online. For instance, many websites have
a feature that allows them to video chat with a friend. While this is true, it is not the best way to

prepare teenagers for the workplace. Teenagers often end up doing inappropriate things while they
video chat, and because they are video chatting, their inappropriate actions are permanently
recorded and could be used against them in their future. Those teenagers that do not video chat, but
merely use the chat function on a website are preventing themselves from learning how to appear as
if they are sincere, how to look interested, and how to make eye contact, all of which are necessary
for most, if not all jobs. Technology can do more than prevent teenagers from having certain social
interactions; it can also take them away from their surroundings.
All the states within the United States have some sort of restriction on using technology while
driving. In some states it may simply be no texting while driving; whereas in others it may go as far
as to prohibit the use of all technology while driving. All of these restrictions have been placed
because state legislatures have realized that technology can distract drivers and make them
unaware of their surroundings. For some odd reason, teenagers refuse to realize this. While driving,
teenagers are easily distracted anyway, but when you throw in the temptation of something like a
cell phone, they become even more distracted. Even though, many teenagers know it is wrong they
will still text and drive anyway. Texting and driving has caused a number of crashes over the years,
and that number is swiftly rising. Nearly one-third of all crashes that teenagers are involve in, happen
because they are distracted by technology. Even if a teenager refrains from using their technology
while they are driving, they are still prone to being hit by another teenager that is using his or her
technology. Some might argue that technology can actually save lives when an accident takes place.
The teenagers involved in the accident could call for help if one or both of them were injured in the
accident. However, there would have never been an accident had they not been using technology,
thus eliminating their injuries and their need to call for help. Also, if the accident happens out in the
middle of nowhere, chances are the teenagers will not be able to get cell phone reception, and will
be unable to call for help, which renders their technology useless.
Technology has had both positive and negative effects on the world. However, its effects on
teenagers are for the most part negative. Technology hinders teenagers the most, it distracts them
while they are learning, it prevents teenagers from having the social interactions that are necessary
to survive in the business world, and in some cases technology can completely hinder teenagers by
killing them. Without the distraction of technology teenagers would learn more, be more ready for
their future, and would be less likely to be killed in car accidents. The proper or improper use of
technology is a major for teenagers. Many teenagers do not know how to use their technology to
enhance not only their school work, but their lives. This can all be changed by teaching teenagers
how to manage their time wisely. If this is done technology will no longer be a hinderance to
teenagers, but an enhancer.
1980 Visitors | Updated on January 28th, 2013 2:52 pm (GMT-6 DST)
Source : http://www.classpress.com/blogs/ekjaer/637173

Exposing the Negative Effects of

Technology on Kids
by Erica Loop, Demand Media

Technology can have ill-effects on your child.

Related Articles

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How to Identify the Negative Effects of Peer Pressure on Your Preteen
The Negative Effects of Extending School Days
Using technology as an educational tool has a primary impact on the way that teachers help kids
to learn, according to the Pew Research Center. Although technology, the media and electronic
devices can help kids to gain new knowledge, interact on a social level and access educational
resources, there are also negative effects that come along with the positive ones. While tech-time
can help kids to learn, it can also contribute to obesity, lack of physical fitness, inaccurate or
warped thinking and other negative consequences.
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Obesity and Physical Fitness

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry notes that obesity -- or having a
body weight that is at least 10 percent more than the recommended number of pounds for the
child's age and height -- has multiple causes, one of which is a lack of exercise. Spending hours
in front of screen, whether it is a television or computer, can quickly contribute to a serious
decrease in the amount of physical activity that a child gets during the day. Children need at least
60 minutes of physical activity each day to maintain a healthy weight and level of fitness,
according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The more tech-time that a
child engages in, the less likely it is that he will get in his daily dose of physical activity. This
can, in turn, contribute to negative effects such as weight gain.

Knowledge and Learning

Along with advances in technology comes an ever-growing ability for kids to get in touch with
information and educational resources. Although this seems, on the surface, a positive when it
comes to a child's learning and development, there are times when it actually has negative
consequences. While trusted sources such as universities or major educational organizations have
websites that contain real, verifiable information, other websites may not have the same
authority. Technology and the Internet allow almost anyone to post information and call it an
authoritative source. As an adult, you may know that Mr. Bob's bio facts are far from true, but
that doesn't mean that your child has the same understanding. She may take everything that she
reads online as fact, leading to misinformation or even a slightly skewed way of thinking.

Social Media
Social media can help your child to connect to his friends, develop interpersonal skills and come
out of his shy shell, but it also has a much more destructive side. Adolescents who use social
networking sites regularly demonstrate narcissistic tendencies more often than those who don't
use this type of technology, according to the American Psychological Association. Additionally,
children who use social media may not fully understand how the anonymity of the Internet
allows predators to pose as kids, putting them at risk in the event that they give out personal
information or plan an in-person meeting.

Media Images
Between the TV, laptops, tablets, cell phones, iPods and all of the other technological devices
that your child uses, he is constantly inundated with an array of media images. These often
include, and glorify, negative behaviors such as underage drinking, drug use or risky sexual
situations. Additionally, the media may portray an idealized image of the child or teenager when
it comes to weight and appearance. Your child can develop a warped sense of reality and what is,
and isn't, acceptable when it comes to his actions. The American Academy of Pediatrics, on its
Healthy Children website, recommends that parents screen what their kids are watching and
discuss negative media images.

Source : http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/exposing-negative-effects-technology-kids-14909.html

The Effects of Technology on

Teens
By jzeal, houston, TX
More by this author
Email me when jzeal contributes work

Modern day technological advancements are constantly seen throughout every aspect of
life. Cell phones, portable Internet availability, laptop computers, iPods, mp3 players of
every brand, and many other devices, are everywhere. They seem to possess unending
possible detriments, but, along with such issues, technology also has positive impacts on
todays youth. In some situations, the Internet and iPod prevent sociability, though in
others they may be the cause of increased social activity. Overall, modern technology has
the capability to bring people together as well as enhance the social abilities of the todays
youth; however, if used without discretion, can also create a less interactive generation,
frequently depending on technology for contentment.
The immense capabilities of the Internet today are astonishing, and offer many positive
opportunities for teens. Primarily, the Internet makes sharing information fast and simple,
despite factors that in other cases would prohibit such simple distribution. According to
Jean-Francois Coget in Source C, With the Internet, information can be transmitted and
received with ease at any time of the day to and from any number of friends. It is possible
to send videos, pictures, papers, projects, and a quantity of other things with the click of a
button. The transfer can happen in seconds. The amazing capability of modern day Internet
simplifies teenage life, by providing a way to convey knowledge. Another way in which
Internet proves positive is by providing a way to keep in touch with friends and family
worldwide, or just across town. Whether its a friend that switched schools and is never
around, or a family member in London, the Internet makes it possible to email, instant
message, and even video chat. Such qualities of Internet communication bring people
together with more frequent contact, boosting sociability and relationships. In addition, the
Internet also has the capability to, foster openness, self-confidence, and a greater sense of
ease, and comfort in dealing with others (Source C). Since it is not obligatory to reveal
physical appearance or social status over the Internet, it grants an opportunity to be a
completely new person, who is entirely open and confident. Internet chats, even with mere
acquaintances, can supply a chance for socially challenged teens to experience a form of
social interaction, in order to create a sense of composure. Modern day Internet
advancements not only offer an easier way to share information, but also contribute to
sociability by providing a way to communicate with distant friends and family, as well as
giving socially challenged teenagers an opportunity for interaction.
Likewise, another modern day technology, the iPod, may also have a positive effect on
some teenagers, by presenting a different view of the world as well as uniting individuals
through musical taste. In the eyes of Kelly Doyle-Mace, in Source D, music deepens the

experience of walking through the world, rather than detracting from it. There are millions
of songs out there, one to match every possible mood. Sometimes, turning on just the right
song can be motivational and provide a completely new outlook on a certain circumstance.
In addition, lyrics are often relatable to personal life and can be significant or simply
encouraging. Another way in which iPods and personal musical taste is a positive effect on
teens is by uniting people of different backgrounds and diversities through their music
choice. Lisa and Johnny Rocket, hosts of iPod DJ nights, describe that one night a month
they invite guests to bring their iPods to a London bar. Where they can play whatever songs
they choose (Source D). Even more diverse than the music are the members the iPod
acts to bring people together, Lisa explains (Source D). These gatherings prove that as
diverse as music can be, it is also unifying. The multitudes of people attending these
parties, from every race background and belief, are united through their assorted music
taste. IPods have the potential to positively affect todays youth by matching any and every
mood with music, resulting in a deeper walk through life, as well as bringing people
together by means of musical interest.
The alternative argument is that the Internet can be a significantly negative influence on
teenagers, if overused. Constant Internet use detracts time that could be spent with friends
and family. Hours wasted away typing useless messages is detrimental to personal
relationships with the ones who really matter. It was discovered through a study in
Pittsburgh that people who use the Internet most often are spending less time talking with
their familieskeeping up with fewer friends (Source B). It is of no use to spend so much
time talking to people over the Internet, when one could just as easily walk down the stairs
and spend time with family, or go to see friends instead. According to Source F, Internet
users participate in approximately 244.8 minutes per day spent with friends and family,
while non-Internet users spend on average 381.6 minutes per day with friends and family.
Modern day Internet opportunities are decreasing physical interaction and essential quality
time. The Pittsburgh study also determined that such teens are feeling more lonely and
depressed (Source B). Even though teenagers are simply using the Internet for
interpersonal communication, it is causing reliance on brightly lit screens and keyboards,
instead of sincere personal interactions with close friends and family members (Source B).
Investing too much on Internet chats will inevitably produce a sense of deprivation, and a
resulting sense of loneliness from a lack of real relationships and personal contact.
Obsessive or constant use of the Internet as a social tool deprives teens from necessary
relationships that are crucial to life, especially throughout high school and college, which will
ultimately result in a damaging sense of loneliness and depression.

Similarly, iPods, much like the Internet, become a negative influence on teenagers, when in
constant use. According to a university students study of iPods, the main appeal of the
iPod is that it preoccupies you so you are no longer obligated to interact with the
uncontrollable factors of everyday life (Source E). IPods provide an easy escape from
having to interact with strangers in a public situation; because, in just about any situation,
pressing play can zone everything out. This portable instant entertainment takes away
opportunities to meet new people, or just admire the surroundings and environment of a
new place. Although it is a solution to boredom, there are other, more advantageous,
solutions such as social interaction. Such disregard to discovering new people and new
places leads to isolation. The obvious signal iPods send out is dont bother trying to talk to

me (Source E). Headphones constantly blasting music often prevent conversations that
could prove to be much more worthwhile. The need to continuously be surrounded by ones
own familiar environment results in countless missed opportunities for meeting new people
or experiencing natural sights and sounds (Source E).
The Internet and iPod affect todays youth in positive ways; however, when not used in
moderation, can become negative influences. Modern technologies are positive by providing
simple communication, unifying diversities, and deepening the experiences of the world
through music. Those same technological advancements can become highly addictive, and
like all addictions, have negative consequences. Teens who are constantly engaged in using
technologies become so addicted that they spend less time with loved ones, and feel lonely
and depressed. Technological addiction is leading to a more isolated generation, overly
dependent on technology. Modern technological advances, particularly the Internet and
iPod, have many positive effects on todays youth, yet if overused can lead to addiction,
which consequently produces negative influences and over obsession. Although technology
can be profitable, it must be used in moderation, as not to damage the social ability of
todays youth.

Source : http://www.teenink.com/hot_topics/all/article/161989/The-Effects-of-Technology-on-Teens/

Teens' obsession with technology: harmful or beneficial?

Ohr Chadash October 2010
Posted: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 11:08 am | Updated: 6:45 pm, Mon Oct 18, 2010.
by Kyla Gersten and Haley Abramson | 0 comments
Pro
By Kyla Gersten
Simchas Ad
These days when talking about technology, most people will inevitably mention teenagers. It is true
teens are obsessed with technology, but there are definitely benefits to this obsession.
Technology greatly helps a number of people. Teens use computers constantly for school work,
communication, sharing pictures and for entertainment purposes. Computers continue to change the
world every day, opening countless opportunities for teens. They hold an immense amount of
information; anything teens want to know is right at their fingertips. People often run errands and even
shop without ever leaving home.
Teens also use the Internet to communicate effectively with others around the world. Social networking
websites have mushroomed in popularity over the past several years and now represent a main line of
communication for young people. Teens use sites such as Facebook, Skype and Twitter to stay
connected with friends and have a good time.
However, while some might argue that the Internet provides a means for procrastination, teens also use
it for schoolwork. Computers allow teens to complete work faster and more easily. Typing an essay is
easier and more enjoyable than writing a report by hand or researching a subject in a book. With the
speed and power of search engines, online dictionaries and encyclopedias, teens can find information
anywhere and at any time.
Another method of receiving information is through the cell phone. Despite their bad reputation, cell
phones are vital to teens lives. The most common way that teens use cell phones is for ease and
convenience. Like the Internet, cell phones help teens stay in contact with friends and family
everywhere.

Even more than calling, people stereotype teens as constantly texting. However, texting is not the evil
that many adults portray it as. Texting saves time when teens are in a hurry and allows them to
multitask.
In addition to texting though, teens use their phones to send pictures, listen to music, play games and
access the Internet all of which represent the great opportunities technology offers.
Many technological advances benefit not only teens, but adults, too. Items such as electronic book
readers save paper and money. Although the initial cost of this gadget is high, after about a year the
savings on book prices usually pay for the eBook reader. Teens want everything fast and on the go so
these electronic books are perfect. They are another way that technology provides us with instant
gratification and enhances peoples lives.
Technology in general has a positive effect on teens. Technologys benefits far outweigh any drawbacks
created by fast, modern gadgets. It gives us a way to relieve stress and escape from reality, improves our
tools for learning and helps us communicate with anyone around the world.

Con
By Haley Abramson
As technology seeps into the life of today's teens, many begin to question how healthy these devices
truly are. Forty years ago, kids spent their free time outside playing in the park with their friends. Now,
we sit inside playing video games and watching the "Real World."
Some recent technological developments have affected many aspects of life, from learning methods to
how kids spend their free time. Many schools have forbidden cell phones and discourage the use of
computers in classrooms. These educators rightfully claim that technology introduces distractions rather
than enhancing class discussions. When kids text in class, they pay no attention to the learning at hand
and can even distract others when keys click and phones buzz. Soon, everyone will be focusing on their
thumbs rather than on the teacher.
Screens, as we all know, are very hard to look away from. Although technology can make homework
easier, the temptation to go online is yet another diversion teens use to procrastinate. Instead of getting

ahead, teens waste time chatting or updating. While teens see no harm in spending hours on their
Facebook or MySpace pages, they do not realize the danger they could be in.
The Internet, while expediting communication, also makes any ideas expressed public. Potential
stalkers, kidnappers or bullies are just a click away from a home address and phone number. According
to the Post Dispatch, in 2007, 13-year-old Megan Meier committed suicide because a boy she liked
started saying nasty things about her on the Internet. Little did she know, the cyberbully was actually a
mother in her neighborhood who had invented this boy. Megan Meier's story stresses how troublesome
and misleading the Internet can be, and that the less time spent online, the better.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, teens spend more than 53 hours a week on technology;
teens currently spend about nine more hours a week on technology than five years ago.
When children and teens spend more time on technology, they exercise less. Using this information, one
can deduce that too much time on the computer and watching TV contributes to child obesity, a larger
chance of danger, and even a possibility of worsening eyesight. If these teens are the future, what will
future look like? And if the average time teens spend on technology continues to increase at this rate,
teens will be spending an average of 558 hours, more than 23 days, on technology in 10 years.
Although technology can provide benefits, the downsides are overwhelmingly clear. As technology asks
for greater amounts of personal information, the risks increase exponentially. Without a firm grip on
reality, teens may soon find themselves in a place they wish they weren't. As teens, we need to learn to
use technology in moderation or risk spending our entire lives in front of a screen.

The Impact of Technology on Teenagers

Exploring Media Saturation and Its Effects
An article from Jonathan McKee at TheSource4YM.com
4/29/2011

Face it. Were saturated with media.

Yesterday when I got up, the first sound I heard was the music oozing from my girls iPods through their
docking stations. Moments later, as my 15-year-old daughter Alyssa came downstairs to breakfast, she
was texting a friend about homework. Meanwhile, my 13-year-old Ashley quickly jumped online to
check the weather. Five minutes later, we were in the car and Ashley routinely plugged her iPod into the
cars system so we could all benefit from hearing her music on the way to school.

Ive read all the reports about media saturation. Our family doesnt leave the TV on, my kids dont have
Internet connections in their room, and Im very proactive about monitoring our homes level of media
saturation. But the fact remains, it was only 7:32 a.m. and we were already soaked.

Just how media saturated is the average home in America?

Getting to the Truth

Nielson, Kaiser Foundation, Pew Internet, The American Academy of Pediatrics theyre all doing
research about media saturation and the effect of media in the lives of young people. Lucky for us, they

all seem to basically agree with their conclusions. But the funny thing Ive noticed is how newspapers,
magazines and TV reports filter the data. After all, the news has to be interesting even shocking, right?

Heres how it usually works. One of these groups of experts will release a study followed by a press
release. Journalists read the studies and write their opinions, quoting the numbers that leap off the
page. The common folk begin reading these articles and listening to the findings on the Today Show as
they get ready for work. Pastor Jones stands up on Sunday morning quoting the most shocking of those
numbers, and at lunch that afternoon, a group of elderly ladies in a booth at the local diner say, Did you
hear that 98% of teenage girls are prostitutes and drink a gallon of alcohol per hour?

So dont pay any attention to those email forwards and dont believe the gossip. Check your sources (I
wrote about this in detail before). Thats why you will always see us link our sources, so you can 1.)
Know the validity of what youre reading, and 2.) Take a look at the research with your own eyes.

Heres some of the latest research on media in the lives of young people.

How Saturated Are We?

This month, Pew Internets researcher Amanda Lenhart released a helpful little presentation about the
Impact of Technology on the Lives of American Teens. (I told you we linked our sources!) In this little
slideshow, Lenhart tries to cut through the hype and get straight to the facts about exactly how media
saturated Americans are.

Here are some of the specifics you might find noteworthy from her studya great summary about how
plugged in teenagers are today:

93% of teenagers 12-17 are onlinethe largest percentage of any age group.

Only 8% of families with teens have no computer, and only 4% of homes with computers dont have
access to Internet.

80% of teens 12-17 own a game console.

75% of all teens have a cell phone.

A typical teen sends about 50 texts per day.

Most teen cell phone users make 1-5 calls per day.

31% of teens who take their phones to school send text messages every day during class time.

73% of teens are on social Internet sites (like Facebook).

Only 8% of teens use Twitter (compared to 37% of 18-24 year-oldsthe largest percentage of any age
group).

14% of teens now blog, compared to 28% in 2006.

I encourage you to check out Amanda Lenharts slideshow on the subject. Its readymade for you, a
great tool you can use to educate parents or leaders about media saturated teenagers today. Amanda is

sharp, a trustworthy researcher (some of you might remember when I talked with her in December of
2009 regarding her study about sexting among minors).

As thorough as Amandas report was, it didnt deal with the amount of time kids are actually simmering
in front of the TV, the computer, or listening to music. There are several good sources to find this data,
the most thorough being the 2010 entertainment media consumption report from Kaiser. We already
wrote quite a bit about this report when it was released, but here is a chart revealing exactly how many
hours per day students are absorbing entertainment media in recent years, compared to the past:

According to this sobering report, kids are now soaking in 10 hours and 45 minutes per day of media in a
mere 7 hours and 38 minutes. (This requires multitasking. In other words, they are listening to iTunes
while browsing the web, all while the TV is on in the background.) You probably noticed that this is an
increase of over 2 hours of daily entertainment media saturation since 2004.

Whenever I show this chart at my parenting workshops, parents are always surprised that kids spend
more time watching TV than they do browsing the Internet. But the numbers dont lie (Ive blogged
about this before), TV still rules the media war. For now, American Idol, Glee and Jersey Shore are still
snaring more time from teenagers than Facebook is.

Our Response
So how do we respond to this kind of media saturation?

As parents, we should take the advice from the experts. The American Academy of Pediatrics released a
report in August of 2010 titled, Sexuality, Contraception, and the Media. The doctors in this report
shared some pretty shocking facts about the effects of media on young people. Heres just a glimpse:

More than 75% of prime-time programs contain sexual content.

Only 14% of these incidents mention any risks or responsibilities of sexual activity.

Talk about sex on TV can occur as often as 8 to 10 times per hour.

Between 1997 and 2001 alone, the amount of sexual content on TV nearly doubled.

Listening to sexually degrading lyrics is associated with earlier sexual intercourse.

Out of nine longitudinal studies seeking to answer whether sexy media contributes to early sexual
activity, seven of these studies have shown that exposure to sexual content in TV and other media in
early adolescence can as much as double the risk of early sexual intercourse.

Early exposure to sexual content doubled the risk of teen pregnancy.

Bedroom TVs are associated with greater substance use and sexual activity by teenagers.

Research is clear that parents need to take an active role in talking with their kids about media
guidelines, and setting up realistic media guidelines. This report actually offers some great advice to
parents, including limiting screen time, prohibiting media in bedrooms, and co-viewing media with
kids. (Jonathan discusses these guidelines and what they might look like in his book, Candid Confessions
of an Imperfect Parent.)

Where do you draw the line?

Do your kids have a TV in their bedrooms? Do you know whats on their iPods? Like I said earlier this
week in my blog about the connection between listening to pop music and depression, The iPod is the
window to the heart.

On the proactive side: Have you made an effort to co-view programming with your kids? Have you
tried using media as conversation jump-starters? Check out some of the resources we provide on our
webpage to help you dialogue with young people about media. Parents, you can use our MOVIE
REVIEWS & QUICK Qs page to co-view films with your teenagers and then ask them questions at the
end of the film. We provide you with our two cents about the film and some discussion questions to
provoke conversation. Also consider using our MUSIC DISCUSSIONS page, using current songs to talk
with your teenagers about important issues.

Youth workers, we provide the same resources, customized for a youth ministry setting on our youth
ministry page www.TheSource4YM.com. Just use the FREE RESOURCES & IDEAS dropdown menu on the
top left hand side of the page.

However you choose to do it, become familiar with the media your kids are immersed in daily. Talk with
them about the content they are absorbing, and don't be afraid to set media guidelines. Saying nowhile
not always popularis usually pretty healthy. Too often, the parents at our parenting seminars are on

the brink of throwing in the towel. Don't do that; there are lots of tools at your disposal to help you help
your teens make wholesome media choices.

We can't give up because the only thing beyond "media saturation" is "media drowning."

SOURCE : http://www.thesource4ym.com/youthculturewindow/article.aspx?ID=181

Effects of Technology
Listen with webReader
By karina.g, Houston

The majority of people living in America use some sort of technology. Some of the most technological
inventions include iPods, computers, and cell phones. This type of technology is said to be resourceful
and helpful in meeting new people, and basically in developing social skills. However, I believe it does
the opposite of what most technology users think. Although technology is resourceful, it is time
consuming and it negatively undermines face-to-face social skills with family and friends.
Non-internet users have been tested to see how using the internet influenced their lives. According to
Alfonso,They also reported spending less time talking with their families, experiencing more daily
stress, and feeling more lonely and depressed. These results occurred even though interpersonal
communication was their most important reason for using the internet. This experiment showed how
much of a negative impact Internet had on their lives. The excessive usage of the Internet stocked up
these peoples lives. Quality time was taken over by typing something to someone instead of talking to
the person face-to-face and spending valuable time. According to Nie and Hillygus the difference of the
time spent with family and friends between internet users and non-internet users is tremendous. The
Internet is resourceful, but the time usage should be limited, because it consumes time that matters,
when one should be doing more important things.
Another technological social blocker is the iPod. For example,Oh, I was listening to my iPod. My bad
(Song 1). The truth is the moment one person places headphones in their ear, it is the moment they
create a dont talk to me bubble around themselves. It deteriorates conversation and social
interactions that could have caused a good relationship. Instead of creating a relationship one chooses
to listen to that special song that could be done on ones own time.
Those for Internet usage believe, The Internet can foster openness, and a greater sense of ease and
comfort in dealing with others...can even provide opportunities by those who are too depressed to
conduct a social life in the real world (Coget, Yutaka 1). In my response, this isnt completely true. If
someone has low courage and they build this relationship on the Internet, when the time comes for
in-person interaction, they would be extremely nervous. The reason for this is on the internet you dont

really see how one looks or how one responses to actions. Internet interaction dont really mean much,
those face-to-face interaction are the ones that count for something.
Several people believe that iPods bring people together more than anything. According to Harris,Once
a month, Playlist host iPod Dj nights at a London bar. On these nights, the guests are the
entertainment...and make it a social event. I believe this contains logical fallacies, selective sampling
and hasty generalization. Not everyone goes to a bar and gets together jamming to the music from
iPods. ONe of the main qualities about an iPod is one can listen to tunes with ones self. When one does
this in public places it limits social interactions, so iPods generally divide people more than bring them
together.
In conclusion, although technology is resourceful, it is time consuming and it negatively undermines
face-to-face social skills with family and friends. Overall computers and ipods waste valuable time. This
is so important because technology detracts from important things in life, like family and friends
relations, which are the most important things in a persons life.

SOURCE : http://easy2learnesff.blogspot.com/2011/05/effects-of-technology.html

Teenagers and their sleepless lives

Teenagers
Teenagers have never been so tapped into technology - but how much is it taking over their lives? As
part of BBC School Report's News Day, three teenagers describe the impact technology and social media
have on their sleep, relationships and free time.

Heather, 15, Priory School and Specialist Sports College, Portsmouth

Continue reading the main story

Start Quote

Heather
Being online is a lot more interactive and stimulates your brain in a different way than a book

On sleeping patterns
More from School Report
I'm on Facebook every day, probably for between one and three hours - but that's probably a lot less
than some of my friends.

Sometimes you see online arguments blow up on Facebook and go on and on, and I just think to myself
"How do you have enough time to spend on here arguing?"

I think in some cases social media does make teenagers less active.

But if I'd been born 30 years ago, and there wasn't social media and technology around everywhere, I
still wouldn't have done any more sport. I'd have probably just been in the library a lot more.

In the evenings, I'm often in my bedroom using my laptop to revise using BBC Bitesize or finding old
exam papers. But I usually have other tabs with social media or other websites running, and it's very
tempting to just give yourself a few minutes off to check on those.

I think being online in bed is very different to reading a book. Being online is a lot more interactive and
stimulates your brain in a different way, but I think I actually prefer books.

Continue reading the main story

Start Quote

If anything, my dad - who's 47 - is more competitive about having the latest technology than I am

On gadget one-upmanship
My parents trust me to manage my time online, and I try to finish by 11.30 at night, but it's very easy to
lose track of time and suddenly realise it's way past then. But that can happen reading a book too.

I don't think what phone I've got is an issue for me. Half the time my phone doesn't have credit, and if
I'm just calling my parents to tell them where I am, that can be done on my old "brick".

If anything, my dad - who's 47 - is more competitive about having the latest technology than I am. He
gets really excited about having a new phone, and I just tend to wonder what does it really do that the
last one didn't.

I do think that having brand-new phones is an issue for safety, but a lot of my friends tend to plan ahead
and leave expensive things at home if they're going somewhere they think is risky.

My friend was pick-pocketed on a school trip to Germany and had her money stolen, but she'd
deliberately left her phone in her room.

Sadia, 11, Our Lady's Convent High School, Hackney

Continue reading the main story

Start Quote

Sadia
When I go to bed and I'm supposed to be asleep, I sometimes talk to friends online or text them

On sleeping patterns
I've got a laptop, a TV and an iPod Touch in my bedroom and I also have a Blackberry, which is one of
the old ones.

When I go to bed and I'm supposed to be asleep, I sometimes talk to friends online or text them but it
doesn't really affect my sleep because I like to wake up early. Sometimes I might read a book at night. I
like doing both, because reading a book gives you education, and going online means you can talk to
family members abroad and stuff like that.

I usually have four hours to go online and at about 6pm, my mum says I have got to read a book. Then I
watch TV and go to bed, but sometimes I bring my iPod with me and listen to some music.

Modern technology does stop you playing outside so much because it's really addictive. Sometimes
when I'm doing my homework, I just get carried away with talking to my friends online but my mum
comes and tells me when it's time to stop.

I don't really have time to always see my friends face to face, so I'd rather message them - but we
definitely have more fun when we meet up.

Olivia, 14, Tarporley High School, Cheshire

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Start Quote

Olivia
My mum being on Twitter makes me self-censor what I write

On social media
Your phone becomes a statement - you have to be able to access your social media on your phone,
otherwise you can't stay in touch with what's going on.

And you really notice that lots of people's profile pictures show them holding their smartphone or
looking into the mirror with their phone in hand - it's almost like the phone is part of them.

There is a hierarchy of the different brands of phone, and people who don't have a decent phone would
probably be teased at least a little bit. I think you'd have to learn to laugh at yourself a bit, to be honest.

Sometimes I look at my friends' phones and think "I want that". I think lots of teenagers think that way
too.

I'm unusual in that I'm not on Facebook, but I do like using Twitter and my mum and my auntie are on
there too. I think that makes me self-censor what I write, but that's probably a good thing.

Continue reading the main story

Start Quote

I tend to count to 10 before I tweet, as sometimes arguments happen on social media and get blown out
of all proportion

On relationships
I think they feel I'm mature enough to deal with social media pretty responsibly. But if I was to tweet
something inappropriate, I know it would be that would have to face up the consequences.

I tend to count to 10 before I tweet, as sometimes arguments happen on social media and get blown out
of all proportion.

I often find myself thinking "why are you tweeting this?" The things that some people want to share effectively with the whole world - could have a big impact on the rest of their life, for things like finding
a job in the future.

I'm actually very disciplined, but I think the older you get, the longer you will probably end up staying up
for, as that's when you spend more of your time online. If you're multi-tasking by tweeting when you're
watching a soap earlier in the evening, that's different to being on Facebook or Twitter later on in your
room.

Continue reading the main story

Start Quote

The problem with being online late at night is that there's always more to read or find out about

On sleeping patterns

I see a lot of people tweeting "I can't sleep" late at night or in the early hours. It shows you that people
really are just spending their time on their phones, but sometimes I wonder why they want to share that
information with me.

I don't have a curfew set by parents as such, but I think that I kind of have one anyway that I impose on
myself.

The problem with being online late at night - rather than reading a book or something - is that there's
always more to read or find out about. Teenagers are naturally curious and if you see something
someone has retweeted, you want to click on their profile to see who they are. And then you find more
things to click on, and so on - it's never ending. For some people, their phone is like another limb. They
really can't be without it.

I like to think I don't fit the anti-social teenager stereotype - I'm just as happy talking to people face-toface socially, not hiding away behind a screen.

SOURCE : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21876118

Writing, Technology and Teens

Apr 24, 2008by Amanda Lenhart, Sousan Arafeh, Aaron Smith, Alexandra Macgill
Teenagers lives are filled with writing. All teens write for school, and 93% of teens say they write for
their own pleasure. Most notably, the vast majority of teens have eagerly embraced written
communication with their peers as they share messages on their social network pages, in emails
and instant messages online, and through fast-paced thumb choreography on their cell phones.
Parents believe that their children write more as teens than they did at that age.

This raises a major question: What, if anything, connects the formal writing teens do and the informal
e-communication they exchange on digital screens? A considerable number of educators and
childrens advocates worry that James Billington, the Librarian of Congress, was right when he
recently suggested that young Americans electronic communication might be damaging the basic
unit of human thought the sentence.1 They are concerned that the quality of writing by young
Americans is being degraded by their electronic communication, with its carefree spelling, lax
punctuation and grammar, and its acronym shortcuts. Others wonder if this return to text-driven
communication is instead inspiring new appreciation for writing among teens.
While the debate about the relationship between e-communication and formal writing is on-going,
few have systematically talked to teens to see what they have to say about the state of writing in
their lives. Responding to this information gap, the Pew Internet & American Life Project and
National Commission on Writing conducted a national telephone survey and focus groups to see
what teens and their parents say about the role and impact of technological writing on both in-school
and out-of-school writing. The report that follows looks at teens basic definition of writing, explores
the various kinds of writing they do, seeks their assessment about what impact e-communication has
on their writing, and probes for their guidance about how writing instruction might be improved.

At the core, the digital age presents a paradox. Most teenagers spend a considerable amount of
their life composing texts, but they do not think that a lot of the material they create electronically
is real writing. The act of exchanging emails, instant messages, texts, and social network posts is
communication that carries the same weight to teens as phone calls and between-class hallway
greetings.
At the same time that teens disassociate e-communication with writing, they also strongly believe
that good writing is a critical skill to achieving success and their parents agree. Moreover, teens
are filled with insights and critiques of the current state of writing instruction as well as ideas about
how to make in-school writing instruction better and more useful.

Even though teens are heavily embedded in a tech-rich world, they do not believe that
communication over the internet or text messaging is writing.
The main reason teens use the internet and cell phones is to exploit their communication
features.2 3 Yet despite the nearly ubiquitous use of these tools by teens, they see an important
distinction between the writing they do for school and outside of school for personal reasons, and
the communication they enjoy via instant messaging, phone text messaging, email and social
networking sites.
85% of teens ages 12-17 engage at least occasionally in some form of electronic personal
communication, which includes text messaging, sending email or instant messages, or posting
comments on social networking sites.
60% of teens do not think of these electronic texts as writing.
Teens generally do not believe that technology negatively influences the quality of their writing, but
they do acknowledge that the informal styles of writing that mark the use of these text-based
technologies for many teens do occasionally filter into their school work. Overall, nearly two-thirds of
teens (64%) say they incorporate some informal styles from their text-based communications into
their writing at school.

50% of teens say they sometimes use informal writing styles instead of proper capitalization and

punctuation in their school assignments;

38% say they have used text shortcuts in school work such as LOL (which stands for laugh out
loud);
25% have used emoticons (symbols like smiley faces :-) ) in school work.
For more information on teens and electronic communication, please see Part 4: Electronic
Communication starting on page 21.

The impact of technology on writing is hardly a frivolous issue because most believe that
good writing is important to teens future success.
Both teens and their parents say that good writing is an essential skill for later success in life.

83% of parents of teens feel there is a greater need to write well today than there was 20 years
ago.
86% of teens believe good writing is important to success in life some 56% describe it as
essential and another 30% describe it as important.

Parents also believe that their children write more now than they did when they were teens.

48% of teenagers parents believe that their child is writing more than the parent did during their
teen years; 31% say their child is writing less; and 20% believe it is about the same now as in the
past.
Recognition of the importance of good writing is particularly high in black households and among
families with lower levels of education.

94% of black parents say that good writing skills are more important now than in the past,
compared with 82% of white parents and 79% of English-speaking Hispanic parents.
88% of parents with a high school degree or less say that writing is more important in todays
world, compared with 80% of parents with at least some college experience.
For more information on this topic, please visit Part 6: Parental Attitudes toward Writing and
Technology starting on page 36 and Part 7: The Way Teens See Their Writing and What Would
Improve It on page 42.

Teens are motivated to write by relevant topics, high expectations, an interested audience
and opportunities to write creatively.
Teens write for a variety of reasonsas part of a school assignment, to get a good grade, to stay in
touch with friends, to share their artistic creations with others or simply to put their thoughts to paper
(whether virtual or otherwise). In our focus groups, teens said they are motivated to write when they
can select topics that are relevant to their lives and interests, and report greater enjoyment of school
writing when they have the opportunity to write creatively. Having teachers or other adults who
challenge them, present them with interesting curricula and give them detailed feedback also serves
as a motivator for teens. Teens also report writing for an audience motivates them to write and write
well.

For more on why teens write and what motivates them, please see Part 8: What Teens Tell Us
Encourages Them to Write, which starts on page 51.

Writing for school is a nearly every-day activity for teens, but most assignments are short.

Most teens write something nearly every day for school, but the average writing assignment is a
paragraph to one page in length.

50% of teens say their school work requires writing every day; 35% say they write several times a
week. The remaining 15% of teens write less often for school.
82% of teens report that their typical school writing assignment is a paragraph to one page in
length.
White teens are significantly more likely than English-speaking Hispanic teens (but not blacks) to
create presentations for school (72% of whites and 58% of Hispanics do this).
The internet is also a primary source for research done at or for school. 94% of teens use the
internet at least occasionally to do research for school, and nearly half (48%) report doing so once a
week or more often.

For more information, please visit Part 3: Teens and Their Writing Habits on page 10 in the main
report.

Teens believe that the writing instruction they receive in school could be improved.
Most teens feel that additional instruction and focus on writing in school would help improve their
writing even further. Our survey asked teens whether their writing skills would be improved by two
potential changes to their school curricula: teachers having them spend more time writing in class,
and teachers using more computer-based tools (such as games, writing help programs or websites,
or multimedia) to teach writing.

Overall, 82% of teens feel that additional in-class writing time would improve their writing abilities
and 78% feel the same way about their teachers using computer-based writing tools.

For more on this topic please see Part 7: The Way Teens See Their Writing and What Would
Improve It starting on page 42.

Non-school writing, while less common than school writing, is still widespread among teens.

Outside of a dedicated few, non-school writing is done less often than school writing, and varies a bit
by gender and race/ethnicity. Boys are the least likely to write for personal enjoyment outside of
school. Girls and black teens are more likely to keep a journal than other teens. Black teens are also
more likely to write music or lyrics on their own time.

47% of black teens write in a journal, compared with 31% of white teens.
37% of black teens write music or lyrics, while 23% of white teens do.
49% of girls keep a journal; 20% of boys do.
26% of boys say they never write for personal enjoyment outside of school.
For more on non-school writing, please see Part 3: Teens and Their Writing Habitson page 10
and Part 8: What Teens Tell Us Encourages Them to Write starting on page 51.

Multi-channel teens and gadget owners do not write any more or less than their
counterparts, but bloggers are more prolific.
Teens who communicate frequently with friends, and teens who own more technology tools such as
computers or cell phones do not write more for school or for themselves than less communicative
and less gadget-rich teens. Teen bloggers, however, are prolific writers online and offline.
47% of teen bloggers write outside of school for personal reasons several times a week or more
compared to 33% of teens without blogs.

65% of teen bloggers believe that writing is essential to later success in life; 53% of non-bloggers
say the same.
For more on teens and electronic communication, please see Part 4: Electronic Communication on
page 21 in the full report.

Teens more often write by hand for both out-of-school writing and school work.
Most teens mix and match longhand and computers based on tool availability, assignment
requirements and personal preference. When teens write they report that they most often write by
hand, though they also often write using computers as well. Out-of-school personal writing is more
likely than school writing to be done by hand, but longhand is the more common mode for both
purposes.

72% of teens say they usually (but not exclusively) write the material they are composing for their
personal enjoyment outside of school by hand; 65% say they usually write their school
assignments by hand.

For more on the technologies teens use for writing, please see Part 3: Teens and Their Writing
Habits starting on page 10.

As tech-savvy as they are, teens do not believe that writing with computers makes a big
difference in the quality of their writing.
Teens appreciate the ability to revise and edit easily on a computer, but do not feel that use of
computers makes their writing better or improves the quality of their ideas.

15% of teens say their internet-based writing of materials such as emails and instant messages
has helped improve their overall writing while 11% say it has harmed their writing. Some 73% of
teens say this kind of writing makes no difference to their school writing.
17% of teens say their internet-based writing has helped the personal writing they do that is not for
school, while 6% say it has made their personal writing worse. Some 77% believe this kind of
writing makes no difference to their personal writing.
When it comes to using technology for school or non-school writing, teens believe that when they
use computers to write they are more inclined to edit and revise their texts (57% say that).

For more on teen attitudes toward technologies influence on their writing, please seePart 7: The
Way Teens See Their Writing and What Would Improve It, which begins on page 42.

Parents are generally more positive than their teen children about the effect of computers
and text-based communication tools on their childs writing.
Parents are somewhat more likely to believe that computers have a positive influence on their teens
writing, while teens are more likely to believe computers have no discernible effect.

27% of parents think the internet writing their teen does makes their teen child a better writer, and
27% think it makes the teen a poorer writer. Some 40% say it makes no difference.
On specific characteristics of the impact of tech-based writing, this is how parents and teens views
match up:

For more details on parent and teens attitudes toward writing, please see Part 6: Parental Attitudes
toward Writing and Technology on page 36 and Part 7: The Way Teens See Their Writing and What
Would Improve It on page 42.

Teens enjoy non-school writing, and to a lesser extent, the writing they do for school.
Enjoyment of personal, non-school writing does not always translate into enjoyment of school-based
writing. Fully 93% of those ages 12-17 say they have done some writing outside of school in the past
year and more than a third of them write consistently and regularly. Half (49%) of all teens say they
enjoy the writing they do outside of school a great deal, compared with just 17% who enjoy the
writing they do for school with a similar intensity.

Teens who enjoy their school writing more are more likely to engage in creative writing at school
compared to teens who report very little enjoyment of school writing (81% vs. 69%). In our focus
groups, teens report being motivated to write by relevant, interesting, self-selected topics, and
attention and feedback from engaged adults who challenged them.

For more details on teen enjoyment of writing and writing motivations, please see Part 8: What
Teens Tell Us Encourages Them To Write starting on page 51.

NOTES
1 Dillon, Sam. In Test, Few Students are Proficient Writers, The New York Times, April
3,

2008.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/education/03cnd-

writing.html?em&ex=1207454400&en=a866a90118b1f389&ei=5087%0A
2 Analysis of daily communications choices is based on all teens, regardless of
technology ownership.
3 Lenhart, Amanda, Madden, Mary & Hitlin, Paul. (2005) Teens and Technology: Youth
are Leading the Transition to a Fully Wired and Mobile Nation, Pew Internet &
American Life Project, Washington, DC, July 27, 2005.
SOURCE : http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2008/Writing-Technology-and-Teens/01-Summaryof-Findings.aspx

Teens and Mobile Phones

Apr 20, 2010by Amanda Lenhart, Rich Ling, Scott Campbell, Kristen Purcell
Adverse side effects of teen cell phone use.
Of course, with new opportunities come new problems, and the cell phone puts new twists on old ones.
This section examines some of adverse ramifications of cell phone use by teens, including distracted
driving, so-called "sexting," mobile harassment, and unwanted text messages. The chart below shows
that among these concerns, distracted driving and receiving unwanted or spam text messages stand out
as most prominent among teens who use cell phones.

The cell phone has become an additional source of distracted driving among teens (and their parents!)

One of the most serious concerns about teens and cell phones is their use of the technology while
driving.42 Over half (52%) of teens ages 16-17 who own cell phones reported that they have talked on a
cell phone while driving. Over a third (34%) have texted while behind the wheel. Boys and girls were
equally likely to report both talking and texting while driving.
Nearly half (48%) of all teens ages 12-17 say they have been in a car when the driver was texting, and
40% say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put themselves or
others in danger. While filling out the focus group questionnaire, several teens expressed serious
concerns about safety when this happens. As one middle school boy explained, "I do worry about it
because what if youre driving and not paying attention to the road. You can hit someone or make them
hit you." Some of the teens differentiated between the risks of talking and texting. Another middle
school boy wrote, "People texting worries me more than people calling people, because texting is more
distracting than talking on the phone because you can pay more attention to the road when talking than
texting."
Other teens were more blas about cell phone use while driving. Some even described tactics they
employed in order not to get caught doing it, such as a high school boy who admitted, "I wear
sunglasses so the cops dont see *my eyes looking down+." Participants also discussed tactics to mitigate
the hazard it poses to driving. For example, some explained they would only text when the car was not
moving, such as at a stop sign or traffic light. Others would read but not send texts while driving.
"Theres a difference, I think," said one high school boy. "Because just reading a text isnt that bad, its
just reading and then moving on. If youre texting, its going to take more time when youre supposed to
be driving, and thats when most people get in accidents."
Many of the teens stated their parents use the cell phone while driving with them and others in the car.
In addition to voice calling, parents are also texting. As one high school boy explained, "[My dad] drives
like hes drunk. His phone is just like sitting right in front of his face, and he puts his knees on the bottom
of the steering wheel and tries to text." This type of comment was echoed by several other teens during
the sessions.
Sexting is a growing concern, but teens tend only to be aware of it rather than involved with it.
Sexting, or the distribution of sexually suggestive nude or nearly-nude images, has garnered increased
media attention in recent years.43 While this is a topic of concern, results from the survey show that the
vast majority of teen cell phone owners have not sent or received messages of this nature. Only 4%

reported that they have sent these types of images or videos of themselves, and 15% said they have
received a "sext" from someone they know. Older teens were more likely to report receiving sext
messages than younger teens, with 18% of those 14-17 as opposed to 6% of the 12 and 13 year-olds
reporting this. There were no differences between boys (15%) and girls (14%) in receipt of sexts.
Furthermore, teens who are more frequent users of cell phones are more likely to receive sexually
suggestive images.
Focus group findings show that sexting occurs most often in one of three scenarios:
1. Exchanges of images solely between two romantic partners
2. Exchanges of images between partners that are then shared outside the relationship
3. Exchanges of images between people who are not yet in a relationship, but where often one
person hopes to be.
Teens explained how sexually suggestive images have become a form of relationship currency. These
images are shared as a part of or instead of sexual activity, or as a way of starting or maintaining a
relationship with a significant other. They are also passed along to friends for their entertainment value,
as a joke, for revenge or for fun.
Some teens also described the pressure they feel to share these types of images. One high school girl
wrote:

When I was about 14-15 years old, I received/sent these types of pictures. Boys usually ask for
them or start that type of conversation. My boyfriend or someone I really liked asked for them,
and I felt like if I didnt do it, they wouldnt continue to talk to me. At the time, it was no big
deal. But now, looking back, it was definitely inappropriate and over the line.

Although this is not a pervasive teen practice, sexting can create serious problems for those involved in
it. The desire for risk-taking and sexual exploration during the teenage years, combined with a constant
connection via mobile devices, creates a "perfect storm" for sexting. Teenagers have always grappled
with issues around sex and relationships, but their coming-of-age mistakes and transgressions have
never been so easily transmitted and archived for others to see.
The cell phone has become a new venue for harassment and bullying of teens.

Over a quarter (26%) of teen cell phone users reported having been harassed by someone else through
their cell phone. Girls are significantly more likely to experience this (30%) than boys (22%). This trend is
more common for those teens whose parents are under 40 and low in educational attainment.
Responses in the focus groups were split with regard to how serious of a problem this is. Some teens
clearly believe this is major problem with serious social and psychological consequences, while others
feel that it is "not really a big deal."
Respondents discussed how harassment can occur through voice calls and text messages. In a voice
context, it is often in the form of prank calls. Both voice and text are used to deliver threats and insults.
In addition, sexual harassment was mentioned by some, which may help explain why girls reported
higher incidences of cell phone harassment overall than boys in the survey. Several teens also reported
that cell phones are used to indirectly harass others behind their back, for instance by spreading false
rumors.
While these are old problems that young people have always had to deal with, the cell phone gives rise
to new concerns about harassment. In their written responses during the focus group sessions, teens
explained that it is particularly difficult to escape harassment when it happens over the cell phone. One
high school girl wrote: "I think its terrible. You cant escape the hatred. Even when you go home
someone can still pick on you." Although the anytime, anywhere nature of the technology is a major
draw for teens to stay in touch with their peers, it also provides new opportunities for bullies and
harassers to stay connected to their targets.
Another characteristic of the cell phone, especially the lean channel of texting, is that it lends itself to
uninhibited behavior for some users. One girl in high school explained that "many people use texting as
a way not to do it face-to-face," indicating that some feel less accountable when texting. As a high
school boy put it, "People have bigger mouths through text," making it easier for them to deliver threats
and insults.
Although they embrace text messaging, many teens also regret messages they have sent.
As this report has detailed, text messaging has become a primary resource for maintaining contact with
peers and coordinating social life among teens. While most young people in this study (and overall)
embrace the utility of text messaging for anytime, anywhere private exchanges, many experience
feelings of regret about their use of this channel. Almost half (47%) of teen cell phone owners reported

regret over a text message they have sent. There is a notable trend by age, with 12 year-olds reporting a
much lower occurrence of feelings of regret (28%) than the rest. Regret over a text message was
particularly high among girls 14-17, with 54% of them reporting this, compared with 39% of 12-13 yearold girls and 42% of boys ages 14-17. Another trend from the survey shows that teens with unlimited
text plans were significantly more likely (52%) to express regret than those with limited (21%) and pay
per text (19%) plans. And not surprisingly, the more text messages a person sends on an average day,
the more likely they are to say they have regretted a message they have sent.
Responses in the focus groups illustrate characteristics of text messaging that can lead to situations of
regret. One of the themes from the sessions points to misunderstandings that can arise from trying to
express oneself with 160 characters or less of text. Several of the participants mentioned how it can at
times be difficult to establish shared meaning through texting, especially with the tone of a message. For
example, one high school girl from the interviews stated, "I think that 50% of the arguments I have with
friends are that reason. I rarely fight but whenever I do have an argument, someone will send me a text
message and Ill be like, well that was rude, and they didnt mean anything by it. I was like, Oh, OK, my
bad." These types of misunderstandings can emerge from simple punctuation use, or in this case the
lack of it: "Its usually if they say something and put a period at the end. Itll be, like, really abrupt, and
youll be, like, Oh, that sounded like they are mad."
Participants also discussed how sending a text to the wrong person is a common problem that can lead
to regret. This can happen as a result of confusion from trying to maintain multiple threads of text-based
conversation with multiple partners at once. A high school girl explained, "Its confusing though, cause
somebody will text you and youll text them back and they will, like somebody else will send you a text
message and youll be like, Wait what? And I text the wrong thing and it causes a lot of drama."
Some of the regrets expressed in the sessions were not about the content of messages, but rather the
setting in which they were exchanged, especially when it violated school rules. Some of the teens were
caught texting and had their handsets confiscated by teachers or administrators, leaving them without a
phone or forcing them to activate another one. One boy in middle school explained how looking at an
incoming text is almost like a reflex, which can be a problem in school: "[I] just did the natural thing to
pull it out and see who it was, and then the teacher took it."
Not all messages on the cell phone are welcome.

Over half (54%) of teen cell phone owners say that have received spam or other unwanted text
messages on their cell phone. There were no meaningful differences with regard to age or sex.
The focus group participants indicated that these messages tend not to be from commercial sources.
Instead, there were many complaints about "spamming" from other individuals. At times, this can
border on harassment when individuals persistently send unwanted text messages as a prank, causing
some to react by turning their phone off, sometimes for hours. This is noteworthy, considering turning
the phone off is otherwise unthinkable for many teens. Indeed, it is one of the only reasons teens
provided for turning their phone off. Some individuals went so far as to describe this problem as "the
worst" of owning a cell phone. Participants were also annoyed by chain messages that are forwarded in
viral fashion. As one high school girl explained, "Those drive me crazy. I just got one, and its like, Oh,
send this to ten people and then God will love you forever."
Parents and regulation of the mobile phone.
More details about how parents are monitoring and regulating the mobile phone and how those actions
relate to teens cell phone behaviors may be found previously inChapter Four, starting in the section
"Cell phone plans and parental regulation of the phone."

SOURCE
5.aspx?view=all

http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Teens-and-Mobile-Phones/Chapter-

SOURCE : Source: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/228029