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Alicia Freed
Memoir
Dr. Claire Lawrence
February 26, 2013
In today’s society technology sometimes causes us to lose the ability to communicate
with others where as in past generations holding conversations in person was the easiest thing to
do. Technology is something that improves more and more in every generation. In our generation
we tend to find ourselves lost in the technology more than recognizing what’s happening around
us. My parents would agree that teenagers in our generation are more into their cellphones, video
games and computers than when they were growing up. I would agree with them in saying that a
teenager cannot be in a room for more than an hour without checking their phone, or simply
having a nice family talk. I do think that technology is pulling us away from the real world, and
is even drifting family’s apart. At the end of the essay “The Multitasking Generation” it explains
that if parents would tell their kids to get off of their piece of technology they would be able to
enjoy the simple things in life, like have a family conversation, or enjoy the outdoors (Wallis4).
When I was a child I use to play outside all of the time until my best friends introduced
me to videogames. The first game I ever played was crash bandicoot. I was obsessed with that
game. I would only be allowed to play for a certain amount of time though just so I could still sit
down and have a family meal. As I got older I drifted away from video games, but started
wanting a cellphone. My parents believe that a kid should not have a cellphone until they are at
least thirteen years old. I received my first flip phone in 7th grade on my 13th birthday. It was a
dark blue, AT&T flip phone. I was so happy to get it I couldn’t wait to text and chat with all my
friends. My parents regretted getting me the cell phone after they started seeing me text all the
time, and I was slowly drifting away from family conversations.
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Alicia Freed
Memoir
Dr. Claire Lawrence
February 26, 2013
When my parents were younger they didn’t even have cellphones they just had house
phones. The cellphones in their generation were bulky and you couldn’t text on them though. In
our generation we can surf the internet while texting multiple friends. This is great for a new
product in technology’s perspective, but in my opinion and my parents being able to surf the
internet on our phones is distracting to our learning. We think this because if you’re researching
for a paper on your cell phone your most likely texting your friends to which is causing a
distraction towards your homework. I think that teenagers rely on their cellphones way too much.
We are losing the asset of being able to
communicate with others because we
rely on typing it to them more, so we
find it harder to speak what we want to
say to the actual person. For example
when I read the article “The
Multitasking Generation” Elinor Ochs, a
researcher who studies family life explains that when a parent comes home from a hard day at
work to their house their children pays no attention to their presence, but is zoned into their piece
of technology(Wallis2). I can relate to this because I realized I am that kid. Instead of asking my
parents how their day went I am too lost in the conversation I am having with my boyfriend. I
feel really sad that I didn’t notice I did it before. I was just too hooked on my technology and it
was getting harder to communicate with my family.
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Alicia Freed
Memoir
Dr. Claire Lawrence
February 26, 2013
I would love my parents to tell me to stop texting or have a place to put cellphones when
we are in a room because then I would be more engaged in the conversation and what was going
on. Teenagers are caring more about what piece of technology is out instead of paying more
attention to things that mean the most to them. Family to me is the most important thing in life
other than my health. I honestly would have to say I would be ok without any technology. I think
this because a cell phone is just lowering my ability to have a conversation to someone in person,
the internet on a computer is just distracting me for hours, sometimes looking up useless
information I will never need, and using Google to find out answers I may need instead of using
my brain to research and find the answers myself, and video games are just pulling us away from
friends and family because we are glued to a screen for hours. A teenager may look at me and
say “wow your nuts I would never give up my cell phone”! They aren’t really seeing my point if
they automatically say that. I will admit I love having my cellphone I’m on it all the time, but
I’m losing family time that I will never get back. The hours I’m spending on my phone are hours
I could have had having a nice conversation with my parents, or even going outside to play a
game of volleyball with them without stopping to check my phone. I believe that if my parents
could go without a cellphone and they made it in life I could do it to.
There are good things in having a cellphone though. For example if a family member
needs to contact me this is an easy way they can reach me. If I also get stranded somewhere
having one helps to. I’m not saying I would totally give away my cellphone, but if they could
help me limit my time on it I feel my family’s communication levels would be a lot higher. My
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Alicia Freed
Memoir
Dr. Claire Lawrence
February 26, 2013
brothers and I cell phone addiction is that bad that we have to have it beside our dinner plate at
supper time. Sometimes when our parents are trying to ask us something we are distracted with
our conversation in the phone, and not the one their trying to start with us.
Life without technology would help me focus more on the most important asset in my
life, my family. My communication skills would be a lot better. Even though technology is
getting better in each generation we as people need to see the impact it’s doing on our personal
and social lives. I don’t know about you, but I want to remember in depth the fascinating stories I
hear from my grandparents and parents pasts, their memories you can pass on to your kids and
stories you will never forget!