Life in the ‘Digital Generation’

Being a teenager means you can’t escape the constant distraction of cell phones, tablets, laptops, computers and televisions. The “Digital Generation” is what they call us. We are constantly told we are “wasting our lives,” or “rotting our brains.” What the older generation doesn’t understand is that many teenagers do not necessarily like the advancements in technology we are surrounded by.

The average teenager can be found with their nose in their phone multiple times during the day. Adults constantly fight for our attention because they believe we would rather be staring at our 4-inch digital screens then engaging in a face-to-face conversation. Admittedly, teenagers are consumed by their cell phones for multiple hours of the day, but speaking for myself, I wish I wasn’t constantly surrounded by it.

I am like many other teenage girls who have every social media account possible: Instagram, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Vine, and a You Tube account. I am truly a victim of technological distraction.

However, I would give it all up to go back to a time where it all didn’t exist. It may be nice that I can easily look up the answers to a world history question, or instantly download pictures from the internet but when I have to have my phone in my pocket every second of the day to keep in touch with my friends, that is when it becomes toxic.

Before the time of cell phones or social media, if you made a plan for the night with your friends, you would trust that your friends would follow through.

Today, you make a plan over text messaging, more often than not, plans fall through because you make them last minute or because the lenience of texting is taken less seriously. Trust is often an issue within our generation because one can easily disguise themselves through a screen.

A show called “Catfish” airs on MTV frequently and is about disguising yourself over social media. Being “catfished” means that you believed a person that you met on the internet is a different person then they presented themselves to be. Within this show, many people have been revealed to be not who they say they are over the internet. The shock of those who have been “catfished” is very emotional and shows the true effects of technology on our generation.

Catfish also shows the lack of trust within our generation. The fact that someone would have to doubt that the face displayed on the screen of a computer matches the one who is speaking for that face is absurd in many ways.

It is sad to me that I live in a generation where a “Goodnight Text” is the most romantic notion that can be expressed. When texting the opposite sex, teenagers will assess the time that the other person takes to respond and that is what they will base many conclusions on. I have had friends that will wait hours just to keep the person on the edge and wondering why they won’t respond. Why must it be that we have to conceal or lie about how we feel about particular subjects just because our digital screens make it more efficient to talk to each other? I think that is a question that may never be answered.

All of the unspoken rules of our generation are truly “digital.” The reason we are given this name is evident, but how do teens feel about being the “Digital Generation”?

“I think being in the digital generation has it’s positives and it’s negatives.” SVHS junior Meghan Dunn explained, “The good thing about it is that with the technology we now have, we can learn more and more to help with whatever you may need. Whether it’s a doctor researching cures for diseases or a student trying to write an essay, the technology we have is very useful. But the negative is that we as a people are now almost dependent to our technology. Teenagers, like me, often use technology way too much and not always for the best.”

“Personally, I like it,” Junior Alec Woodyatt expressed, “I feel like I am connected with everyone and everything that’s going on around me.”

“Yeah it’s cool that I can always contact people,” Freshman Clare Galten said, “But I hate that I am constantly surrounded by it.”

There are many mixed feelings about the technological evolution that we see before our eyes every day. As a teenager today, I have witnessed the development of the first smart phone, laptop, HD television, instant messaging, google, new software, and even self-driving cars.

In my opinion, this generation is toxic because of technology.

I may love to use technology, but it is only because I was born into this generation. Technology gives us a false hope in the world.

We misinterpret meanings to everything through text messaging and the internet.

We have trouble having face-to-face conversations without it being awkward.

We will avoid important conversations because we know we can text, or e-mail someone later about it. What has technology taught our generation besides cheating our way through life?

I would love to get rid of my cell phone and focus on those around me, but I know that this is not realistic because if I did lose my technology, I would lose those around me.

(Olivia DeGraca is a junior at St. Vincent de Paul High School and co-editor of the student newspaper, The Onlooker.)