Technology: Blessing or Curse?

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BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. Imagine the sound of technology growing louder and louder. What if technology was used twenty-four hours, seven days a week? Will it overwhelm human beings? As the world advances into its new day and age, inventions such as cell phones, computers, and gaming systems, over power what used to be a “simple society”. Items such as walkmans, record players, and 8 tracks used to be the focal products of technology. Living in the 21st century, technology has been developing to a more influential level. It has been growing faster and faster, quicker than everyone even realizes it. The question is: do the social skills of children and teenagers decrease due to the interference of new technology in America? The innovative technology in America decreases the ability and potential of social skills, but in certain cases, increases learning levels between some children and teens.

Kids, teens, and even adults use technology as their primary source of communication. In a video on the Illinoishomepage.net webpage, newscasters interviewed teachers on their viewpoint on teenager’s use of cell phones and text messaging. A middle-school teacher thought, “[Students] seem to rely a little more on the text messaging” (“Big Idea: Technology Helps & Hurts Social Skills”). It was not a surprise to hear what they thought about their students’ texting. Personally being a student, the use of cell phones during class has grown, mainly because it is an easy access entertainment. Students all over the United States are prone to new innovations. The American Life Project declared that teenagers had the instinct to text to their friends, rather than call them (Stout par. 9). The speaking skills needed to survive in life will be diminished if te...

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...sting.

Illinoishomepage.net, 19 May 2010. Web. 20 Jan. 2012.

Healy, Michelle. “Among Kids, Connection Has Been Lost.” USA Today. Academic

Search Premier, 19 Dec. 2011. Web. 20 Jan. 2012.

Helft, Miguel. "For the Blind, Technology Does What a Guide Dog Can’t." The

New York Times. NY Times, 3 Jan. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2012.

Ludden, Jennifer. "Teen Texting Soars; Will Social Skills Suffer?" NPR: National

Public Radio: News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts. PBS, 20 Apr. 2010. Web. 18 Jan. 2012.

Nauert, Rick. "Technology Helps Autistic Children with Social Skills." Psych Central.

Psych Central, 24 Oct. 2011. Web. 20 Jan. 2012.

Schlafly, Andy. “Violent Videos Warp Young Minds.” USA Today. Academic Search

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