When I first read the description of the article “the rise of the smartphone coincides with a shift in youth psychological well-being”. I knew the article was going to be about all the negatives of smartphones being in almost everyone's hands around the globe. Oh yes there is a lot of negative aspects that came along with the digital age.
Everyday we see people of various ages from different walks of life, living out their days each different from the rest. One common trait we see in people now a days, is that everyone has a smartphone on them at all times. Almost serving as a lifeline to the majority of the population, many making sure not to leave anywhere without it. The article was focusing mainly on the youth that are being consumed by this technological age. The reality is that various age groups are being consumed by smartphones, not just teens. In the article it stated that there was a study that teens that spend more time on there screens and social media are less happy and more depressed. Another study showed that the activity of teens hanging out with their friends is happening at a significantly lower rate. Personally when I read this article it opened my eyes to how my much my generation is on their phones, it really is scary. Although there is many negatives of smartphones we can’t forget all the positives and conveniences that come along with them as well.
After only about a decade, smartphone technology is so successful that businesses and their employees have trouble imagining a day without them. Besides making phone calls, nearly all smartphones today can natively provide directions through GPS, take pictures, play music and keep track of appointments and contacts. Through the installation of apps, the list of possible smartphone uses multiplies by tens of thousands and grows longer everyday. Old school cell phones could call and text. Which was great at the time, but smartphones allow you multiple ways of communicating. Not only can they call, text and, they give you access to email, video calling and video conferencing. You can also remain connected through social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Smartphones can be a great advantage in all our lives if used responsibly.
Overall the issue of the smartphone is a double edged sword. There is many negatives, but let us not forget that many advantages and positives are tied in there as well. I think it's our responsibility as human beings is to not be consumed by electronics or smart phones in this case. Then we would never would never have had to talk about this issue in the first place.