I am sure many of you have seen the video “Look Up” which is about putting away your technology. I admit I am guilty of using my phone, ipad and computer way more than I should. Technology can be very useful such that they can help you learn, give you directions, communicate with people, and even pass the time on a long car ride. However, do all these pros out number what society could be if we just took a break from it once in a while? Social media sites haven’t at all made us more social, it has closed doors on us and taken away opportunities. People have gotten absorbed by this technology which has a negative impact on their lives. Technology affects adults, teenagers, children, and even babies.
Today, people get so caught up in their social media and technology. This image demonstrates that adults get so engrossed in games, emails, and social media that they do not have the focus to even walk by themselves without the risk of injury. This picture shows that people with cell phones and ipads are blind to what is happening around them. They need someone to guide them because they are too busy in the technology world. This image is projecting a negative connotation and is pessimistic. It portrays an embarrassing message about how humans live nowadays. The bright orange vest the man is wearing represents that he is a guide and people should be aware around him because the person he is guiding is incapable of doing so themselves. In this case it is a lady that is distracted by an ipad. The "texter" is positioned as constantly keeping her head down to show the distraction she faces from the technology. The fact that the man is guiding the woman by a leash around her wrist shows that he is in charge of keeping her safe instead of her being responsible for herself. The seeing eye person clears a path for the texter so that they do not bump into anyone. The guides also stop at busy streets so the texters do not get run over. One New Jersey town even banned texting and walking because it was responsible for three fatalities. Other cities are also considering laws to ban texting and walking because it is so distracting. One lady fell into a fountain in a mall, while another man almost came into an encounter with a bear wandering in a street. Texting and walking is becoming a major problem in some larger cities.
With all the technology in the world it distracts parents from their children. This photo is demonstrating a negative connotation because the parents are too busy for the child and in result, the kid is bored and does not learn or have fun. The light colours in the picture show how dull the child is feeling due to his parents distraction by their cell phones and not being able to acknowledge him. The child doesn’t get the opportunity to do anything or create a bond with his parents. The boy’s positioning is demonstrating the lack of happiness he feels. He doesn’t get to live like a kid and have fun. His parents are so distracted by their technology that they are missing out on spending time with their son. This is affecting the boy growing up. He will grow up not knowing anything different than to use technology and he will follow what his parents are doing because parents are always their child’s role model. This technology is not only affecting the parents not being able to connect or raise their kids, but also the child’s life. The child won’t learn to make any friends, and wouldn’t form a proper bond with his parents which could cause problems in the future. Technology is having a negative impact on parents, as well as their children.
How would you feel if you went on a date with someone and the whole time they were texting or checking social media, and barely making conversation? Probably pretty annoyed. In this picture it shows how bothered the girl is by her date who is on his phone. The smile on the man’s face is demonstrating that his phone is making him happier than the girl he’s with. To him, the phone is more important than his date. The way he is positioned completely away from her shows that he is not at all interested in what she is doing or saying. The girl looks as if she is agitated and regrets going out on the date. Something as little as a cell phone could ruin small or big opportunities. Technology could distract you from meeting a new person, or getting to know a person who could be a huge part in your life. Some people don’t understand how much more social you could be if you just put the phone away. It would force you to talk to new people, or help you learn new things. This photo proves that technology is getting in the way of two people’s lives and not allowing them to form a new bond. If you are spending time with a person you care about, wouldn’t you want to talk to them and have fun? Not communicate with people through your phone. Wouldn’t you want to improve your social skills? All this technology has had a huge impact on everyone's social skills. No one feels confident talking to other people unless it’s through technology.
Nowadays parents can’t entertain their kid without an ipad. What kind of parent would you be if you never played with you child or watched them grow up. Kids only stay young for so long, wouldn’t you want to enjoy it and spend time with them? This image shows how kids used to play, versus how they play now. In the past, kids made friends effortlessly. However now they text their friends or might not have any friends. The colours in the first picture represent how fun and carefree the children are. The second picture lacks in colour which gives off a negative connotation and shows how dull it is. The kids that are in the first picture are smiling and displaying contentment. The second picture the two boys appear to be in a trance and are extremely focused on their game. They don’t hear or pay attention to anything going on around them. By doing so, kids who are absorbed by video games and other technology aren’t making friends and are ultimately wrecking their health due to lack of exercise. Whenever I look out my window at the park, the swings are always still and there are no kids to be seen. When I was younger I would be outside everyday with my friends, playing whatever game we came up with that day. We never sat around and played video games all day, we would be creative, invite other kids to come play with us. Now people send their friends texts, instead of actually spending time with them. This technology is ruining children’s imagination and development.
Sure, technology can be a good thing, but overall, it is having a huge negative impact on people’s lives. It is ruining the bonds between people, it is wrecking their social lives, health, and they are missing chances all because they are too busy looking down. Adults are losing the bond between their children, and the children are becoming devoted to their tv’s and video games and it’s hurting their development. Experiences are best when shared, so wouldn’t you rather have someone there? Hopefully after hearing this, when you’re feeling that urge to check your phone, you'll./ fight it. Look up and take in everything that is around you. You will only experience it once, so make it count. Don’t waste your life with your nose buried in your phone. Take risks, talk to new people, don’t miss opportunities, because at the end of your life you don’t want to regret being absorbed by all this technology around you. Disconnect from the world for a bit. Look up.
Works Cited
Borba, Michele. Parents Too Plugged In? That’s What the Kids Say. Digital image. Dr Michele Borba. N.p., 9 June 2010. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. <http://micheleborba.com/blog/parents-too-plugged-in-kids-weigh-in/>.
Kids Playing. Digital image. Likes. N.p., 2014. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. <http://likes.com/misc/wtf-kids-then-now?page=2&z=bot>.
Smith, Shannon. 5 Ways To Ensure Your Cellphone Is Not Making You A Jerk On A Date. Digital image. Plent Of Fish. N.p., 5 Sept. 2013. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. <http://blog.pof.com/2013/09/5-ways-ensure-cellphone-making-jerk-date/>.
Young, John. ‘Seeing Eye People’ For Text-Obsessed NYC Pedestrians. Digital image. Taxi. N.p., 1 May 2013. Web. 20 Dec. 2014. <http://designtaxi.com/news/357330/Seeing-Eye-People-For-Text-Obsessed-NYC-Pedestrians/?interstital_shown=1>.
Taryn, this is a really interesting and relevant concept. I love your conclusion, it’s moving, impelling, and has made me realize just how much society is truly enveloped in this fake world of technology. It’s ridiculous how how heavily we rely on our devices on a daily basis. I can definitely relate when it comes to children being addicted to technology; my eight year old sister plays on her I-pad 24/7, and on top of that, her school homework actually requires her to play a math game online for at least 15 minutes a day! What ever happened to pencil and paper?
ReplyDeleteI think all this technology was originally designed to make life easier for us, but nowadays it’s gone too far and some people are doubtlessly using it to be down-right lazy; just like how some parents simply pass a device to their children to get them out of their hair.
All these problems humans have created for themselves through technology really demonstrate the immense power that technology has over us. However, have you considered the positive power that technology possesses? Social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook are extremely effective ways to spread the word on world conflicts and create mass movements against a variety of situations, such as poverty, acts of racism, sexism, terrorist actions, cyber bullying, and the list goes on. Without technology, it would be more difficult to hear about news in other locations around the world, and so it’s hard to do anything about it. Social activism through technology is an excellent and easy way to make a change in the world.
Remember the “Stop Kony 2012” campaign that was all over Facebook a few years back? Everyone set their Facebook profile pictures to this campaign image, to spread the word and stop a serious child-soldier problem occurring all the way on the other side of the world! It got loads of attention in the Western world, thanks to technology, and lot’s of efforts were put into stopping the tragedy. With Facebook and Twitter and the like, the traditional relationship between high authorities and popular will has been upended, making it easier for the powerless to collaborate, coordinate, and give voice to their concerns. Check out these compelling images which depict the true power of technology in a positive perspective when it comes to social activism:
http://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uuuploads/satirical-illustrations-pawel-kuczynski-2/satirical-illustrations-pawel-kuczynski-2-3.jpg
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I totally agree with your blog Taryn and think you made some really awesome points. I too am guilty of spending way too much time on my phone and other electronic devices. I feel like this is a very controversial topic as there are many pros and cons to the situation. I feel like social media is very resourceful and helpful for the right reasons. Its helpful because a lot of campaigns raise awareness through these sites like, he ice bucket challenge and you are able to hear about many things going on in the world. But meanwhile there is a negative side to the issue, Many people use their technology at the wrong time like during class and use it for the wrong reasons such as cyber bullying , class and while driving. I really liked your first image as it really shows that people are using their devices at wrong times and are so wrapped up within their device they can not do simple tasks such as walking the street without paying attention to their surroundings. It is sad that is has come to the point where places like Toronto have made it illegal to walk and be on their phone due to the numerous deaths from people not paying attention. Your second and third photos relate to me as I have a five year old sister and many younger relatives. My sister and younger cousins are all under the age of five and they are all able to navigate their way through any apple device and would much rather play with those than their toys. For Christmas my sister asked for an iPod, I think that it is crazy how wrapped up people at such a young age can be. If people are so wrapped up in their technology now, how will things be when technology advances even more?
ReplyDeleteI think your third image was also very well picked because it is so true, that very many people do not interact face to face anymore they just simply text them instead. I will admit that within my family instead of all discussing our day and interacting face to face we all sit there on our phone not paying attention to each other. Do you think that if enough things are put in place(fines and laws) people will start to pay attention to their surroundings and stop being so wrapped up in their devices? I feel like that if people continue being locked up in this anti-social way of life that many people will become more distracted than ever before and it will cost many people their lives. So how many people need to be injured or lose lives due to the technology growing?