Essay on Smartphones: Impact on the iGen Generation, ENC 1101

This essay analyzes Jean Twenge's article, "Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?", which explores the profound impact of smartphones on the iGen generation. The essay summarizes Twenge's argument that smartphones and social media have negatively affected the mental health and social interactions of young people, leading to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and feelings of isolation. The essay highlights the shift in communication styles, with texting and online interactions replacing traditional forms of socializing, and the rise of superficial online personas. The student also explores how smartphones have changed behaviors like driving and leisure activities. The essay discusses both the advantages and disadvantages of smartphones, acknowledging the increased awareness of global issues that smartphones offer while emphasizing the potential for parental and school intervention to mitigate the negative impacts. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding how technology is shaping the minds of young individuals.

ESSAY ON ‘HAVE SMARTPHONES DESTROYED A GENERATION’
Name of the student
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Author note

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Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?
Jean Twenge in her article ‘Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?’ focuses on
one of the major issues that is perceived in the world. With the rapid development of
technology and the emergence of several means to connect individuals into a global
community, the use of smartphones has increased exponentially in the recent times. “The
arrival of the smartphone has radically changed every aspect of teenagers’ lives, from the
nature of their social interactions to their mental health” (Twenge 3). The case of Athena, a
young teenager has been explored in the article, with respect to the trends among such
millennials to make use of smartphones. The author additionally explores how the behaviors
of such young individuals are shaped to depend on smartphones for their emotional needs.
This is an alarming aspect as it makes them increasingly vulnerable in terms of psychology,
with higher rates of mental health issues than ever observed before (4). Among other
differences perceived between the so called Generation X and the millennials pertain to the
aspect of communication and interaction with each other. The concepts of courtship and
dating has transformed into a process of texting or ‘snapping’. Other symbols of adolescence
like driving as part of popular culture has also declined due to the availability of online cab
services, accessible through smartphones. Additionally, the iGen is observed to have more
leisure time to themselves due to a reduced involvement in outdoor activities. However, it is
also observed that they spend such leisure time in browsing through a host of social media
applications to let the world know just how attractive their lives are.
The likes and reactions by their virtual friends is something that keeps the teenagers
either motivated or influences their emotions in a negative manner. Due to such impact of
smartphones in the lives of young individuals of today, it is considered that the more time
they spend on their phones, “the more likely are they to report symptoms of depression” (8).
A greater percentage of teenagers have been observed to feel dislocated and isolated in spite

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of being avid users of social media applications like Facebook. Millennials, perceived to be
one of the avid users of smart phones and the various social media applications it offers,
display behaviors and attitudes that are quite different from the of the previous generations.
This iGen, a termed used by the author to refer to this tech savvy millennial generation, has
transformed the way individuals interact with each other, reducing communication to a series
of likes, comments or snaps sent on social media.
Smartphones have often been considered as a revolutionary device, transforming the
way we perceive the world or interact with it. However, if we look into the way
communications were managed even a decade ago, we may be able to observe the differences
in the nature of human relationships and interactions. The modern world has become a
battleground for individuals to display how happening or attractive their lives are than others.
Pictures are posted on Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram with motive to acquire the
maximum likes and reactions from virtual friends over the world, without actually making
any significant emotional connections with them. These activities depict the superficiality of
attitudes and behaviors that ultimately lead the individuals to feel lonely and isolated when
they really need human connection. Therefore, the use of smart phones have caused a rise in
the emotional distress observed among people and led them to feel dejected and rejected if
they do not receive enough reaction from their virtual acquaintances.
The relevance of the topic in today’s modern world depicts how the minds of the
young individuals are shaped and how it will transform the world in the future. However, the
use of technology such as smartphones by such teenagers and young individuals have had
their own advantages as well. Teenagers have become increasingly aware about global issues,
which are frequently discussed in the social media applications. Such awareness further helps
them to mold their perceptions about the ethics of various aspects of global concern like
climate change, animal rights protection, pride movement and the like. However, it is up to

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the individuals themselves to determine the extent and purpose for which smartphones should
be used. Intervention from parents and schools may help in regulating the impact of
smartphones in the lives of the iGen.

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Works Cited
Beugnet, Daniel M. “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?” The Atlantic, 13 August
2018, https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/09/has-the-smartphone-
destroyed-a-generation/534198/. Accessed 2 October 2019.

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