Breanna JOHNSON – Sophomore Editor
Technology is on the rise. The world has entered a stage where everything people use to gather information, communicate, and work involves some sort of technology. It is an age that allows people to have entertainment and socialize with easy-to-use wireless devices.
No longer do people have to go outside and milk a cow, buy postage stamps to send a package, or even socialize face-to-face, everything is done using technology. It has made life more immediate, and a lot easier.
This is not necessarily a good thing. People have become so dependent on having technology that they feel the need to use it for any and every possible reason. It has become a distraction for some people, and an excuse for teens to become lazy.
What makes this assertion worse is that people recognize this fact.
“In the future, it’s only going to get worse because technology is only going to keep improving and advancing over time.” said junior Malisa Rawks-Jones.
In the past, people relied on experiences such as sports, board games, family time, and outdoor activities to keep them busy and entertained. Now it seems that teens get their entertainment from videogames and the Internet.
And, many teens have become so inactive, most are forgetting about important things such as getting exercise and staying healthy.
According to Sciencedaily.com, statistics show that 60 percent of teens spend almost 20 hours a week in front of the television and computer screens. On average, about a third percent spend 40 hours, and seven percent of teens spend close to 50 hours a week watching T.V, playing video games and using the computer.
People even use calculators for simple math just because instead of having a need.
“In my Algebra 3-4 class, I found myself punching in 14×8 into my calculator,” said Heba Elsaad, 10. “I just don’t see the need to multiply simple problems that can easily be punched into something that can do it for me.”
Since technology has advanced in many ways, items including textbooks, dictionaries and encyclopedias have become almost unnecessary. An abundance of teens have resulted to using websites to gather all the information needed. They are not sure how to use reference books, have forgotten the Dewey Decimal System, and don’t know what a library looks like unless a teacher drags them through the double doors.
Technology and science has improved so greatly that a person only has to push a few buttons to get things done. Most people can admit that they love the benefits that the recent technology offers, and they enjoy not having to work as hard to accomplish things.
However, years from now, when people having become huge blobs and are sitting around with their laptops, Tivo-ing their favorite shows, playing video games and using facebook to communicate, people will eventually realize how lazy society has really become.
