Kaelin Bieri

Tammy Scaife

April 19, 2017

Composition 1

The Benefits of Technology and Social Media

Parents tend to either think that technology is either a good thing or an incredibly

negative thing. Most people, not just parents, seem to say that because of technology,

the younger generations are not as social as past generations, because even when

sitting in a group setting, no one is really conversing but spending time on their phones.

I see this to be false because as a shy, introverted college student with little to no social

life, technology and social media helps me to get out of my shell and be more social. It

helps with long distant relationships because one cannot talk to them without

technology. It also helps with learning because most tend to learn new things because

of social media and technology, mostly because apps have been made to keep up with

school work while not being able to be at school, for reasons such as being sick or

having something going on with their family.

Technology has helped me break out of my introverted shell and talk to people

by leaving comments on people's pictures, liking someones pictures or their status,

talking to new people on certain forms of social media, such as Facebook and Tumblr.

In The App Generation by Howard Gardner and Katie Davis, they believe that online

spaces are depicted as identity playgrounds that give people the freedom to try on

identities bearing little resemblance to our offline selves and lack any repercussions in
the physical world. We are given the freedom to be who we want in the online world

without having to actually be that person in the real life. In Online interactions have

positive effects for real-life communities, by Phil Ciciora, professor Lori Kendall informs

the reader that "while people can go to a site for information and personal support, they

have also formed some long-term relationships with others they've met there and

communicated with." It gives our mind the chance to release its creativity and help us

grow how we want.

In my life, long distance relationships are a big deal. My boyfriend and best friend

are both living in different cities, one even living in another state, so its hard to keep in

touch without social media and technology. It is difficult to keep up with them and things

going on in their lives without social media. Before I got with my boyfriend, a friend and I

sent a message to him, showing him I was interested in him, and according to Teens,

Technology, and Romantic Relationships by Amanda Lenhart, Monica Anderson, and

Aaron Smith, 55% of teens, aged 13 to 17 have done the same. Now, almost 2 years

after that, the only ways we keep in touch when we are not together is through texting

each other and Facebook Messenger.

Lastly, technology helps students keep up with their school work and homework.

Apps have been made to keep up, such as BlackBoard, so that if students miss a class,

they can see what they missed there instead of having to talk to the teacher during the

next class period. In a debate between tablets vs textbooks, its reported that tablets

help students learn more material faster, reducing the time it takes students to reach a
learning objective by 30-80%, while textbooks can cause injuries and are much heavier

than a tablet.

While I will also agree that it is not the most helpful thing because one can

procrastinate and get on another app or website instead of doing what one needs to get

done for school. But also having Attention Deficit Disorder and not being the fastest

writer/note taker out there, it is very nice to have to help take notes and keep up with the

discussion in class.

Overall, social media and technology may have its negatives, but it also has its

positives. It helps with social skills and learning. It helps people keep in touch with

people one cannot see or talk to face-to-face on a daily basis. It lets one stay caught up

on school work when ones behind. Technology is very helpful and gives everyone the

freedom to do what is needed at a minutes notice.

 Work Cited

Lenhart, Amanda, Monica Anderson, and Aaron Smith. "Teens, Technology and

Romantic Relationships." Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. N.p., 01 Oct.

2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

Turkle, Sherry. "Stop Googling. Let's Talk." The New York Times. The New York Times,

26 Sept. 2015. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

"Tablets vs. Textbooks." ProConorg Headlines. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

Ciciora, Phil. "Online Interactions Have Positive Effects for Real-life Communities."

News Bureau. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.