“Growing Up Tethered” by Sherry Turkle
Our lives and this world have undergone a revolutionary change thanks to technology. People are now connected globally thanks to mobile technology and social media, which have integrated themselves into everyday life. Sherry Turkle has written about how using a cell phone affects this generation’s behavior and cognitive capacities in “Growing Up Tethered.” She argued that using a mobile phone and responding to messages, posts, and comments on social media has increased our level of shelter. We are unable to feel lonely because we are constantly thinking about our mobile phones in our free time. The use of mobile devices has impacted our ability to be creative, learn, and analyze the world around us. Sherry Turkle has brought up a significant and current social issue. Using a phone while driving or walking might result in some accidents. It also affected kids whose parents gave them cellphones, preventing those tethered kids from experiencing what it’s like to be by themselves. The most popular application in use today is Facebook. People interact socially and make friends with oddballs.
Proper privacy is crucial, though, as it has both advantages and disadvantages. Rapid change has been brought about by contemporary technology, but it has also had certain undesirable outcomes. To prevent the negative effects of using a cell phone Growing Up Tethered is a fantastic piece of writing that can raise awareness of those who have severe smartphone addictions. In her book Alone Together, Turkle brought up this current issue, which helps adults and teenagers alike comprehend the benefits and drawbacks of mobile phones and how they affect the next generation.
The majority of mobile users have been seen to be anticipating specific mobile notifications, such as messages on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. Many times while driving a car, I saw my friends and I checking our phones for messages and playing our favorite music, which is extremely risky and can cause accidents. To participate in these activities is akin to taking a life-threatening risk.
Growing Up Tethered really helped me see things differently and helped me appreciate what life has to offer. You can learn things and develop your presence of mind when you pay attention to what you are doing and what is happening around you. People who constantly use their phones are less likely to learn new things and remember them later. For example, using Google Maps for directions makes one stupid and unable to remember routes by signs and nearby structures. These people would be helpless if their cellphone battery died or if internet service was unavailable.
According to Turkle (172), the rules of interaction have altered as a result of excessive smartphone use, and spoken communication is becoming less and less common. In light of how people spend the majority of their waking hours using mobile devices to browse the internet, listen to music, and avoid eye contact with those seated next to them, I personally agree with this viewpoint.
Another significant concern brought up by the book’s author is children’s phone addiction. Most kids borrow their parents’ mobile phones to play games, watch cartoons, and use the internet. Physical activity, interaction with parents and peers, and communication are essential for both physical and mental development.
Overall, the advent of the cellphone has drastically altered our way of life. The development of technology has always made our lives easier and brought about some favorable improvements. Every new invention, nevertheless, is accompanied by certain drawbacks. The phrase “over usage of anything is harmful” also applies to using a mobile phone. Children, teenagers, and adults can all become addicted to cell phones, but moderate use can mitigate this risk.
References
Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other, S. Turkle, 2006. Online at https://books.google.com.pk/books?id=hc7SYAPVlXwC, ReadHowYouWant.com, Limited, 2011.
