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STUDENT
Isley
Comp 2

05 March 2012

The Negative Effects of Technology on Teenagers

I. Thesis: Technology has a negative effect on teens which has been discovered in school
settings by the use of poor writing skills and cheating by students, through the unhealthy
and unsafe environment that social networking sites and blogs create, the tendency for
teens to easily become addicted and obsessed with it, and the chance of it jeopardizing
teen relationships with the lack thereof of face to face communication.
II. Background: The school system has found several reoccurring problems with the use of
technology among its students.
A. Teens do not believe that communication on the internet and via text messaging is
considered to be a form of writing.
1. 50% of teens use informal writing subconsciously in school assignments.

Many teachers have expressed concern for the abbreviated text messaging
and email language used by teens that is used in formal writing at school.
2. Teens rely on the internet for answers and the correct spelling of a word.

Rather than putting in an effort to write, teenagers take short cuts and
write too fast, which results in poor spelling and grammar.
B. Cell phone use and the ability to access the internet at school has led to cheating.

1. 64% of teens with a cell phone have texted during class. For example,
teens can text Cha Cha any question and it will give an answer right away.
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2. Smart phones have unlimited access to the internet, can be used to look up
answers, correct spelling of a word, and the ability to access a calculator
for math purposes.
III. Supporting Point 1: Although social networking sites and blogs have become
widespread, they are creating an unhealthy and unsafe environment among teens.
A. Social networking sites such as Facebook, allow users to communicate online
through the use of instant messaging, blogging, and sharing of photos.
1. 40% of teenagers have their own blog, and 80% visit blogging sites.

Blogging allows teens to freely express ones thoughts, desires, and
behaviors. Therefore, it is common for teens to encounter hate messages
and racism on these social networking sites.
2. Social networking sites enable teens the ability to reveal provocative
photos. Teens constantly post inappropriate photos of themselves to get
the attention of potential partners.
B. Bloggers tend to share personal details and vulnerabilities online. They expose
themselves to hurtful comments and harassment, better known as cyber bullying.
1. Blogs allow teens to partake in risky behaviors such as experimenting with
different identities, sharing feelings and expressing concern, disclosing
personal information, and connecting with others. 56% of internet users
post personal information on the internet.
2. Most electronic harassment takes place in chat rooms through instant
messaging. 43% interact with strangers online. Studies showed that nine to
thirty-four percent of teens are victims of cyber bullying.
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IV. Supporting Point 2: Teens are easily becoming addicted to technology and are obsessed
with it.
A. Teens often feel obligated to keep up with the technology that others are partaking
in.
1. Teens are so addicted to their phones that more than 4 in 5 teens with a
cell phone sleep with the phone on or near the bed. 84% of teens admitted
to doing so at some point. They feel obligated to stay connected, and
technology plays a huge role to every minute and every space of a teens
day and night.
2. Many teens face peer pressure due to the many forms of technology today.

It raises fear and concern in teens that prose questions such as Do I look
okay? or Do they like me? Reputations are quickly formed through the
communication of teens online and via text message. One without a cell
phone or one not allowed to have a Facebook will not be allowed to join
groups at school, will be teased, considered unpopular, and shunned from
the rest. In other words, teenagers cannot have a social life without a
mobile device, email, or blog.
B. Teens become quickly distracted by cell phones which lead to the terrible and
dangerous act of texting while driving.
1. One in three texting teens ages 16-17 say that they have texted while
driving. 48% of all teens ages 12-17 say that they have been in a car when
the driver was texting.
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2. 52% of teens ages 16-17 that own a cell phone say that they have talked
on the phone while driving. 40% of teens say that they have been in a car
with a distracted driver who was using a cell phone and put others in
danger.
V. Supporting Point 3: Technology can jeopardize the relationships that teens share with
others and effects face to face communication that may have once been shared.
A. Technology has a negative effect on relationships with friends, family, and
romantic partners.
1. 25% of teens in a relationship have communicated with their partner
between midnight and 5 a.m. via text message or phone call. The 2006
Pew survey found that girls use social networking sites to reinforce pre-
existing friendships, while guys use them to flirt and make new friends.
The 2001 Pew survey on teens and instant messaging reported that 17% of
teens used instant messaging to ask someone out, and 13% used it to break
up with someone.
2. The lack of interaction among teens and family is due to the extensive use
of electronic communication. Teens use their cell phone to text and go on
the internet at the dinner table and in the family room where parents and
their children are supposed to enjoy family discussions.
B. Teens prefer texting over talking, which greatly effects face to face
communication.
1. Most teen cell phone users only make 1-5 calls per day. The teens that use
their phone for calling say that they are most likely calling their parents.
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68% of teens say that they talk to their parents on their cell phone at least
once a day.
2. Teens would rather text their parents, however, due to the fact that texting
can be used to cover ones tracks since there is no sound involved with
texting. Teens often use text messaging to break bad news or ask their
parents something they feel would be uncomfortable to ask in person.
VI. Counterargument: Though there are many more reasons as to why technology negatively
effects teens, there are a few positive aspects of it as well.
A. Cell phones are helpful to teens and parents, and serve as an important safety
factor.
1. 98% of parents agree with the statement: A major reason my child has a
cell phone is so we can be in touch no matter where he/she is. Over 90%
of parents and teens feel safer because they can always use their cell
phone to get help.
2. Parents can monitor their childs online behavior and cell phone usage to
ensure safety. 64% of parents look at the contents of their childs cell
phone and 62% of parents have taken away their childs cell phone as a
punishment.
B. Technology allows people to have control of their social life in a positive way.

1. Texting can be used when it is discourteous, uncomfortable, or even
prohibited to talk on the phone. It can be a buffer when dealing with
parents and safer when interacting with potential romantic partners. The
delay caused by texting allows teens to have more control over the pace
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and tone of the response. It gives teens the opportunity to think before
saying something he/she may regret, and the chance to edit comments.
2. Social networking sites and blogs give teens the opportunity to express
themselves and be creative. It allows teens to connect with others that
have similar interests such as music, sports and television shows. Blogs
can be used for the positive aspects of teen poetry, photography, and much
more.
VII. Conclusion

A. Technology has a negative impact on teens of all ages which has been noticed by
adults in school settings through students cheating and lack of good writing
skills, through the dangerous and risky behaviors that teens partake in through
social networking sites and blogs, the tendency for teens to easily become
addicted and obsessed with it, and the lack of face to face communication and
its ability to impair relationships. Along with the many negative aspects of
technology, come a few positives however. In terms of technological use, the bad
outweighs the good.
B. Technology is the most popular form of communication among teens of todays
generation. Whether it is through text messaging or calling on a cell phone, or
using blogs and social networking sites on a computer, teens feel obligated to
stay connected. Teens can easily access the internet via their cell phone or a
computer at school, at home, or at a friends. There are several responsibilities
that teens should tackle before entering the adult world. Without the proper skills
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needed in order to do so, teens face much bigger issues with the negative effects
of technology.