Amani Madyun

Are children and teens today smarter or more sociable

because of the technology today

Today there has been a huge discussion on whether or not todays children and teens are

more socially advanced than children and teens in the past, because the technology they have at

hand today. Due to social media and other technology in schools, the parallel rise of introverted

behavior has increased among the youth. Many people feel that children and teens today are a lot

smarter and sociable because of the technologies we have at hand. Some people may feel that

children and teens are not as smart nor sociable as they should be because of the technologies

they have today.

With that being said teens and children may be a lot more introverted when they are not on

their devices. On the other hand, some people may feel that children and teens are a lot smarter

and more sociable because the technology they have today is a lot more advanced. With that

being said, some people may feel that the children and teens that may already be sort of

introverted may speak a little more because of their involvement with technology. Devices such

as computers, Ipads, phones, and etc., are the main resources children and teens use in this

generation.
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These resources allows them to connect with different people as well as interact without being

near them. According to The Wall Street Journal, With the spread of mobile technology, its

become much easier for more people to maintain constant contact with their social networks

online. And a lot of people are taking advantage of that opportunity. Many people feel that the

development of social interaction and cognitive development has changed tremendously due to

computers, social media, cellular devices, and more.

Cognitive development deals with the childs mind processing information and learning

skills. After interviewing with Dr. Naim Madyun, Psychology professor at University of

Minnisota and Audrey Madyun, Human Resource Specialist, they provided a great deal of

information and perspective. After being asked, Do you think the amount of technology

children and teens use slows down the brain or makes it harder for them to process things

without the resource? Dr. Madyun stated, I think it allows the brain to process more efficiently

and does not slow it down, but what I think it does compromise is working memory or the ability

to hold information in your brain and work from because people dont have to. But the brain

works just as fast, just functions differently.

However Mrs. Madyuns opinion was a lot different from Dr.Madyuns. According to her

children and teens today have it a lot easier because if they want the answers to something, they

are able to access them a lot easier due to technology. She stated, I do not think technology

slows down the brain. Children and teens are now able to find answersonce they learn how

through technology.
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This means they use another part of their brain functions. However, it does provide a crutch

so to speak so that they are unable to figure out a task for themselves. Whether this is a bad

thing or not can be mixed. She then proceeded to provide an example, For example, decades

ago, many mathematically inclined teens used slide rules to help them with their math.

They are obsolete today due to the rise of calculators and other technology. That doesnt

mean teens need to learn the use of slide rules. However, it does bode the question of whether

that due to technology. With that being said, memory plays a huge role in wheather or not

children and teens are smarter this generation.

While reading Memory Development from Early Childhood Through Emerging Adulthood,

memory and the way things process through a childs brain can be limited. According to the

book, when it comes to a childs memory span, its normally described as the longest sequence

and known to ponder how big or small the memory span is (321). Many people feel that since

children and teens have a huge range of resources available today in classes and outside of

classes, that creates a very introverted work environment. According to some articles and books,

there are others that disagree.

Due to the technology children and teens have today, they are able to get in touch with

different people around them. Almost every child today is able to express themselves and learn

better because of the technology they have at hand today, (Technology For Teaching 2). After

speaking with Dr. Madyun and Mrs. Madyun about wheather or not technology slows the brain

down, they answered another important question. Do you think due to social media and other
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technology in schools, the parallel rise of introvert behavior has increased among the youth and

why?

He stated, No, I think introvert and extrovert behavior is somewhat genetic, so there isnt a

rise in the behavior just a comfort in no longer hiding it or pretending not to be introverted.

Technology has made it okay for introverts not to hide it, but its always been there. Mrs.

Madyuns responds was, I think the rise has increased due to social media as a whole, not social

media and the advances of technology in schools. The parallel increase cannot be blamed on the

school systems, it is a result of practices in societyhomeand other socially acceptable

practices.

Based on what they both stated, the use of technology in classrooms are taking the attention

away from them being introverted because everyone is sort of doing it too. After researching,

Knowledge-leader.collier.com provided a lot of information about introverts and how technology

and social media is involved with their communication. The article stated, Technology and

social media platforms have empowered the introvert to connect and communicate their thoughts

without face to face confrontation. Normally when people are introverted, they tend to be

reserved and to themselves in public places.

In classrooms, students usually work by themselves and avoid attention being drawn to them.

According to Introvert and Extravert , The typical introverts is shy, contemplative, and reserved

and tends to have difficulty adjusting to social situations. Most people perceive an introverted

person as someone who is either highly intelligent due to their great deal of thinking things
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through before acting on situations. The proper definition of intelligence is a persons ability to

understand and comprehend different things using their knowledge and skills.

When it comes to the way people think and process information, a persons intelligence is

described as a mental building, according to different specialist in philosophy at different stages

in history, (Handbook of Intelligence 719). With that being said, someone doesnt necessarily

have to be introverted to be intelligent. It all comes along with the way the individual acquire and

process the information.

Due to the fact that technology is becoming a huge part of this generation, teens are more

likely to depend on their devices to help them get through classwork instead of asking their

teachers for help. Some people feel that children and teens shouldnt be allowed to use their

devices in class because it creates a high level of introversion. This generation is so involved in

technology and schools are slowly switching learning through technology, extroverted students

are sort of forced to be introverted in a way. According to Mihaila Raluca,We should all be

allowed to act, behave and live in line with our innate abilities, desires, thinking models,

psychological patterns and skills.

Due to latest technology and social shifts underneath, todays life has a clear predisposition

to overexposure, (Introverts Should Be Exempted From Team Work and Public Speeches).

Based on this quote, it seems that Raluca feels that due to the technology and social changes are

making the world a lot easier to be to ourselves and interact with people. The resources people

use today are good tools to increase the levels of communication and learning. Due to all of the
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technology people have today, they are able to use their devices like phones, computers, and etc.,

to get medical attention and more, ( Social Media Recruitment). According to the source,

Learning powered by Technology there were different point about the way technology increased

the learning ability of many people.

Learning is portrayed in Arne Duncan (Secretary of Education) as getting different peoples

attention and enlightening them with several stimulating experiences of learning for different age

groups. He mostly tried to focus on teaching people what they need to know in different ways,

depending on their learning style, ( Michael A. Peters & Daniel Araya 1). This way everyone

would be accommodated and able to learn the way they are comfortable with. With that being

said, Dr. Madyun and Mrs. Madyun answered the question,Do you think in the near future

these resources will be used more or children and teens might go back to the basics?

Meaning in school using textbooks instead of computers and etc., and if so why? Mrs.

Madyun explained, In this country, we swing in wide directions before we find a good

balance. I think we will find a balance in the use of both where appropriate. I dont see us

abandoning technology to go back to basic books.

That would be like going back to slate and chalk! For younger children, I can see paper and

books being used more to improve handwriting skills. Drawing only by computer, for example,

can leave a lot to be desired and may not awaken true talent. In addition, I have seen many

recent job applicants who cannot sign their names in cursive, only print their namesit reminds

me of the days long ago when many Americans used an x to sign their names. Unless and

until we abandon the need for hand signed signatures, we have a gap.
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Based on Mrs. Madyuns opinion, her answer was a lot different from Dr. Madyun. Dr.

Madyun stated, I think computers will be used more and more and the basics will be integrate.

Youre already seeing digital textbooks having so many of the functions of actual books such as

page turning, underlining, bookmarking. It may just increase in realness, but its hard to reverse

after tasting the possibilities of technology. So based off of their opinions, it seems that they both

feel like
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Futhermore, when it comes to if children and teens are smarter or more sociable due to

technology, the answers can vary. Some people think that technology helps introverted children

and teens interact with people.