Today we live in a world of computers, cell phones, ipods and thousands of other electronic devices. Although these inventions have revolutionized technology, what have they done for human intelligence and interaction? My generation now faces the challenge of technology destroying important aspects of life, specifically the interaction among human beings.
I know an overwhelming amount of people that spend their afternoons instant messaging, watching television, or playing video games. This is not just a problem of high school students. Elementary students in the first grade also go home after school and indulge into hours of Xbox, Playstation, and the newly invented Wii. Although these activities may be interfering with homework time and studying, the greater problem is the lack of social skills that is developing among children and teens. I myself come from a family that knows how to balance. Although I despise video games, I do spend time on the computer and watch television. There is a difference between me and many teens though. I know my limits. The computer and television never interfere with my homework and I do so many other activities outside of school, I hardly have time to watch television anyways. Social skills are also free to deteriorate when someone sits in his/her room all afternoon on the computer or is glued to the television
My parents, my mother especially, are strong advocates of social skills. My mother would always reprimand me if I did not say 'hello' to a classmate at the supermarket and she always had me make my own phone calls. If I had to call a coach to let them know that I wouldn't be at practice, my mother would not call for me. I was forced to learn social etiquette and manners, and my social skills today are very strong. Many of my friends refuse to call house numbers because they are too nervous that a parent will pick up. What does this say about our future? Teenagers would prefer to text message than make a phone call. This is ridiculous. How will society continue f everyone lacks the confidence or is too lazy to make personal contact? Text and instant messaging does not provide the emotional or physical stimulus that we, as humans, require. We can not live our lives expressing our opinions online, we must be forced to build our confidence and speak.
I have personally felt the affects of deteriorated social skills and lack of social contact. My best friends and I teach a third grade religious education class. In class, we occasionally ask what they did over the weekend or what they received for their birthday/holiday. The week after Christmas 12 out of 13 kids received either a game system or video game that they wanted. I was shocked. When I was in the third grade I asked for arts and crafts projects, maybe a Disney movie, and an American Girl Doll. I am worried for these third graders that go home and play their video games. I also have two cousins ages 8 and 9. This past Christmas, they received cell phones! A third and fourth grader with a cell phone! I was actually disgusted on Christmas Day when I saw them. Instead of enjoying family time and have nice conversations on Christmas they learned how to text message and download ringtones. This was a minor apocalypse for my nuclear family. My cousins have some of the poorest social skills I have ever witnessed and this will never improve if they are not forced to spend time with family. With the relationship aspect, some teens do not even have the social confidence to ask someone out on a date in person. They ask them online. Our future generations will not know how to speak! I know the environmental state of the Earth needs to be changed (and that was almost the topic of this essay), but if we are unable to communicate we are almost not worthy to be here anyways.
In order for this problem to be fixed, some serious work needs to be put in by everyone. Parents need to stop buying their children game systems and their own televisions and computer until they are old enough to understand how to balance their social life and private technology. I'm not saying to strip all owners of their game systems, but I am saying that technology should be monitored. My brother enjoys his Xbox, but my mother puts limitations on it. When he is not playing Xbox or doing homework, he is outside with the neighbors - balancing his social skills. This is going to be an incredible challenge to defeat, because it is impossible to end text messaging and instant messaging (I enjoy instant messaging as well), but in order for people to realize the poor social situation they are in, something has to catch their eye. I recommend a television series (since many of the culprits will see it) that shows the social recession we have gotten ourselves into. It is important to realize that by not communicating you are hindering yourself. Social contact and skills are necessary for emotional harmony and progress.
