Think about someone’s daily life and how often their cellphone is in their hand. How often do people find themselves picking it up to avoid having to talk to others around them? Would they consider it a distraction from the world around them?
The millennial generation was born into the technology age where society can be constantly connected to world, but is this always a good thing?
“Shortly after one person in the group brings out their iPhone, the rest follow suit, ultimately ending all conversation and eye contact,” is the Urban Dictionary’s definition of the iPhone effect.
The latest Pew Research report gives data that can help support this cultural claim that has been fueled by the millennials. Aaron Smith’s research, U.S. Smartphone Use in 2015, reported the role of smartphone in the lives of various demographics. The millennial generation dominated the research with the greatest percentages in various categories.
This Pew Research report checked in with the participants twice a day for a week, and the age demographic of 18-29 had the highest smartphone usage. 100 percent of this age group reported using text messaging, 97 percent used the Internet and 91 percent used the email. Statistics like this are not that shocking since technology is such an imperative aspect to the millennial’s life.
Another aspect of this research looked at why people are using their smartphones. There are sections that measure how many people use smartphones for navigational purposes or in an emergency but one section about the millennial generation is different from other age groups.
The 18 to 29 age group had 93 percent report that they use their smartphones to avoid boredom. The participants were also asked if they used their smartphone to avoid the people around them, the 18-29 age group had 47 percent, 30-49 had 32 percent and those 50 and older had 15 percent.
This report of people using their smartphone to avoid contact with others on purpose shows how the millennial generation has been effected by technology.
Technology has provided society with the ability to connect with more people than one could imagine, but how deep are these connections?
This research titled “The iPhone Effect: The Quality of In-Person Social Interactions in the Presence of Mobile Devices” took 100 pairs of people who were to have a 10-minute conversation. During this processes they were observed to see if their smartphones were present during the conversation. After their conversation the participants filled out a survey about the overall quality if the interaction. It was reported that 29 out of the 100 couples had a smartphone present during the 10-minuetes; these were the conversations that were reported on not having a strong connection.
Smartphones and technology in general have change the way that society interacts. But not all view this as a negative aspect. The negative stigma surrounding millennials and how they use technology is noting new.
“It’s a slippery slope making judgments about the youth being less capable due to technology,” said Andrew Owen, asst professor of sociology here at Cabrini. He compared the negative stigma with technology to the negative stigma that the youth faced in the 40’s and 50’s where Rock ‘n’ Roll was thought to have a negative impact on the youth. Owen said that this media hype about the negative impact that technology has can be contributed to the fact that social science goes where the news media points.
“Every generation has something to impact negatively on the youth,” Owen said.
