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Smartphones raising a mentally fragile generation
France24 ^ | 13 November 2018 | AFP

Posted on 11/13/2018 7:30:59 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

SAN DIEGO (AFP) - San Diego State University psychology professor Jean Twenge sees smartphones and social media as raising an unhappy, compliant "iGen."

QUESTION: What is the iGen?

ANSWER: The iGen is the generation born in 1995 and later, and they're the first generation to spend their entire adolescence in the age of the smartphone. They spend a lot more time online, on social media and playing games, and they spend less time on non-screen activities like reading books, sleeping or seeing their friends in face-to-face interactions.

Those children are growing up more slowly. By the age of 18, they are less likely to have a driver's licence, to work in a paying job, to go out on dates, to drink alcohol or to go out without their parents compared to teens in previous generations.

So iGen's probably the safest generation in history and they like that idea of feeling safe.

Yet, they also have the sense that they are missing out on something. They realize that being on the phone all the time is probably not the best way to live. They don't like it when they're talking to a friend and their friend is looking at their phone.

Many of them have a recognition of the downsides of that type of living as well.

QUESTION: You have researched the behavior and health of millions of teenagers. What have you observed?

ANSWER: Around 2011 and 2012, I started to see more sudden changes to teens, like big increases of teens feeling lonely or left out, or that they could not do anything right, that their life was not useful, which are classic symptoms of depression.

(Excerpt) Read more at france24.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: delayeddevelopment; igens; safety; security; snowflakes
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

I feel bad for those that have never known anything but passive entertainment and communication by screen. Just imagine what happens if their phone/internet quits working. I just picture mass insanity as hundreds of millions are forced to deal with the fact that they really have no experience in functioning or even occupying themselves without referring regularly to a screen.

The rise of the 24 hour news cycle and social media via smart phone was a game changer for sure. Can’t picture anyone looking back in 50 years and thinking to themselves that it was this great thing for our culture.

Freegards


61 posted on 11/14/2018 6:44:12 AM PST by Ransomed
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To: Phillyred

It’s as if they are under a spell, and they are. It’s all very impersonal and not what humans should be like. Robotic mind control, etc.

And they either ignore another person or seem afraid to interact.

On my walks I notice that the older people, especially seniors like me, love to cheerfully say “Good morning” or even have a short chat.

I see a 90 year old who is in great shape for her age almost every day. She always says something cheerful such as “We have a tailwind today so we can really make good time”. lol


62 posted on 11/14/2018 7:08:50 AM PST by laplata (The Left/Progressives have diseased minds.)
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To: rlmorel

You’re right....it’s not good or healthy.


63 posted on 11/14/2018 7:12:17 AM PST by laplata (The Left/Progressives have diseased minds.)
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To: cyclotic

Ha, good for him.
I went out of state to visit some good friends, a family of 4. We were sitting at dinner out and I was mindful of not using my phone at the table, but one by one they all got on their phones so I just gave up - we ended up looking like some of the pics on this thread despite the fact that we hadn’t seen each other face to face in over a year.


64 posted on 11/14/2018 7:13:30 AM PST by GnuThere
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To: adorno

LOL, I would do that in a heartbeat, as long as the left doesn’t shut us down before that!


65 posted on 11/14/2018 7:22:13 AM PST by rlmorel (Leftists: They believe in the "Invisible Hand" only when it is guided by government.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

13 to 18 limit time to 2 hours?

Not unless you are living on a sheep farm in Idaho.

The schools insist on their devices.


66 posted on 11/14/2018 7:54:40 AM PST by Chickensoup (Never count on anyone, ever.)
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To: rlmorel

“an entire generation of people who have never seen a concert, a sporting event, a mountain range, a wedding, a natural disaster or any number of other things except through the prism of a cell phone camera”

I read some similar thoughts many years ago prior to a trip to Yellowstone. I saw so many people up there stop long enough to take a photo and move on to the next stop. I was amazed. No one gazing and drinking in the views, just snap and go. Then it was cameras, now it’s the cell phone.

The image of the Titanic in a cell phone age is fantastic.


67 posted on 11/14/2018 8:57:58 AM PST by bluejean (I'm becoming a cranky old person. It really annoys me.)
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To: bluejean
"...The image of the Titanic in a cell phone age is fantastic..."

I know...I burst out laughing the first time I saw it, I have no idea who created it!

68 posted on 11/14/2018 10:27:28 AM PST by rlmorel (Leftists: They believe in the "Invisible Hand" only when it is guided by government.)
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To: rlmorel
....."There is an entire generation of people who have never seen a concert,

a sporting event, a mountain range, a wedding, a natural disaster or

any number of other things ...except through the prism of a cell phone camera"....

...The adults are not far behind.....


69 posted on 11/14/2018 3:26:37 PM PST by caww
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To: Phillyred

One day soon technology will control the masses. Thus ‘engagement’ in electronics is the groundwork being built for that.


70 posted on 11/14/2018 3:36:16 PM PST by caww
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To: Chickensoup

71 posted on 11/14/2018 3:40:46 PM PST by caww
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To: octex

72 posted on 11/14/2018 3:44:18 PM PST by caww
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To: rlmorel

Great post-—especially about the people missing a great sunset. Incredibly sad.

My pet peeve is people with babies and toddlers looking at their phones-—I just don’t get it.

By the way I DETEST the Citgo sign.

.


73 posted on 11/14/2018 5:38:39 PM PST by Mears
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To: rlmorel

Well said, and it is very sad. It’s actually an addiction.


74 posted on 11/15/2018 2:44:59 AM PST by neverevergiveup
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To: Mears

I like the Citgo sign (though I dislike Citgo) simply because it is a bright landmark.

Interestingly, there used be a Coca Cola sign that was prominent too, and I recall seeing the remains of that sign sitting in the back of some lot somewhere, a great big huge rusted erector set looking thing, looking for all the world as if it had been dumped there and crushed in place by some giant. Don’t know what happened to that.

I like neon, and big signs like that. I thought for a while I was going to learn how to make neon signs, but...life gets in the way...:)


75 posted on 11/15/2018 4:48:38 AM PST by rlmorel (Leftists: They believe in the "Invisible Hand" only when it is guided by government.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The wife flew back from a trip and a bunch of college kids were on the plane. The kids all had stuffed animals as though they were still infants.


76 posted on 11/15/2018 4:52:52 AM PST by CodeToad ( Hating on Trump is hating on me and America!.)
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To: Bellflower

“If they are glued to their phones who is doing anything interesting enough to care about seeing or reading about on the phone? “

One person lives, 1,000 vicariously “experiences”.


77 posted on 11/15/2018 4:55:53 AM PST by CodeToad ( Hating on Trump is hating on me and America!.)
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To: caww
Orwell was prescient.


78 posted on 11/15/2018 9:52:15 AM PST by Oatka
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To: CaptainK
Has there ever been an upcoming generation that was praised?

Actually no. They have always been "know-it-all" whippersnappers who are spoiled rotten and have no idea how hard their parents had it. They don't appreciate a damn thing!

79 posted on 11/15/2018 9:55:48 AM PST by SamAdams76 ( If you are offended by what I have to say here then you can blame your parents for raising a wuss)
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To: SamAdams76

And they never get off your lawn!


80 posted on 11/15/2018 10:00:34 AM PST by CaptainK ('No collusion, no obstruction, he's a leaker')
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