Activity Post 2 (Sociology)

September 22, 2023

My assigned task for this week, was to pick a stance on whether "digital generations are or are not addicted to online behavior."

According to D. Boyd "It is important to emphasize the digital generations are not addicted to online behavior - or to technology, for that matter. They have a constant need to socialize using whatever outlets are available to them." (Jukes, Schaaf, & Mohan, 2015) Her argument is that today's youth is not addicted to technology, but rather it is their way to socially interact. Their parents and grandparents were able to connect with others in-person, but this is restricted today due to loitering laws and fear (i.e. mass shootings.)

I agree with D. Boyd. I regularly spend time with family and friends in person, but we always have to plan. Planning means texting over the phone or coming to an agreement in person. Life after COVID has been different, and we heavily rely on technology, but that does not mean that we are addicted to technology. For example, I turned 15 years old last year in October, and I did not get to go out and hang with friends until Summer 2023, 4 months before my 16th birthday. That means that I could only FaceTime, call, or message my friends. I also had to take advantage of the time I could spend with them at school. I would not die without my phone, iPad, or computer. These materialistic items are good to have and have made my relationships more interactive, but I am not addicted to my technological devices. My only way of socializing is by using my phone to communicate, and yes, I have permission to go out, but I have become a homebody and prefer to stay in. This means that I'll talk to my friends online, not because I am addicted but because it is my way of socializing. My life does not depend on whether I have a phone or not. Addiction is when you are fully dependent on a substance. What I do does not depend on my phone, once again it is good to have, but my life does not revolve around it. When my mom was growing up, she was free to go out wherever with her friends, and technology was no way near as advanced. More opportunities to go out and about were available in the 90's. She could go anywhere, find someone she knew, and just hang out no planning necessary. It is not the same today because things have changed, and we need to adapt, and we cannot ignore technology. It is simply crucial to remember that relying a little on technology does not mean being addicted to technology. Technology is a form that allows us to socially interact with those who are close or those who live hundreds of miles away. Some people are addicted to technology because nothing is impossible, but many are not entirely dependent on technology.