Introduction
It is hard to disagree that people’s attitudes toward something new usually vary, and while some celebrate and welcome the benefits it brings, others only focus on the negative effects. One of the most contradictory scientific and societal responses is to the role smartphones, the Internet, and social media, in particular, play in individuals’ lives. Nowadays, it is common to see people in the subway, cafe, office, or shop staring at their phones and ignoring what is happening around them. Opinions regarding this often vary because one can concentrate on the different aspects of the situation. Overall, researchers highlight both the advantages and disadvantages of smartphones and the Internet, but most tend to focus on the bright side of the situation, and I support their view.
Smartphones and Social Interactions
The first argument opposers of frequent use of the Internet and mobile phones in general provide is that they deprive people of communication with others, making them isolated and less empathetic. For example, according to Turkle (2015), in 2015, “89 percent of cellphone owners said they had used their phones during the last social gathering they attended” (para. 2). Carr (2017) also believes that social relationships and skills suffer when people use their gadgets too often. However, other studies show that it is a way to stay connected and show emotions that have changed (Fuentes, 2019). Many people smile, laugh, anticipate, and demonstrate other feelings when texting with their friends or leaving comments on social media (Brody, 2020). After all, “a conversation broken up into short bursts and quick emoticons is still a conversation” (Goldsmith, 2016, para. 5). Gadgets do not harm communication with others but emphasize the need to be connected and provide such a possibility.
Smartphones, Concentration, and Engagement
Secondly, many children often hear from their parents that gadgets make them less concentrated and focused. Some researchers support such an opinion: Carr (2017) indicates that when people hear their smartphone receiving a notification, even if they do not check it, their concentration, engagement, and attentiveness levels decrease severely. Turkle (2015) finds it vital to spend more time without gadgets to improve concentration levels. On the contrary, Goldsmith (2016) notices that it is rare to see a person more concentrated than someone who is reading or watching something on their device. As for engagement, its lack in some actions people make using their devices can be defined as a chance to choose to be involved in the content they like (Goldsmith, 2016). Therefore, areas of engagement may shift from time to time, and it is great that users nowadays always have a wide range of online activities to choose from.
Rewired Brain
Next, the aspects discussed above make some researchers claim that unlimited access to gadgets and virtual space changes how one’s brain works. According to Carr (2017), “as the brain grows dependent on the technology, the research suggests, the intellect weakens,” and the enhancing proximity of the smartphone makes brainpower decline (para. 4). What is more, social media and the Internet, in general, make people adopt “the app way of thinking” (Turkle, 2015, para. 28). However, Goldsmith (2016) and Fuentes (2019) do not consider this fact increasingly disturbing as they believe that changes in the human brain in response to the developing world are unavoidable. Goldsmith (2016) poses an interesting question: “wouldn’t it be strange if, in the midst of this digital revolution, we were still expected to use our brains in the same way we read books?” (para. 8). Consequently, the change in thinking and analysis patterns do not necessarily mean the degradation of the human brain.
Space to be Real Self
Finally, another aspect related to the use of gadgets that many researchers highlight is that virtual space allows people to act the way they want and be their true selves. On the one hand, such an opportunity leads to specific problems: some users might post threats on the Internet and demonstrate other aggressive behavior, showing, as some claim, humans’ true nature (Fuentes, 2019). However, both Goldsmith (2016) and Fuentes (2019) do not think that social media and mobile devices are directly related to the growing rates of online aggression. Moreover, when accessing virtual space, many people use it to show the other part of themselves – instead of negativity and hatred, they demonstrate cohesion, empathy, cooperation, support, and love (Brody, 2020). Therefore, talking only about aggressive online behaviors is incorrect because another, more powerful side of the situation exists.
Conclusion
To conclude, the paper demonstrates researchers’ different views on a number of aspects related to the use of smartphones and the Internet in particular. Some indicate that increased access to the virtual world has reduced people’s social skills, levels of empathy, brain capacity, and ability to concentrate, simultaneously allowing them to uncontrollably spread negativity and aggressiveness online. Others state that the mentioned aspects should be viewed from the positive side: individuals are not less socialized, empathetic, or engaged, but the ways they communicate, show emotions, and stay focused have changed.
References
Brody, N. (2020). It turns out our tech gadgets aren’t as isolating as experts say. The News Tribune. Web.
Carr, N. (2017). How smartphones hijack our minds. The Wall Street Journal. Web.
Fuentes, A. (2019). Are we really as awful as we act online?National Geographic. Web.
Goldsmith, K. (2016). Go ahead: Waste time on the Internet. Los Angeles Times. Web.
Turkle, S. (2015). Stop Googling. Let’s talk. The New York Times. Web.