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Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation? (2017)

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Re: Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation? (2017)

#111

Post by Japhy_Ryder »

_nalply wrote: post #19
avinium wrote: post #8

If/when I have kids, I think I'll be doing everything I can to keep them off smart phones (or at least, YouTube + social media + games like Fornite). All these platforms seem explicitly designed to exploit insecurities and encourage a mindless mob mentality. It's the antithesis of individualism and I cannot see how it could possibly improve one's life (at least, before you have the maturity to be comfortable in your…

If you don't give your kids smart phones you cut them off of people. It's a conundrum. You will only be able to keep your kids off smart phones if you live in a community not using smart phones much for example the Amish. I think parents of the one percent could also create such a community for their children if they are diligent and choose the right private school. My 6 year old son will go to a summer camp where sm…

> If you don't give your kids smart phones you cut them off of people. It's a conundrum.

You cut them off from people if they don't have a $1000 computer in their pocket?

Dumb phones are still a thing. They can call, text, and many have a camera that can send lower-res images. I think that's way more than enough to stay in touch. They don't need "Apps".

Re: Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation? (2017)

#112

Post by Dumblydorr »

sideshowb wrote: post #22
sytelus wrote: post #7

More than a mental health crisis or go outside more, the biggest harm that social+smartphone has ever done is end of creating things . The new generation is spending huge amount of time in consumption and very little in creation. This is going to be a boon for the producers (book writers, movie makers etc) who will be in short supply for much larger consumption crowd. This will eventually be reflected in massive weal…

Look at the number of musicians, photographers etc complaining they can't make a living nowadays because someone else is willing to do the same thing for free. Nobody being creative you say? Though I share skepticism on smartphones. Off to read a book to my daughter now.

As a gigging pianist who struggles to get performances, I often think back to before recorded music. There was a musician playing or there was no music. Think of all the functions and events that automation, via recordings, has eliminated. It is not surprising, therefore, that the careers of musicians have been hollowed out and I must code to pay the bills.

Re: Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation? (2017)

#113

Post by watwut »

naasking wrote: post #96
learnstats2 wrote: post #48

This article/researcher makes claims that: a) there is a mental health crisis among teenagers which is not parallel to other comparable generations, and b) that crisis is linked to mobile phones. I'm not convinced by either claim. In my experience of working with teenagers over the last couple of decades, there is a general trend that they are now better at communicating their emotional needs and emotional state. If…

> This article/researcher makes claims that: a) there is a mental health crisis among teenagers which is not parallel to other comparable generations, and b) that crisis is linked to mobile phones. I'm not convinced by either claim. You probably should be, because there are objective markers that don't depend on communication: https://twitter.com/JonHaidt/status/1083015453151318016 > The article identifies that today…

> less car accidents, have less risky sex, have a lower rate of teenage pregnancy, ingest less risky substances, are generally less violent

These are positive changes. All of them. These were literally something bad about older generation. All these things have negative consequences on not just risk accepting person, but also to other people around.

If you are more anxious but less violent, then it is a good trade off.

Re: Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation? (2017)

#114

Post by Kye »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #66
paulcarroty wrote: post #61

I've stopped using smartphones 'cause started to feel yourself like "Walking dead" personage: public transport, stores, streets - many people like zombies watching inside their screens. This is really scaring. And of course the one of the biggest factors of loneliness epidemic around the world.

And I keep repeating: with the proliferation of IMs, those "zombies watching inside their screens" are likely engaged in a much richer social life than the generations before them. Smartphones and the Internet removed the impact of space and diminished the impact of time on communication. What do you think these "zombies" are doing with their screens? In a big part, they're talking to other people! Also, the obligato…

I can't even imagine having the conversations I have on social media with the people around me. Talking animals discussing kink gear at Pride. Julián Castro acknowledging trans people at the debate. Getting help and sharing information on a piece of software made by people on the other side of the continent (or planet). The rights of androids and holograms.

How do I even find a common language with people whose main activities are poker, racing, and sports? These are all fine activities, but I always want to go off and do anything else when I try to socialize locally. We don't click.

It's not like I was more interested in them before I had an always-on internet connection. Social media and the internet in general gave me an outlet and community for the things I was drawn to before the internet entered the picture.

There aren't many people around here who would get this joke: https://snouts.online/@Kye/102329949919207919

Re: Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation? (2017)

#115

Post by tictoc »

It's cyclical. None of this matters, because we adapt. It was rock n roll, television, video games, now smart phones. It will be something else. Perhaps we are all mentally screwy, or perhaps it's another exaggeration. Either way, it's too big. It's like the ice age. It just crushes any and all things. It's not inherently evil. It's just new technology. We will get use to it. People are addicted, but there will be a pullback. It will come back to equilibrium. Or it won't. But life will keep ticking along.

Re: Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation? (2017)

#116

Post by merpnderp »

learnstats2 wrote: post #48

This article/researcher makes claims that: a) there is a mental health crisis among teenagers which is not parallel to other comparable generations, and b) that crisis is linked to mobile phones. I'm not convinced by either claim. In my experience of working with teenagers over the last couple of decades, there is a general trend that they are now better at communicating their emotional needs and emotional state. If…

I’d say that since teen suicides are significantly up, yes they are sadder today. And by far the biggest change in young people’s lives today versus previous generations is being constantly connected to the Internet via their phones, more specifically social media.

Re: Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation? (2017)

#117

Post by quintushoratius »

pojzon wrote: post #107
bluedino wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All of those things were around, and had greater effect in the 70’s and 80’s. Combine with all our jobs going overseas.

Value of dollar now in comparison to 70s and 80s decreased. We also earn now around 30% less than our parents/grandparents and our money is worth less. And as dollar value influences pretty much whole world, it can be applied the same way in other countries. Source: http://www.in2013dollars.com/1860-dollars-in-2017?amount=1

> Value of dollar now in comparison to 70s and 80s decreased.

In comparison to what, exactly? Compared to another currency? Compared to itself?

If another currency, then great! We can sell them more stuff because our stuff is cheaper then their own stuff.

If compared to itself: so what? Inflation is a stated policy of the Federal Reserve. My dollars may be worth less, but I make more. This isn't a problem unless you issue loans and failed to charge enough interest.

Re: Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation? (2017)

#118

Post by philpem »

tictoc wrote: post #115

It's cyclical. None of this matters, because we adapt. It was rock n roll, television, video games, now smart phones. It will be something else. Perhaps we are all mentally screwy, or perhaps it's another exaggeration. Either way, it's too big. It's like the ice age. It just crushes any and all things. It's not inherently evil. It's just new technology. We will get use to it. People are addicted, but there will be a…

Even if "life" is just bacteria and amoebae...

Re: Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation? (2017)

#119

Post by naasking »

watwut wrote: post #113
naasking wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This article/researcher makes claims that: a) there is a mental health crisis among teenagers which is not parallel to other comparable generations, and b) that crisis is linked to mobile phones. I'm not convinced by either claim. You probably should be, because there are objective markers that don't depend on communication: https://twitter.com/JonHaidt/status/1083015453151318016 > The article identifies that today…

> less car accidents, have less risky sex, have a lower rate of teenage pregnancy, ingest less risky substances, are generally less violent These are positive changes. All of them. These were literally something bad about older generation . All these things have negative consequences on not just risk accepting person, but also to other people around. If you are more anxious but less violent, then it is a good trade o…

Merely repeating something does not make it fact. It's shortsighted to evaluate good and bad purely by outcome. Plenty of psychological and physiological pathologies drive reduced violence, less risk taking, etc.

For instance, are you going to suggest people should become more psychopathic because it's correlated with success?

Are you going to suggest all men take testosterone suppressants because that would reduce violence, risk taking and teenage pregnancy? If the outcome is all that matters, then why not right?

Re: Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation? (2017)

#120

Post by philpem »

Invictus0 wrote: post #91
kstenerud wrote: post #74

Have smartphones destroyed a generation? Has the internet destroyed a generation? Have video games destroyed a generation? Has TV destroyed a generation? Has radio destroyed a generation? Have novels destroyed a generation? Each of these have been flogged ad-nauseum by the media in their time of peak popularity so that the older people can sit back with a smug quip "Kids these days..."

Did you actually read the article? Because all of the author's claims have data to match, it's not just the perennial kids these days rant. As a member of the so called iGen, I can attest anecdotally that the prevalence of anxiety and mental health issues is very real.

I help run meetups for, well, furries. Helped out with conventions too.

At least for that societal segment the prevalence of mental health is obvious, though I wonder if the rise is more that people are slowly becoming less keen to ostracise people with mental health issues and more keen to try and help them.

I sorely hope that my idle musing proves true. Because bottling it up forever didn't seem to help much.

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