Final Draft – 1581 words

Myli Petrocci

Professor Jesse Miller

English 110

22 April 2025

Teens and Technology: Taking a Step Back

Looking back, I believe our parents were right. I remember begging mine for a phone in middle school, wanting to be just like my other socially invested friends. My parents’ hesitation, similar to many parents around the world, was an intuition that we all should have paid closer attention to. Researchers have been paying attention to it though, analyzing each move we make. Shelley Turkle, a clinical psychologist and professor at  MIT, effectively illustrates the truth about modern technology in her article The Empathy Diaries. Her ideas follow a similar trend in what young people have been discovering recently: screens have actually impacted us in an unfavorable way. Peyton Perkins, a first year student at the University of New England, reflects on the deep integration of technology into daily life, portraying it as both a convenience and a dependency in her article, Where Did We Go Wrong? Similarly, Kaia Anderson who is also a first year student at the University of New England, argues in her article Helping the Addict: A Call To Action, that cooperation across generations to address technology addiction is greatly needed. Each author reveals a powerful perspective that exposes my generation’s overdependence on technology. I believe teens must reduce personal technology use to rediscover their authentic selves, improve mental health, and build real social skills.

The overuse of personal technology, especially social media, has taken a noticeable toll on my mental health. I have seen its harmful effects reflected in the well-being and identities of those around me. In her article, Turkle thoughtfully examines how the mental health of both teens and their parents have been affected by technology. She states, “…children experimented with identity by building avatars… constant was the anxiety of adults around children and machines…They watched, unhappy, as children became lost in games and forgot about the people around them, preferring, at long stretches, the world’s in the machine” (Turkle 346). In other words, adults’ anxiety over children becoming absorbed in their online identities is unfortunate for both sides, leading to misunderstandings. What I am trying to state is that both adults and children were clueless going into this technological boom. They did not know that many of those children growing up on personal devices now struggle to find purpose or direction without digital stimulation. Perkins continues this idea and provides insight from a college student’s perspective. She claimed, “We are in a constant state of ‘where is my phone?’ Feeling uncomfortable in the elevator; check your phone. Nervous before an interview; check your phone. We want to access technology not necessarily because it is helpful, but because we have made it an extension of who we are” (Perkins). In other words, growing up surrounded by screens has affected us so deeply that functioning without them feels nearly impossible. It defines us, offers us comfort, and ultimately becomes a part of our identity. It is ironic to hear parents express skepticism, as Turkle notes, toward these online avatars, only for teenagers like Perkins to realize how unprepared they are for the real world without those online avatars. I went through a similar experience myself, feeling uneasy in the silence of the world without the constant comfort of my phone, in which we delve into those online avatars. It quickly became clear how deeply rooted the problem was, but with consistent practice, putting down my phone became less uncomfortable and ultimately brought me a sense of clarity. For those aiming to achieve similar clarity, learning to endure that initial discomfort is crucial. I believe that relying on social media to define ourselves holds us back both professionally and socially. To move forward with purpose and truly stand out, I know that we need to put down our phones, reconnect with ourselves, and rediscover what makes us unique.

As students, we can tell in the classrooms who the outliers are. The people who play games on their phone instead of paying attention to the lecture, or those who lack communication skills during group projects really stand out. Due to technology being let into classrooms, students lacking viable social skills grow exponentially. Anderson, a college student, argues “…kids my age don’t know how to navigate the world and do things for themselves. The presence of technology has had negative effects on behavior, especially when it comes to attention span and engaging with others. However, these behavioral changes seem to be an adaptation to a constantly evolving technological world that prioritizes efficiency and speed over focus and in-person communication” (Anderson). Becoming accustomed to short videos, such as TikTok and Instagram, makes sitting through lectures and reading slides much more difficult for Anderson and I’s generation. I speak for much of my generation when saying that it is almost impossible to avoid this evolving technology as Anderson describes. It is fascinating to see the effects Anderson describes unfolding exactly as Turkle once predicted. In 2013, Turkle analyzed a middle school where the use of personal technology was rapidly increasing. Turkle highlights the perspective of a teacher at the school, who reflects, “It is a struggle to get children to talk to each other in class, to directly address each other. It is a struggle to get them to meet with faculty…These students seem to understand each other less” (Turkle 344). In other words, students’ social skills continue to decline as they fail to practice them in school. Turkle clearly conveys to readers that we must reclaim meaningful conversation, but I’ve experienced that teachers have become increasingly hesitant to place my peers and I in awkward situations, having to talk to one another. That being said, I could have missed meaningful conversation because my teacher placed us all in front of screens too early. What I am trying to illustrate to readers is that reducing personal technology use in schools will be beneficial for all. Especially helping students learn to communicate effectively, stay present, and develop real-world social skills.

What would the world be like without our everyday screens? Is that even possible? I do not know

if going back in time would be beneficial, but most claim to want that. Specifically, Perkins

includes this feeling in her writing, conveying that she wishes to grow up in a different time. She reminisces, 

Whenever I talk to my parents about their childhood…constantly riding their bikes

and spending a majority of their time hanging out with friends in the great outdoors…parents

grew up in the late 70s, it makes me realize how much technology has changed over the last 100

years. I wish I was born in the time period where I could grow up without getting into a fight with

other girls by simply saying something like ‘okay.’(Perkins)

 Many, like Perkins, compare themselves to past generations by sharing stories of simpler times. I relate to this nostalgia, as I too hope to reconnect with others in the way my parents once did. Everything from friendships and relationships to casual encounters with strangers feels more genuine to me in the context of screenless communication. The issue is that every day it gets harder to disconnect from our screens, the addiction and dependence on our personal technology keeps growing. Anderson affirms this statement, portraying technology as an inescapable grip, impacting everyday life. She states, 

Even schoolwork is rapidly transitioning to becoming almost all digital. It is a rare occurrence if I

have an assignment that is to be submitted on paper; written as opposed to typed. Other areas of

our lives like shopping, even grocery shopping, can be done completely over apps. The list is

growing ever longer by the day. Dating, meetings, reading, and writing are just a small list of

things that have been greatly influenced by the increase of digitalization. So, of course we are all

addicted and of course this issue isn’t a simple fix. (Anderson)

Anderson powerfully illustrates how deeply our everyday lives are entangled with technology, exposing a dependence we often try to downplay. It’s a difficult truth to accept, as much as we pretend otherwise, we truly rely on technology. Anderson’s statement is a slap back to reality, in that Perkins’ wish to reclaim the old ways may be nearly impossible to achieve because of how deeply we’ve brought technology into our lives. Although, my perspective is that our chances to reclaim these ways rely on our own efforts. While we may not be able to fully recreate the past, we can still choose every day to step away from the distractions that keep us disconnected. I firmly believe our phones hold us back from deeper engagement, making it all the more important to step away from them.

Humans need connection just as much as phones need charging. Society as a whole should be using each other to recharge, such as fostering the connections we make and creating personal growth. Turning to the wisdom of older generations, as Anderson suggests, aligns with Turkle’s call for meaningful conversations. Perkins’s reflections on the value of simpler times remind us that reclaiming a slower, more connected way of living is not out of reach, it just requires conscious effort. I urge readers to pursue a goal that prioritizes significant connections while reducing dependence on screens. If society comes together and starts practicing these lifestyle changes now, we have a chance to collectively reclaim our individuality, restore authenticity, and rediscover what it truly means to be human, even in the digital age.

Works Cited

Turkle, Sherry. The Empathy Diaries: A Memoir. New York, Penguin Press, 2021. Accessed 6 April 2025.

Anderson, Kaia. Helping the Addict: A Call To Action. UNEportfolio, 

    https://miller-eng110-1.uneportfolio.org/2025/03/31/journal-23/. Accessed 6 April 2025. 

Perkins, Peyton. Where Did We Go Wrong? UNEportfolio, https://miller-eng110-1.uneportfolio.org/2025/03/31/journal-23/. Accessed 6 April 2025.

Draft – 1400 words

Myli Petrocci

Professor Jesse Miller

English 110

22 April 2025

Teens and Technology: Growing Up in a Connected World

Looking back, I believe our parents were right. I remember begging my parents for a phone in middle school, wanting to be just like my other friends. Their hesitation, similar to many parents around the world, was an instinct that we all should have paid closer attention to. Although, researchers have been paying attention to this, analyzing each move we make. Each of which we are getting closer to our own demise. Shelley Turkle, a clinical psychologist and professor at  MIT, effectively illustrates the truth about modern technology in her article The Empathy Diaries. She is known for her research on how the internet has negatively affected human behavior, especially in youth. Her ideas follow a similar trend in what the youth is recently discovering, that screens have actually impacted us in an unfavorable way. Peyton Perkins, a first year student at the University of New England, reflects upon the deep integration of technology into daily life, portraying it as both a convenience and a dependency in her article Where Did We Go Wrong? Similarly, Kaia Anderson who is also a first year student at the University of New England, argues that cooperation across generations to address technology addiction is greatly needed in her article Helping the Addict: A Call To Action. Each author offers insight shaped by their current stage in life. Being that Turkle published her article in 2021, which is not too far away from our current year, it’s impactful to see how her prediction has become true. We are lost as a generation, needing guidance from our elders, as Anderson suggests, and most importantly, we need to reclaim our unique personalities by putting down our phones. The only way teenagers and adults alike can reclaim their identity in a meaningful way is to put down their phones. 

The claim that social media has impacted us mentally due to overuse is absolutely correct, mostly because we not only can see it impacting others, but now ourselves more than ever. Turkle is sure to include her analysis of how young adults’ mental health has been impacted. She says, “When personal computers became online games, children experimented with identity by building avatars.” She then continues to say “Also constant was the anxiety of adults around children and machines…They watched, unhappy, as children became lost in games and forgot about the people around them, preferring, at long stretches, the world’s in the machine.” (Turkle 345-346) In other words, the adult’s anxiety of children becoming lost in their new personalities online is unfortunate for both parties. There are misunderstandings and lack of knowledge all around. The parents’ judgment is partially correct, but coming from a place of fear, which led to children being even more indifferent to their opinions. Parents were right to be concerned about children becoming consumed by games, a growing and troubling trend, because many of those children now struggle to find purpose or direction without them. Perkins continues this idea and provides insight from a college student’s perspective. She conveys, “We are in a constant state of ‘where is my phone?’ Feeling uncomfortable in the elevator; check your phone. Nervous before an interview; check your phone. We want to access technology not necessarily because it is helpful, but because we have made it an extension of who we are” (Perkins). In other words, growing up surrounded by screens has affected us so deeply that functioning without them feels nearly impossible. It defines us, offers us comfort, and ultimately becomes a part of our identity. While some may not see it as a problem, this is a growing issue. Especially for those aiming to advance their careers, where the impact of screens on a person’s professional development becomes increasingly apparent. Being unable to portray our unique selves without social media will not further us in our career or social goals. We need to reclaim our personalities. 

As students, we can tell in the classrooms who the outliers are. The people who watch TikTok or play games on their phone instead of paying attention to the lecture, or those who lack communication skills during group projects really stand out. The amount of students who haven’t learned viable skills in middle and high school, which are needed for college and our career goals, is growing exponentially. This is due to technology being let into classrooms. Anderson, a student, argues “The presence of technology has had negative effects on behavior, especially when it comes to attention span and engaging with others” (Anderson). Attention span is the real kicker. Short videos, such as TikTok or Instagram, makes sitting through lectures and reading slides much more difficult for this generation. Anderson illustrates this perfectly in her article. It’s very interesting to see the impacts Anderson describes, which are growing exactly how another author, Turkle, described they would be. In Turkle’s writing she includes a distraught teacher who describes the new school setting, “It is a struggle to get children to talk to each other in class, to directly address each other. It is a struggle to get them to meet with faculty…These students seem to understand each other less” (Turkle 344). In a similar way of describing this predicament, students’ lack of social skills only worsens as they continue to not practice it in school. Keep in mind this was from 2008. Personally I believe that it’s the teachers job to push their students to talk and interact. If there are issues, fix them head on with the individual students. I think that teachers get nervous to put students in awkward situations, especially at a young age, but that’s exactly what they need. Now I know many try over and over, and their frustration only grows with the introduction of phones as a distraction which worsens the situation, but it is still their job to try and care. It will take time to identify ourselves without screens, and removing them from schools all together I believe will help students reclaim their personalities and succeed. 

What would the world be like without our everyday screens? Is that even possible? We don’t know if going back in time would even be beneficial, but most claim to want that. Specifically, Perkins includes this same feeling in her writing, conveying that she too wishes to grow up in a different time. She says, “Whenever I talk to my parents about their childhood…constantly riding their bikes and spending a majority of their time hanging out with friends in the great outdoors…parents grew up in the late 70s, it makes me realize how much technology has changed over the last 100 years. I wish I was born in the time period where I could grow up without getting into a fight with other girls by simply saying something like ‘okay.’”(Perkins). Many like Perkins compare themselves to the past generation as they share stories of simpler times. Even those who embrace an off the grid lifestyle, they still can’t escape how deeply technology is integrated into our lives. The issue is that every day it gets harder to disconnect, the addiction and dependence keeps growing. Anderson affirms that technology is incorporated into our everyday lives and illustrates how it impacts us. She says, 

Even schoolwork is rapidly transitioning to becoming almost all digital. It is a rare occurrence if I

have an assignment that is to be submitted on paper; written as opposed to typed. Other areas of

our lives like shopping, even grocery shopping, can be done completely over apps. The list is

growing ever longer by the day. Dating, meetings, reading, and writing are just a small list of

things that have been greatly influenced by the increase of digitalization. So, of course we are all

addicted and of course this issue isn’t a simple fix (Anderson). 

Anderson truly incorporates the struggles of our addiction with everyday needs, and shows us how we can’t escape it. It’s unfortunate to realize this fact. 

___continue to explain quote… transition to turkle quote about “conversations require time”…. Conclusion paragraph!

Works Cited

Turkle, Sherry. The Empathy Diaries: A Memoir. New York, Penguin Press, 2021.

Anderson, Kaia. Helping the Addict: A Call To Action. UNEportfolio, _url____. Accessed 6 April 2025. Perkins, Peyton. Where Did We Go Wrong? UNEportfolio, __url____.Accessed 6 April 2025.

Journal #26 – 950 words

Myli Petrocci

Professor Jesse Miller

English 110

22 April 2025

Teens and Technology: Growing Up in a Connected World

Looking back, I believe our parents were right. I remember begging my parents for a phone in middle school, wanting to be just like my other friends. Their hesitation, similar to many parents around the world, was an instinct that we all should have paid closer attention to. Although, researchers have been paying attention to this, analyzing each move we make. Each of which we are getting closer to our own demise. Shelley Turkle, a clinical psychologist and professor at  MIT, effectively illustrates the truth about modern technology in her article The Empathy Diaries. She is known for her research on how the internet has negatively affected human behavior, especially in youth. Her ideas follow a similar trend in what the youth is recently discovering, that screens have actually impacted us in an unfavorable way. Peyton Perkins, a first year student at the University of New England, reflects upon the deep integration of technology into daily life, portraying it as both a convenience and a dependency in her article Where Did We Go Wrong? Similarly, Kaia Anderson who is also a first year student at the University of New England, argues that cooperation across generations to address technology addiction is greatly needed in her article Helping the Addict: A Call To Action. Each author offers insight shaped by their current stage in life. Being that Turkle published her article in 2021, which is not too far away from our current year, it’s impactful to see how her prediction has become true. We are lost as a generation, needing guidance from our elders as Anderson attributes to, and most importantly need to reclaim our unique personalities by putting down our phones. The only way teenagers and adults alike can reclaim their identity in a meaningful way is to put down their phones. 

The claim that social media has impacted us mentally due to overuse is absolutely correct, mostly because we not only can see it impacting others, but now ourselves more than ever. Turkle is sure to include her analysis of how young adults’ mental health has been impacted. She says, “When personal computers became online games, children experimented with identity by building avatars.” She then continues to say “Also constant was the anxiety of adults around children and machines…They watched, unhappy, as children became lost in games and forgot about the people around them, preferring, at long stretches, the world’s in the machine.” (Turkle 345,346 **how do i format this) In other words, the adult’s anxiety of children becoming lost in their new personalities online is unfortunate for both parties. There are misunderstandings and lack of knowledge all around. The parents’ judgment was partially correct, but coming from a place of fear, which led to children being even more indifferent to their opinions. Parents were right to be concerned about children becoming consumed by games, a growing and troubling trend, because many of those children now struggle to find purpose or direction without them. Perkins continues this idea and provides insight from a college student’s perspective. She conveys, “We are in a constant state of ‘where is my phone?’ Feeling uncomfortable in the elevator; check your phone. Nervous before an interview; check your phone. We want to access technology not necessarily because it is helpful, but because we have made it an extension of who we are” (Perkins page #?). In other words, growing up surrounded by screens has affected us so deeply that functioning without them feels nearly impossible. It defines us, offers us comfort, and ultimately becomes a part of our identity. While some may not see it as a problem, this is a growing issue. Especially for those aiming to advance their careers, where the impact of screens on a person’s professional development becomes increasingly apparent. Being unable to portray our unique selves without social media will not further us in our career or social goals. We need to reclaim our personalities. 

As students, we can tell in the classrooms who the outliers are. The people who watch TikTok or play games on their phone instead of paying attention to the lecture, or those who lack communication skills during group projects really stand out. The amount of students who haven’t learned viable skills in middle and high school, which are needed for college and our career goals, is growing exponentially. This is due to technology being let into classrooms. Anderson, a student, argues “The presence of technology has had negative effects on behavior, especially when it comes to attention span and engaging with others” (Anderson, page #). Attention span is the real kicker. Short videos, such as TikTok or Instagram, makes sitting through lectures and reading slides much more difficult for this generation. Anderson illustrates this perfectly in her article. It’s very interesting to see the impacts Anderson describes, which are growing exactly how another author, Turkle, described they would be. In Turkle’s writing she includes a distraught teacher who describes the new school setting, “It is a struggle to get children to talk to each other in class, to directly address each other. It is a struggle to get them to meet with faculty…These students seem to understand each other less” (Turkle 344). In a similar way of describing this predicament, students’ lack of social skills only worsens as they continue to not practice it in school. Keep in mind this was from 2008. Personally I believe that it’s the teachers job to push their students to talk and interact. If there are issues, fix them head on with the individual students. I think that teachers get nervous to put students in awkward situations, especially at a young age, but that’s exactly what they need. Now I know many try over and over, and their frustration only grows with the introduction of phones as a distraction which worsens the situation, but it is still their job to try and care.

Works Cited

Turkle, Sherry. The Empathy Diaries: A Memoir. New York, Penguin Press, 2021.

Anderson, Kaia. Helping the Addict: A Call To Action. 2025. 

Perkins, Peyton. Where Did We Go Wrong? 2025. 

Journal #25 – 250 words

I will be using Peyton and James which I believe have great quotes for continuing my thesis on technology. I believe many have struggled with attachment and attention span issues due to screens but how much do we accept as normal now that it’s so deep into our lifestyle. We eat meals in front of screens, not fully enjoying or even appreciating the food. I’ve seen articles that the brain lacks in sending hunger or full signals when we are on screens too much. We need our bodies to function in the way that they were meant to. Screens have ripped apart our well-being but we’re constantly being gaslighted into thinking it’s normal, and that we have to accept that it’s just how things will be from now on, so get used to it. I urge others to try and be present even when you are alone and can’t stand the silence, don’t fill the void with unnecessary distraction. It’s hard not to let yourself get distracted when screens are all around us but it’s truly the most freeing feeling to let it go. You will find connections in the world around you that you didn’t know you had the possibility of. Discovering things about yourself along the way.  Both Peyton and James can attribute to this, and understand that technology I’m using now is quite helpful when it comes to writing an essay, needing to move things around and don’t get me started with spell check and grammar issues. Make sure to use helpful quotations.