Zheng Wang and John Tchernev’s article “The 'Myth' of Media Multitasking: Reciprocal Dynamics of Media Multitasking, Personal Needs, and Gratifications” focused on multitasking, specifically in teens. The study found that young people multitask at the cost of cognitive needs while fulfilling emotional needs.
I disagree. I understand the science proves the hypothesis correct, but I believe media multitasking has a benefit to cognitive needs.
Media multitasking provides news, popular culture, and information at the tap of a button. The access to information has not been available as readily as it is now. Teens that multitask with media are increasing their technological awareness and skills and are ingesting information at a faster rate than ever before. They are absorbing everything like sponges.
The study states that media multitasking provides teens with emotional gratification, even if they are not seeking it. I understand this because one does not go on social media or media in general because they are forced to. However, I think people do go on media looking for some form of gratification.
As stated before, one only uses media for a reason, whether it is connecting with others, looking up news, or out of pure boredom. All of those reasons and others are using media as the solution. But when media are not the solution, how do media multitasking negatively affect one? Specifically, how do media multitasking affect the effectiveness of education if one is always ingesting information from another source?
