While today's teenagers may be consumed by the technological revolution that is transforming the world, the middle-aged and older folks in our society cannot seem to accept this progression without hurtful generalizations and stereotypes about the "youth." The amount of snide comments I hear from adults about how much time the younger generation spends texting is frankly astonishing and needs to be addressed. I don't disagree with the fact that students and young adults may spend too much time staring at their screens instead of paying attention to the world around them, but these criticisms don't take all circumstances into account.
Texting
Adults who make remarks about teenagers on their phones are automatically assuming that any young person is wasting precious time typing "lol" and "omg" when this is rarely the case. I take advantage of the multiple functions of a smartphone and use my device for answering emails from clubs and professors, searching for dairy-free recipes that I can make in my dorm room, or discovering which book I should add to my summer reading list. The times that I am texting, I am usually making plans with my friends to meet up for dinner or communicating with my family because I miss them and don't see them everyday. As flattering as it is for adults to assume I have hundreds of friends who can't spend a free moment without talking to me, I find it offensive to be indirectly scolded whenever I use my phone solely based on stereotypes. Adults: next time you see a teenager frantically typing away on their smartphone, consider that they may be trying to get a hold of someone they love or jotting down important ideas about an assignment. I agree that we need to step away from our screens a bit more, but please do not criticize me for telling my mother to have a good day.
Selfies
While I do not consider myself to be an avid contributor to the growing "selfie culture" of America, it is upsetting that young people are stereotyped as narcissistic anytime they use their front-facing camera. Adults seem to think that people wanting to have visual representations of themselves is not only a foreign concept, but also a vicious epidemic. But how is the act of taking a picture of oneself on a phone any different from our ancestors who hired artists to paint unrealistically glorified portraits of themselves or waited hours to get their photograph taken? Modern technology makes it easier for today's youth to take a picture anytime they want, but is the actual intent of the picture really that different? In every case--painted portrait, vintage photograph, or selfie--a person thought "I want a nice picture of myself." Today we don't have to ask a talented artist to paint us thinner or wait in the same position for the camera to be ready, but that doesn't make the subject of the picture self-obsessed. When I have recently been on Facebook, I see more adults posting photos of themselves than teenagers do. Why? Because it's easy if you want to show another person what you're doing and it can actually be fun. (And because teenagers don't post as much on Facebook anymore). Who says taking a picture of yourself has to be because you think your exceptional attractiveness needs to be documented? If my family members are on the beach, they take a selfie and send it to me because it's a lot easier and safer than giving their phone to a stranger for a picture. That doesn't make them narcissists, it just means they're having fun and trying to share the moment.
Technology
Technology makes the lives of both teenagers and adults more convenient, despite its limitations and consequences. Today's youth is living in a world where everything is being completely transformed in order to be accessed via technological mediums, so why should the younger generation be criticized for following the trends and learning the skills that will help us be successful? Maybe it would be interesting for us to crack open an encyclopedia or read the daily paper, but websites and online news do not make us any less informed of research, information, and events. New careers require technological proficiency because that is the direction of our future. My question for adults who bash technology is this: if you were a student today, would you disobey your professors and hand-write your essays instead of typing them, spend hours searching for manuscripts in the library when you can find the same online research articles within minutes, or have your hometown's daily newspaper sent to you at college when you can just look it up on your device? Probably not.
Yes, I am a teenager and I use my smartphone daily, but do not assume I am using my phone irresponsibly, constantly posting pictures of myself, or stunting my intellectual growth simply because I am young and have a device. Perhaps consider that modern teenagers may actually be connecting with friends and family, expressing interests, planning assignments, and taking advantage of all the resources that are just one click away.
