Gen+Y+-+Addicted+to+Technology?

**Name: Angela Blackadder** **Student Number: n8302812**
 * Tutor: Judith Meiklejohn **


 *  Generation Y - How does technology affect overall health and behavior ? **



**Artifact**

The Apple iphone 4 is more then just a phone. It is a device that allows the consumer not only the ability to communicate with people all around the world, but access to an endless amount of applications at just the touch of a button. Everything that needs to be completed can be done via this device, the consumer can do their banking, grocery shopping, purchase flights or book accommodation. The first iPhone 3 was launched in 2007, with over 500, 000 units sold during the first weekend. Since that time, over 42 million iPhones have been purchased, arguably making it one of the most successful mobile phone products ever launched (Laugesen & Yuan, 2010). Just observing everyday people in the community, weather it be on public transport or a shopping centre, it is evident that the abundance of the iPhone or some form of technology is outstanding with nearly every second person you see using a device.

**Public Health Issue**

Rapid technological advances and modifications over the past ten years have brought a lot of advantages to everyday life. It has changed the way society goes about their daily duties completely and is used in all areas of schooling, education and the workplace. Many people rely on their technological devices too much, and this develops into one of the main health issues; addiction. Addiction is a serious problem and causes many health and psychological problems. Just one of the dangers of mobile phone addiction is exhibited on the roads, texting or talking whilst driving. Technology also affects social behaviour, interactions and communication amongst people. This literature review will report on these issues in further detail.

**Literature Review**

Technology has made the world seem a much smaller place then what it truly is. With one simple text message, email or phone call you can get in touch with a friend or family member regardless of what country or part of the world they are in. The sight of young people gazing at a bright screen and tapping away at the keyboard with their headphones plugged in has dramatically increased over the past ten years. Generation Y have adapted the term "digital natives" as they have increased the abilities to process information, make decisions, multi-task, and learn new technologies better than any generation before. The technology driven and ubiquitous environment which we live in today has also brought new health risks that previously did not exist. The recent health concern amongst the youth of today is mobile phone addiction. In Japan, it has been given the name of keitai-izon which literally means ‘mobile phone dependence syndrome’ ( [|Okazaki & Hiroki], 2001). Addiction can be a result from many different factors, for example, boredom or loneliness.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines addiction in terms of dependence – the use of something for relief, comfort, or stimulation, and which often continues, in part, due to cravings when it is absent (World Health Organisation, 1989). Although this definition is directly aimed at the use of drugs and drug addiction, it also can be used for any mental or physical addiction to a particular object. The institute of medicine, 1997, also defines addiction as a compulsive use that is not necessary (e.g. drugs), accompanied by some impairment of health or social functioning (Institute of Medicine, 1997).

The addictive side of Information Communication Technology (ICT) can be analysed from the theory of flow perspective (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990), which holds that IT facilitates a mind state in which people are so intensely involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter. Hence, the experience itself is so enjoyable that individuals will do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990). Furthermore, flow is characterised by control over the environment and, as such, flow involves the optimal level of challenge - tasks not so difficult as to create anxiety and frustration, but not so easy as to create boredom.

According to Conrad, 1999, boredom is a failure to engage or to make a connection with a thing or activity (Conrad, 1999). Among college undergraduates, boredom proneness has been associated with mental issues such as depression, hopelessness, and loneliness as well as procrastination. It has also been correlated with a dogmatic cognitive style, fast-paced lifestyle and lower levels of sociability, persistence, and inhibitory control of impulses and cravings (Jervis, L. L., Spicer, P., & Manson, S. M. (2003). Boredom has only recently become an issue in current times. Most of generation Y sees boredom as a serious issue and turn to technological devices such as television, video games and mobile phones for a cure. Of course this ‘boredom’ can then lead to an addiction thus other health issues can arise.

There are an endless amount of studies that report on generation Y, their uses for technology and related health issues. In most cases, the methodology consists of interviews and surveys. This is the most accurate way to assess the main answers needed for discussion; How does generation Y use technology? Why do they use it? What devices and sites they use the most? How often do they use it? Does everyday usage affect health?

Researchers from the international centre for media and the public agenda conducted a study in which they asked 1,000 students to unplug from all technological devices. They found that four in five students had significant mental and physical distress, panic, confusion and extreme isolation when forced to unplug from this technology for an entire day. They found university students at campuses across the globe admitted to being “addicted” to modern technology such as mobile phones, laptops, television and of course social networking such as Facebook (Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change, 2010). Throughout this short study students suffered psychological effects including feeling lonely, panicked, anxious, and literally had heart palpitations. They experienced many emotions, with just a few being confused, anxious, irritable, insecure, nervous, lonely, depressed, jittery and paranoid. These results and emotions are occurring within 24 hours of unplugging from technology, the question now should be asked, what would happen if it was a longer time frame?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">The FIT (Fluent in Technology) survey, undertaken at South Western University in Texas administered a survey in spring, 2001 using 300 responses and 20 interviews. Researchers found that skill levels among university students were highest in the use of word processing, browsing the Internet and email. Skill levels were lower for specialized applications such as spreadsheets and presentation software. High percentages of students had also never created webpage’s or worked with graphics. (Horwath & Williamson, 2009).These results show that the youth of today use technology, mainly the internet, and entertainment purposes rather then professional university or business reasons.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">A study in 2007, found similar results. This study investigated access and use of 41 Technology based tools by 2,588 first year students from three Australian universities. Kennedy et al concluded that "While there was evidence that social networking and digital file sharing was popular among students, few students were regularly using social bookmarking or creating and publishing podcasts" (Kennedy et al., 2007)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">The popular social networking site, Facebook, emerged in 2004 and currently has a staggering 800 million active users worldwide. It has now been recognised that there is a substantial amount of users that are addicted to the site and occasionally check it for no reason in particular. Users that have access to this application through the use of their mobile phones are twice as active then those who only use a computer (Facebook, 2011). This is due to how easily accessible mobile phones and the internet make it to be, even creating an ‘app’ for the iPhone which takes you directly to your profile in less then a second.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">This addiction to technology has outcomes on social behaviour as well. With generation Y turning to technology as their escape from boredom addiction begins from here and eventuates into something more. Technology offers an escape from their private life, personal feelings and problems and the potential for intimacy this in turn damages the social structure of the home and community environment. Neglecting family members and other personal relationships are both also results of this excessive behaviour. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">We are living in exponential times and improvements and updates in technology will never end. It is changing the way we live, communicate and socialise forever.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">**Cultural and Social Analysis**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">These health issues related to technology cannot be avoided, technology is advancing and will always be included in society and the world more and more as time goes by. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">We all take technology for granted, Generation Y especially, the youth of today would rather stay indoors and play the latest video games then previous generations (both baby boomers and generation X) who would prefer to engage in physical activity to avoid boredom such as bike riding or the beach. They don’t appreciate how easy technology has made communication today, rather take it for granted.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Currently nothing is being done to reduce the use of technology among both generation Y and previous, its quite the opposite. Students are encouraged to complete all assessments and contact teachers via the computer/ internet. There is no use stopping technological advances within society and within cultural all around the world. It is a never ending industry and everyone will be addicted in the years to come.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">**Analysis of the artifact and personal reflections**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Once again this artefact is more then just a phone, it represents the future. It’s just one of the thousands of products which are going to be produced in years to come and the capabilities of each.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">During this assignment I have learnt a few things that have impacted my train of thought. Whilst researching the topic of addiction and noting all the ‘symptoms’ and issues together, I have realised that I myself do have an addiction to technology. I never would have thought about it before doing this research however, with my iPhone 4 in my hand all the time and not letting it out of my sight, watching TV every night and playing the occasional video game, I have an addiction. I have also formed a deeper personal opinion about the future of technology. It sounds dramatic however, I believe, technology will take over the lives of everyone in future generations and all or large amounts of social skills will be lost. The way we communicate and interact and the ability to read body language and even facial expressions will be lost. There will be no real need to go to the grocery store to do the weekly shop, we have already seen technology taking over the registers, with the new ‘self service’ option, so even now you can do your shopping without having the need of the simple interaction of saying ‘hello’.

**COMMENTS!**


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 'THIS IS MODERN LIFE' - The Future for Generation Y? **

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Subject: Comment!

Such a good wiki! well done! I liked your artifact as i believe it represents both this generation and future generations perfectly! I completely agree with it on a personal level too - its all i seem to be doing (using technology!)I focused on this topic for my wiki as well and realized I was totally oblivious to how serious the health consequences really are from this 'modern life' society has seem to adopted. Only the future will tell what new technological devices will be created and the extra health issues that come with it all! - It's Scary!


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Gen Y - SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS!!! **

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Subject: Well done!

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nice wiki :) i completely agree with you, songs like 'shots' by LMFAO and also 'hangover' by taio cruz portray drinking, especially binge drinking, in a good way and sends the message, that if you are having a drink of alcohol, 'drink until you pass out' kind of thing. I myself being a gen Y and 18 years old, have been to events such as schoolies and music festivals as well as clubbing and have seen how much behavior changes once alcohol is present.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Having the 'red frogs' during Schoolies were a fantastic idea! they helped out with so many issues, little organisations and companies need to help with the control of alcohol consumption and thus helping reduce the amount of alcohol related deaths and violence as it is a massive issue in today's society. - remember, one punch can kill!

<span class="citationauthor" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">**References**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;"> [|Okazaki & Hiroki], (2001). Attachment to mobile phones reaching point of addiction. //The Daily Yomiuri,// pp. 1-1. Retrieved from @http://search.proquest.com/docview/285717777?accountid=13380

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Conrad, P., (1999). It's Boring: Notes on the Meanings of boredom in Everyday Life. In Qualitative Sociology as Everyday Life. B. Glassner and R. Hertz, eds. Pp. 123-133. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990), Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, Harper & Row, New York, NY. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Facebook, (2011). Statistics []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Hashem, Mahboub E. (2009). "Impact and Implications of New Information Technology on Middle Eastern Youth". //Global media journal//, 8 (14), p. 1.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Horwath, J., & Williamson, C. (2009). The kids are alright - or, are they?: The millennial generation's technology use and intelligence - an assessment of the literature.//Partnership : The Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research, 4//(2), 1-1-15. Retrieved from@http://search.proquest.com/docview/235894026?accountid=13380

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Institute of Medicine (1997), Dispelling the Myths about Addiction, National Academy Press, <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Washington, DC

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Kennedy, Gregor, Dalgarno, B., Gray, K., Judd, T. (2007) "The Net Generation are not Big Users of Web 2.0 Technologies : Preliminary Findings." Proceedings ascilite Singapore http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/singapore07/ procs/kennedy.pdf

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Laugesen, J., Yuan, Y, (2010). "What Factors Contributed to the Success of Apple's iPhone?," icmb-gmr, pp.91-99, 2010 Ninth International Conference on Mobile Business / 2010 Ninth Global Mobility Roundtable

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">World Health Organization (1989), Lexicon of Psychiatric and Mental Health Terms, Vol. 1, World Health Organization, Geneva <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Jervis, L. L., Spicer, P., & Manson, S. M. (2003). Boredom, "trouble," and the realities of postcolonial reservation life.//Ethos, 31//(1), 38-38-58. Retrieved from @http://search.proquest.com/docview/232936592?accountid=13380

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change, (2010). Unplugged: Living Without the Media. http://www.salzburg.umd.edu/salzburg/new/news/unplugged-study-goes-global