Gen+Y+and+Technology

**Student Number: n7340176** **Tutor: Abbey-Rose Hamilton**
 * Name: Morrouj Zaitouni**



** The Artefact ** My chosen cultural artefact is a satirical picture that represents Generation Y’s obsession with technology. The picture depicts a bride and groom facing the wall with their laptops on their laps. The way in which they are sitting means there is no chance of any verbal or non-verbal face-to-face communication. Accordingly, it depicts the extent of Gen Y’s obsession with technology and how it is impacting their communications and overall well-being.


 * Public Health Issue **

The artefact represents Gen Y’s overuse, reliance and preoccupation with technology. It is symbolic of Gen Y’s sedentary lifestyle and diminished social and communication skills. Therefore, the public health issues being addressed by the artefact are the physical and psychological wellbeing of Gen Y and, more specifically, obesity and social isolation. This essay will discuss some of the negative impacts of digital technology on the health status of generation Y.


 * Who is Gen Y? **

Being born between 1977 and 1997, Generation Y is the first generation to grow up surrounded by computers, video games and the Internet (Leung, 2004). Therefore, technology forms a major part of their entertainment and socialising. They integrate technologies into their everyday life like no other generation has done before. Thus, they have been greatly impacted by Information Communication Technology. As well, being raised in a world dominated by technology and instant gratification has resulted in an impatient and sedentary generation that requires instant gratification. This is because people in Generation Y have always had the information they need at their fingertips via the Internet (Dodgen-Magee, 2010).


 * Literature Review **

While technological advances have enabled people from all over the world to get into contact with each other and have made life easier than ever, they still inevitably carry health costs. Unlike past generations, the technological advances in the past decade have put a multitude of choices at the fingertips of Gen Y. As a consequence, the wealth of information available in seconds has resulted in a generation that places a great value on immediacy and leads an extremely sedentary lifestyle (Medindia, 2009).

Technological advances has led to a generation that prefers to communicate using one-way communication methods, such as instant messaging and e-mails, instead of making face-to-face contact with others. This in turn affects their ability to effectively engage and initiate face-to-face conversation (Campanelli, 2009). With the increase of hours spent on different types of media, comes a potential growth of negative outcomes such as, addiction, decreased family talk, social interaction and social support, and increased social isolation (Subramanyam & Lin, 2007). Individuals who substantially communicate online through e-mails, instant messaging and social networking are more likely to lack the essential skills required for face-to face interaction, hence, resulting in incommunicable individuals (Brignall & Valey, 2007).This is consistent with the findings of a study conducted to investigate whether higher levels of Internet usage were associated with depression and social isolation (Campanelli, 2009). The results showed that low Internet users, compared with high users, had considerably better relationships with their mothers and friends (Sanders, Field, Diego & Kaplan, 2000). Additionally, the Internet and other aspects of information communication technology have had considerable effects on the psychological health of Gen Y. A study was carried out in 2005, revealed that increased use of information and communication technology is a risk factor for developing symptoms of depression and sleep disturbances among ICT users (Thomee, Eklof, Gustafsson, Nilsson & Hagberg, 2005).

The overreliance on technology has also led to increased physical inactivity and obesity (Rich, 2003). Sedentary behaviours that displace physical activity have always been associated with obesity, which is also becoming a substantial concern for Gen Y, especially in European countries. It is suggested that the increased use of information and communication technology — in particular, playing digital games, watching television and using computers — are contributing to the prevalence of obesity (Rey-Lopez, Vicente-Rodriguez, Biosca, Moreno, 2008). The prevalence of obesity has alarming increased since the previous generation, Generation X, highlighting the strong relationship between technological advances and obesity. It has been estimated that members of generation Y spend an average of 8 hours per day using different types of media (Kasier Family Foundation, 2010). According to Wang and Beydoun (2007), the prevalence of obesity in the United States has increased from 13 per cent in the 1960s to 32 percent in 2004. It is estimated that by 2015, 75 per cent of adults will be either overweight or obese. Similar trends have been reported in Australia, where the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled over the past 20 years; obesity in Australia is 2.5 times higher now than in 1980 (The Australian Society for the Study of Obesity, 2005)

Body dissatisfaction is another negative impact of the increased use of information communication technology among young generation (gen Y). Researches have showed that body image is becoming an issue of concern particularly to young people. Body image can be defined as, “a reciprocally interactive causal loop, meaning that environment, society, personal factors, experiences and behaviors all interact to form an individual’s attitude and perception toward her or his body”(Smith-Jackson, Reel, Thackeray, 2011). According to the National survey of young Australians (2009), the three major issue of concern for respondents were, drugs, suicide, and body image. Unsurprisingly, body image was more common in females than in males with 28.1% female respondents identifying it as a concern compared with 22.9% of male respondents. One explanation for this finding, according to some researches, is that the messages females receive from the media, family, or peers help to perpetuate and validate the female-thin-ideal body shape. That is social factors exert more pressure on women beauty and thinness compared to men. Excessive Preoccupation with appearance is a substantial concern because other researches have found that people who are preoccupied with their appearance are at greater risk for engaging in dangerous practices to control weight and size such as extreme dieting, and compulsive exercising (Penn Medicine, 2011).

Eating disorders can be described as serious mental health disorders, which characterized by morbid preoccupation with weight and shape, manifest through distorted or chaotic eating (Nicholls & Grindrod, 2009). This includes people who, severely restrict their food intake (anorexia nervosa), eat massive amount of food with subsequent purging (bulimia), and binge eat (Queensland health, 2010). People with a positive body image, most of the time, perceive themselves accurately, are comfortable in her or her own skin and feel good about the way they look (Planned Parenthood, 2011). On the other hand, people with a negative body image are uncomfortable with their body, feel anxious about the way they look and always have an obsessive desire to lose weight even when they are actually underweight (Disordered Eating, 2011). According to some evidence, it appears that body dissatisfaction does not only contribute to excessive dieting and eating disorders, but it can also lead to a number of negative consequences such as lowered self-esteem, anxiety, depression, social anxiety, and sexual difficulties (Young Media Australia, 2006).

A person’s body image can be influenced by large number of different lifestyles events, such as, puberty, pregnancy, disability and illness. (Australian Government, 2009) Accordingly, body image dissatisfaction has been shown to worsen as children become older. In the recent study that was conducted by the Mission Australia (2009), evidence showed that body image is more of a concern for people in the group age of 20-24(28.7%) than people who aged 15-19(27.4%). (Hay, Mond, Buttner & Darby, 2008), were interested in finding out about the prevalence of eating disorders and whether the prevalence of eating disorder behaviors are increasing or decreasing since 1995. What they found is that in the Australian population; the point prevalence of eating disorder behaviors increased over the past decade. This is consistent with another study that was carried out by (Currin, Schmidt, Treasure & Jick, 2005), the finding showed that the rate of eating disorders in 1988 was 18.5 per 100 000 compared with 20.1 per 100 000 in 2000.

Unfortunately, at the same time as obesity levels are increasing and people are becoming heavier, the models being introduces by the media are becoming thinner and thinner, which makes the gap between the ideal body size and reality wider than ever.The media’s portrayal of thinness as a standard of attractiveness is also though to play a major part in the development of body image problems and eating disorders (Mask & Blanchard, 2011). This is proved to be true, according to, the Young Media Australia (2006), after watching commercial that depict women with unrealistically thin body size, young girls feel less confident, more annoyed and more dissatisfied with their weight and appetence which results in poor body image. Referring back to Gen Y's increased amount of spent hours on different type of media, it makes sense that the prevalence of eating disorders are increasing amongst Gen Yers as they are more inclined to be affected by what they see on the screen as a result of ICTs overuse.


 * Social & Cultural Analysis **

So is technology really responsible for the changes occurring in society generally and in Gen Y’s lives in particular? Technological Determinism Theory by Thorstein Veblen can explain the association between technology and social life. It states that media technology is responsible for shaping how we as individuals think, feel and act, and how society functions as we move from one technological age into another (Chandler, 2002). Thus, members of Gen Y learn, think and act the way they do because of the messages they receive through the current technology. As technology is the prime mover in our society, it also determines the mode by which individuals interact with each other — whether that is, for example, through written letter, phone calls or text messages (Chandler, 2002). Social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter have convinced members of society that they do not need to make an effort to initiate face-to-face contact with one another in order to communicate, thereby reducing the quality of social interaction. Technology has also decreased people’s patience; in other words, it has resulted in a society that places great value on immediacy. Our ability to delay gratification is reduced because using technology has hindered us from developing the ability to wait (Dodgen-Magee, 2010). Therefore, the generation gap and the changes perceived in society today are thought to be the result of existing technology.

Another theory that may explain the current increase in body dissatisfaction is the feminist disability theory for the theorist Rosemarie Garland-Thomoson. Feminist disability theory “offers a counter logic to the overdetermined cultural mandates to comply with normal and beautiful at any cost” (Garland-Thomson, 2002). Feminist disability theory examines how individuals with physical, mental, or emotional variations are socially stigmatized or discriminated against within society. Thus, people with appearance impairments such as obesity are more inclined to undertake risky behaviors just in an effort to be able to fit in the criteria of what is normal or perhaps acceptable. (Garland-Thomson, 2005 ) According to the present theory, more and more people are becoming extremely obsessive with their appearance because societies in which they live, stigmatize fatness, ugliness, and abnormalities. In other words, if Gen Yers live in a culture context that place great value on personal appearance, along with the media introduction of only thin models as the ideal body shape, then there is no wonder that body dissatisfaction and eating disorders are becoming increasingly popular among this generation.

** References ** Australian Government Action on Body Image. (2009). Body Image; Information sheet 2. Retrieved from: []

Campanelli, E. (2009). The Internet's Impact on Social Isolation. Psychology). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Retrieved from: []

Chandler, D. (2002). Technological or Media Determinism. Retrieved from: []

Currin, L., Schmidt, U., Treasure, J., & Jick, H. (2005). Time trends in eating disprder incidence. //The British Journal of Psychatry//, 186, 132-135. doi: 10.1192/bjp.186.2.132

Disordered Eating. (2011). Negative Body Image Perception. Retrieved from: []

Dodgen-Magee, D. (2010). How Is Technology Shaping Generation Y? Retrieved from: []

Garland-Thomson, R. (2002). Integrating disability, transforming feminist theory. NWSA Journal, 14(3), 1-1-32. Retrieved from []

Garland-Thomson, R. (2005). Feminist disability studies. Signs, 30(2), 1557-1557-1587. Retrieved from []

Hay, P., Mond, J., Buttner, P., & Darby, A. (2008). Eating Disorder Behaviors are Increasing: Finding from Two sequential Community Surveys in South Australia. //PubMed central, 3//(2), 1-5. Retrieved from: []

Leung, L. (2004). Net-Generation Attributes and Seductive Properties of the Internet as Predictors of Online Activities and Internet Addiction. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 7(3), 333-348. doi: 10.1089/1094931041291303

Mask, L., & Blanchard, C. (2011). The effects of thin ideal media on women’s body image concerns and eating-related intentions: The beneficial role of an autonomous regulation of eating behaviors. //ScienceDirect//, 8, 357-365. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2011.06.003

Medindia Networking for Health. (2009). Aussie Gen Y Leading More Sedentary Lifestyles. Retrieved from: []

Mission Australia. (2009). National survey of young Australians 2009. Retrieved from: []

Nicholls, D., & Grindrod, C. (2009). Behavioural eating disorders. Paediatrics and Child Health, 19(2), 60-66. [|doi:10.1016/j.paed.2008.10.007]

Penn Medicine. (2011). Unhealthy Obsession With Appearance. Retrieved from: []

Planned Parenthood. (2011). Body Image at a Glance. Retrieved from: []

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Rich, M. (2003). Boy, Mediated; Effects of Entertainment Media on Adolescent Male Health. Adolescent Medicine Clinics, 14(3), 691-699. Retrieved from []

Smith-Jackson, T., Reel, J., & Thackeray, R. (2011). Coping with bad body image days: strategies from first-year young adult college women. ScienceDirect, 8, 335-342. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2011.05.002

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Thomee, S., Eklof, M., Gustafsson, E., Nilsson, R., & Hagberg, M. (2005). Prevalence of perceives stress, symptoms of depression and sleep disturbances in relation to information and communication technology (ICT) use among young adults: an explorative prospective study. Science Direct, 23, 1300-1321. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2004.12.007 Wang, Y., & Beydoun, M.(2007). The Obesity Epidemic in the United States: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis. Epidemiologic Reviews, 29, 9-22. doi: 10.1093/epirev/mxm007

Young Media Australia. (2006). Keep your children out of the firng line: body image problems, eating disorders and media messages. Retrieved from: []

**Learning Engagements and Reflection Task**

Subject: Are you living your life, or are you living someone else's life?' Gen Y and Body Dissatisfaction **Student:** Chrisotpher Ng **Student Number:** n7688687 **Tutor:** Judith Meiklejohn

it is interesting to read your essay in which you make the correlation between body dissatisfaction and mental illness such as suicide and depression. After reading the current studies on suicide rates section on your essay i was quite surprised because i always thought that suicide was not that common in gen Y and it is less common than before. However, i strongly agree with your statement "that physical beauty are the most current idealised prospect of beauty in generation Y". in comparison to other generation i think this generation is far more preoccupied with physical appearance perhaps that is why gen u was referred to as " materialistic" ||
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Subject:Generation Y - The Peter Pan Generation, or are we? **Student:** Hiu Kwan Tung
 * Student: Number:** n7691882
 * Tutor:** Abbey Diaz

I really enjoyed reading your essay, even though i think generation y is not dependant on others as you mentioned in your essay. I think we are individualistic and sometimes try very hard to get our voice heard. seriously i kind of get convinced when i was reading the part where you said Generation Y has the greatest population that still lives with their family among all generations. i also think that one explanation for this dependance is that most of gen Y are only child as families are becoming smaller and smaller nowadays, so it takes alot of time for an only child to get separated from his/her parents and finally become independent.