Sherry Turkle's’ “Growing Up Tethered” examines the use of technology in the lives of young people and the many ways they are emotionally latched to technology to make and often break their connections with others. Sherry Turkle discusses how technology has made is unable to interact with others, yet able to react with technology to reach them. She dives into the many ways young people use it to connect, cope, practice, and often deceive other in social interaction. From social media to simulating everyday life people have become dependent on technology to seek connection emotionally.
On the other hand Jane McGonigal's “Becoming a part of something bigger than Ourselves” praises the connections made via technology. McGonigal places famous …show more content…
Sherry Turkle’s “Growing Up Tethered” and Jane McGonigals “Becoming Part of Something Bigger Than Ourselves” the advantages and afflictions of technology are put under the microscope and examined, revealing the deeper underlying influence of technology. Though both pieces discuss a variety of ways to use technology, both pieces show the influence of technology in daily life. Technology is a tool that influences our lives based off of the way the user uses it. Technology has shown to limit internal growth and reflection. Just like the human body ideas, emotions, and expressions need to constantly be developed and matured. In an excerpt one young girl shares “ Even if i email someone I want a response, like right away. I want them to be, like right there answering me.”(paragraph 17 page 433). She then goes to share that if the recipient doesn't reply she begins to send them a barrage of messages. Though technology has become a convenient method of communication, instant messaging has made one rely on others input and opinion for confidence. The ability to reach others in a matter of seconds has drawn individuals away from themselves to look for the answers ans approval they seek in others. Another great example of lack of self comes from a young lady who states that “If one friend doesn't get it, I call another.”(paragraph 21 page 434) While seeking opinions of others …show more content…
As said “ A built epic environment is different: It’s not a work of nature, but rather a feat of design and engineering.”(paragraph 54 page 451) Although it is incredible that there is a virtual world where gamers can interact towards a common goal the setting in which it takes place limits the experience they can have with each other, themselves, and world around them. This place the game takes is a safe haven for like minded individuals who love the game they play. While the players develop teamwork, the amount of tasks they agree to accomplish are limited down to one thing, which is to kill. This game is a controlled and set parameter made for the sheer purpose of violence. There is no consequence, no punishment, and no product to killing in these games. As a result people are numbed to the violence they are demonstrating because in their opinions it isn't real. And While the aliens and weapons of Halo 3 may not be real the violence is without a doubt real. The game desensitizes the players to violence that they see in their everyday lives because they see more brutal demonstration of gore every night