The Effect of Modern Technologies on Our Lives

It is not uncommon for a parent to stumble upon an article that reports on the issues of smartphones and technology, and how society can reduce the effects of these devices ruining our lives. Jeanette Twenge, a social researcher, defends this topic in her article "Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?" and she uses numerous sentence devices and resources of language to achieve her purpose that smartphones have certainly destroyed teenagers. By using a personalized approach towards the reader and an urging push for involvement in the matter, she presents her point to her readers and attempts to persuade them to act against smartphones overtaking teenagers', and possibly our minds. Twenge's attempt to frighten her audience into further reading her statement begins by relating to the reader on a personal level; by connecting sleep with every known negative health factor, she grabs the reader's attention and almost forces them into reading to know what to do to stop this catastrophe. By immediately stating that "electronic devices and social media" have the ability to "disrupt sleep," she dives straight into the matter and does not bother to prepare the reader for any surprise or shock. Twenge continues to present her argument by announcing that "the allure of the smartphone" is unavoidable and "is often too much to resist." By doing this, she further scares her audience and states that technology is invading our society, giving the sense to the reader that there is no escaping it. Finally, Twenge concludes her findings by listing the effects of devices affecting our sleep, such as "compromised thinking and reasoning...weight gain and high blood pressure." She addresses the effects of technology, while subtly states the future of humans as we begin to become enslaved by the invading smartphone. Alarming the readers by discussing about an activity one does every night, at the time one is most vulnerable, is one way she drives her approach on teenagers and technology, and nearly compels her audience to continue reading her article. Twenge targets teenagers and their cell phone usage being out of control, but near the end of the article, she does not deny that other generations can put a stop this hecticness. She subtly urges parents and other informed adults to take action and make a difference in the lives and outcomes of teenagers. Twenge first uses a well-known technology celebrity as an advocate of reduced smartphone use, stating that "even Steve Jobs limited his kids' use of devices," even though countless devices teenagers use today are ones "he brought into the world." Twenge toys with the assumption that if an eccentric technology innovator has limits on smartphone use, then surely the average parent must limit the time their teenagers spend on smartphones, more than the technology innovator does. Twenge soon adds a dash of comic relief in her article by tossing around the presumption that adults soon might "know just the right emoji for a situation," but might not know "the right facial expression." This suggestion sparks a bit of humor from her audience, but still manages to tug at the readers' practicality, allowing them to wonder if this statement is simply a joke, or if it is meant to be a forthcoming. Finally, Twenge summarizes the article and brings her point to a close, when she addresses that "more seems to be at stake in urging teens to use their phone responsibly," and subtly shifts the weight of this responsibility on the parents, by stating that it is vital they "instill in [their] children...the importance of moderation." She brings her point full circle by suddenly placing pressure on the parents of these teenagers; thus, they can comprehend the meaning of the written article and what they can do to stop the epidemic of technology among teenagers. These teenagers are often made at fault for the constant, almost addictive usage of their smartphone, but with Twenge's suggestion of their parents' engagement in their teenager's virtual life, it finally gives them a say in their teenager's online lifestyle, and their sense of initiation is fulfilled.With personalized and frightening facts and an urging call to action, Twenge accomplishes her point that teenagers with smartphones are prone for destruction and detriment. Her use of this, with the numerous other language and sentence devices she uses, ultimately drives her point home and completes her purpose for writing the article.