Social Media Soup for the Soul [RHMS]

When did bedtime stories get swapped for a scroll through social media? A recent article written by Jean M. Twenge suggests the children of this generation grew alongside technology. Kind of like the family puppy that's been there for you since you were born, but the puppy is incredibly demanding and rapidly becoming associated with anxiety and depression. Scary puppy.

Twenge has named this generation, born between 1995 and 2012, the iGen. As technology grew and evolved, so did this generation. Social media took off and kids these days most likely can't remember a time before the internet. I say "kids these days" as if I'm not a part of iGen myself. Born in 1998, I was taught to use the computer at age three by my older sisters. When cell phones came along, I learned how to access that Snake game on my mom's Nokia. I created my FaceBook account at 12 years old, an Instagram at 13 years old, a Snapchat at 14 years old, and a Twitter at 16.

Did my iPhone and social media stop me from trying to become an adult as soon as possible? Well, no. Twenge mentions that teens these days prefer to be at home on their phone rather than out with their friends, working, or just spending time outdoors. They're comfortable and don't feel an urgency of independence. Perhaps it's the slight age difference between younger teens and myself, but I couldn't wait to be an adult.

I got my driver's license and a job as soon as possible. My schedule got busier as I began taking on community youth councils and extra curricular activities offered at my school. At one point, I was spending more time outside of the house rather than inside. Sure, my iPhone kept me company, and social media was there to help me document some highlights, but I never found myself feeling anxious or uncomfortable if my phone was shut off or if I deleted some social media apps for a few days to concentrate on school.

Should we be concerned that smartphones are shaping us differently and shifting the way we socialize, interact, and learn? Yes. But only because at this rate, we don't have a good balance of using technology as tools and knowing when to disconnect. The advancement of technology is exciting and almost overwhelming. It's important to understand it in this growing age.

My concerns are focused more on the generation after iGen. Technology has had its ups and downs and we can use that knowledge to educate kids today. I guess I'm just scared that instead of hanging out with me, my little nephew will want to play with his... Phone? Or whatever the newest technology is. I do know one thing, though. I'm definitely not going to put him to sleep reading "Facebook: A Bedtime Story."

#iGen #millennials #socialmedia