Advancing technology is a detriment to society, today’s youth, and the next generation.

Thesis• Over the past century, technology has

consistently continued to advance in ways that previous generations could have never imagined. From 1900-2000, we saw cars, televisions, computers, and more and more new ways of communication, transportation, recreation, and the overall idea of “fun” for many has changed as a result. From 2000 to today, we have seen just as many advancements than in the 20th century alone. Microsoft has taken entertainment to a new level. The car industry has produced faster, more affordable cars every year. Kids today are products of a new type of generation. No longer are kids chasing ice cream trucks or going to after school athletics or academic clubs. Instead they are inside on their computers, phones, and video game systems. Today’s youth, myself included, are a new type of generation that has become dependant on technology to keep us entertained, and to do work for us. Technology has its benefits, no question. However, I believe that the flaws of technology far outweigh the pros of using such technology.

Video Games, Phones, Television

• If you sat a group of 10 year old kids from today in a room with a group of 10 kids from 1950, it would be a very quiet room. Today’s generation of kids would not be able to get along with kids from 50 years ago because they are so different. Today, kids idea of “fun” is Xbox, iPhones, Face book, act. Kids activities in 1950 was sports, recreation, and homework. Times have changed so drastically, that it is evident that we as a society take the technology for granted and have become obsessed with “the next best thing”.

RecreationThe United States is the most obese country in the world. Our obesity rates continue to grow every year, and I believe that the absence of recreation, and the replacement of technology has played a major role in America becoming the most obese country in the world.

Other roles• Technology is my scapegoat for changing times, and most significantly for changing generations in a

negative way. However, there are others who have played a role in changing today’s youth’s behavior, hobbies, interests, and actions. They are the parents of the kids. Although hard to believe, parents play a huge role in the problems plaguing the next generation of kids, but they do. The reason is simple. Our parents and our parent’s parents come from a totally different time than us (us as in kids from age 1 to 18). They come from the times where you woke up, went to school, came home, did homework, and as a reward for doing their homework were then allowed to go out and play. They then came home ate dinner did chores and went to bed. Times have clearly changed. Today, kids do what they want. Wake up, go to school hopefully, come home and from there it is up to the kids what is next. Some go out and do activities outside, others are on sports teams, others sit on the couch and waste time away. Kids today don’t have to work to get rewarded time outside or to go out with friends. Parents surprisingly are to blame for various reasons. One, they are as much of guinea pigs as kids. They never had iPhones or Xbox or any of that so they are just as vulnerable as we are. Most parents don’t enforce strictness toward their kids because they remember what it was like. However, they don’t see why that leniency towards the kids can become a problem until it is too late. More and more today you hear of violence online and people harming themselves due to public websites, and private chat sessions because of harmful play. Parents are just as unaware as the kids are as to why technology and its everyday role in America has been and will continue to be a problem for everyone who uses it.

Solutions• Although many problems have and will continue to occur as result of

advancing technology, there are solutions. Programs have been created to keep kids in school, programs that provide after school activities that keep kids active, ect.

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