The impact of technology

Teens, Technology and Socialization

When first thinking about this topic, I was compelled to write about computers: internet, chat rooms, email, message boards, instant messaging and other forms of communication using computers. And then I realized that computers are not the only form of technology that allows us to socialize and communicate with others. Using the telephone, television and even high-end gadgets enables us to socialize with our friends and family. With the aid of all these forms of technology, we have become a world reliant on different and interesting ways of socialization and communication.
There are many forms of communication and socialization available to us with the use of a computer and an Internet connection. Let's take email for example. Email is used everywhere and by anyone who either has a job or a computer. You email your friends about a party coming up on the weekend, you email your boss to tell him that your proposal is ready for reviewing, and you email you coworkers to gossip about your boss (I'm sure). But not only is email used for business details, it is also used to talk to your dad who maybe lives in Russia or to your mom who is on vacation in Florida. It is used to communicate overseas or even next-door. And unlike the telephone, it won't cost you a fortune to email your dad in Russia or your mom in Florida.
Another way to talk to your friends using a computer is by using a chat room service (see appendix A). It is unsafe to give out any personal information such as you address, telephone number, or sometimes even your full name, but it is an easy way to meet new people and chat with your friends. "Chat rooms are best reserved for communication between people who already know each other."
(site: http://www.family.org/cforum/research/papers/a0002553.html)
Some people even find the person they will one day marry through the use of a chat room. And although this may seem weird and even creepy to us now, it is becoming more and more common each day.
The most widely used way of socializing with the use of technology among teens these days is quickly becoming instant messaging using services such as ICQ or MSN. These services are free to use and are a good and efficient way to talk to all of your friends at the same time. Lets discuss the ICQ instant messaging service for a moment (see appendix b). This service offers a multitude of settings and options you can use to make your screen look pretty and functional. Another handy feature of this program is the memory feature. It allows you to go back and look at any previous conversations you have had with a friend. This way you will not forget important details such as dates, times and names. A negative side to this memory feature however is that anyone could read your conversations if left unattended. A convenient way that will help to prevent this from happening is to use the password feature provided for you to rule out any such possibilities. You simply choose a password of your choice and then you, and only you, will be able to access your program. The MSN instant messaging system (see appendix c) is much the same as the ICQ system, but it lacks one of the main features that ICQ is known for…the memory. When using MSN, once you exit a conversation, it's gone. There is no option to go back into the history of your conversations and review what's been said. As I previously mentioned, this can bee a good feature or a revealing feature. If you don't want there to be any chance of anyone ever viewing your conversations, this is the service for you! Another negative side to services such as ICQ and MSN is that you are not actually speaking with the person you are writing to. "If you use it too much it's going to affect your social skills in one way or another"
(site: http://www.bishops.ntc.nf.ca/ct3200/students01/jonm/term2paper.html)
While instant messaging is on the uprise, and has been for quite some time now, there is one technology that has not ceased to be overused and abused by those who can gab. This is of course the telephone. It will never cease to amaze me how some individuals can stay on the phone chatting with the same person for four and five hours in one sitting. I mean is there really that much to talk about. The telephone is an invention that will never fade away, people will always find uses for the telephone, whether it be to gossip, trade recipes, or receive vital information. The telephone is by far the most convenient way of communication to others. A book is provided will all the numbers you would ever need to use and to use the telephone takes no intelligence or skill what so ever. While it is not the most private way of communication if you don't have a sound proof telephone room in your home, as most of us I'm sure do not, it is a simple and efficient way to communicate and socialize that will never go out of style.
On this same topic of telephones, you will find today that almost all adolescents have access to, or own their very own, you guessed it…Cell phone (see appendix e). Teens today spend more time now talking to their friends via cell phone than most do using their home phone. I'm not sure if it's because the feeling of a mini phone next to your face feels cool, or if your mom is on a call, and you're just too impatient to wait until she's finished. Either way, cell phones and becoming more and more common in households everyday. They're a convenient, high-tech and compact way to chat with your friends on a daily basis.
Another form of technology that never fails to bring people together is none other than the television. No matter who you are or where you come from there's nothing like gathering around the T.V. to watch your favorite show with a group of friends. Not only does this spark quite a few interesting conversation topics, it's also a well-needed rest period for you and your hyperactive buddies! Although taking part in this activity for too many hours on end may cause problems for you visually (or so my mom tells me) as well as socially, anything taken in moderation is fine and often times recommended. The television allows your imagination to explore new and enticing worlds of mystery and romance, among other things. Now I know that there are many positive and high sides of taking time to watch T.V., but believe it or not, there are some negative sides as well. To name a few, (and I can tell you these from personal experience) your schoolwork may start to fall behind and your mid-section may begin to show signs of enlargement. But most importantly, too much time spent in a fantasy world tends to make you forget what it takes to survive in the real world. So, though there are many good aspects of socialization through the watching of T.V. with your friends, you must be able to know when to call it quits and find a new hobby.
Another form of watching T.V. is going to the movie. This is a different take on watching T.V. than just lazing around on a couch for a few hours with a blanket and the remote handy. This gets you up and out of your house and into the world. Nothing beats going to a movie with a bunch of friends, loading up on popcorn and drinks and having a ball. This does in fact cost a bit of money, but I'm sure it's nothing we can't all handle once in a while. Like T.V., movies are great conversation starters. "Did you see when…" or "Wasn't it hilarious how…". Many people who are just starting out in a relationship will often go to a movie on a first date. It avoids those awkward silences and will also give you something to talk about when the movie has finished. Though this is indeed at times a costly form of socialization, I believe it successfully accomplishes the task.
Moving on in our technology-advanced world, there are always those high-end gadgets to keep you busy. Some will gather just to show off the new digital camera (see appendix h) they just received for their birthday, or the new PDA (see appendix I) their dad bought them for Christmas. With an endless number of features and tools, these gadgets could quite possibly tie you and your friends up for a good afternoon or two.
No one knows what the future will hold for the ways we can communicate and socialize with our friends through technology, but as you can see, there are quite a few different ways as of now to keep us interested for a little while longer. While some may be better than others considering privacy, efficiency, and convenience, they all will allow teens today to have fun and communicate with each other on a regular basis.
References 1. Teens, Technology and socialization

http://www.bishops.ntc.nf.ca/ct3200/students01/jonm/term2paper.html 2. Teen Socialization Author: Terrie Bittner Published on: January 2, 2001 http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/3111/54028 3. Tech-savvy teens teach computers to older adults Author: Karima A. Haynes Published on: December 31, 2002 http://www.bakersfield.com/24hour/technology/story/696375p-5156735c.html 4. Protection and socialization Author: Steve Watters http://www.family.org/cforum/research/papers/a0002553.html
Apendix