Good research, good focus, good style, good organization. There isn’t much Jean Twenge leaves undiscussed in her analysis of the changing tide of technology in the hands of twenty-first century teenagers. A paradigm shift in its fullest descriptive potential (just shy of 5000 words) seems to leave the audience with more than an overview and more than a request for concern. The logic comes through with genuine emotion and legitimate arguments to admit a problem and raise awareness of the change the teens’ social structures have undergone. The message is so clear and follows the thought process behind generating a thesis for paradigm shifts so cleanly that it provides an ideal model for what to do and how to do it for our final essay.

Dissecting the arguments, we have the obvious necessities, a clear time frame, indicating a time before the shift and after. The key to this is discussing what made the changes, not limiting anything to a simple description of events. The why gives the concern and the relevance. It brings into question susceptibility and culpability in the issues presented, leaving room for suggestion and solution in a personal sense. Yes, all of that other information is still present, but it’s there to focus on the real-life application of it all.

Notice the framing. It’s actually my favorite part because it makes the issue seem more relatable. I was a late bloomer for owning a smartphone, just now rounding off a mere three months of ownership, and barely that much. It was always a fear of mine to fall into habits of need and want for the device that I had got by just fine without. My parents took the Steve Jobs approach and limited my time with technology. They were not so naïve as to totally restrict my activity, but they were also traditional, encouraging me to live as they did when they were younger and without modern technological innovation. Realizing there are still people who enjoy real conversation and distrust the distraction technology provides is encouraging and reaffirming for my own beliefs regarding tech.

This hybrid model of living I grew up with allows me to connect with the article even more since I have had an eye for the dangers as well as the gains of technology. Certainly conflicting, the trouble comes in through social pressures. The biggest one I have been able to withstand is giving into social media. Only having a Facebook that I use to text occasional plans to meet someone in person is a way of using the new technology to my advantage and applying it to apparently outdated methods of communication and engagement. Many times I have been asked to expand, which I guess I did when I got a Snapchat after getting my phone, but I have to resist. There is little allure for me to witness the artificially enhanced lives of others on display for the world in a constantly “connected” twenty-four hour stream. Especially considering the emotional and psychological distress it causes the body and mind, why take the risk for something I can’t appreciate anyway?

Anyway, I need to catch up on the sleep that is unfortunately normal for someone my age to receive. Friend me on Facebook.