Riding bicycles, building forts, and playing hide-and-seek are all becoming extinct while smartphones, tablets, and laptops are now commonly used vocabulary words for the youth of this generation. Today's generation has a higher exposure to technology than any generation before and due to the Internet, the accessibility to information is virtually unlimited. Social media has made it possible to connect with individuals who live across oceans with a single click. Essentially any question or topic can be answered within seconds on popular search engines.  Is this convenience beneficial to the overall wellbeing of our generation or could technology be slowly consuming us, along with the social skills of our youth? If the use of technology was limited and more intimate time was forced among the youth, then our generation would not rely on the Internet socialize, forcing us to expand our lifestyle and build stronger relationships. 

Teens find their self worth and identity during adolescence, beginning to understand their needs and personalities. This is a journey that comes through the use of social words and interactions. This process has been accelerated by technology and could even be interfering with a healthy and positive development of self-worth and identity. The lack of human interaction with peers deprives children of the understanding of relationships and hinders the development of intrapersonal skills. A 2012 study found that there is a correlation between depression and the use of Facebook, a major social networking site. This study was conducted among 160 high school students and compared the depression rates between teens that did not use social media with those who did. There is certain evidence that social media is related to an individuals self-image and self-esteem. While editing photos and profiles may increase feelings of self-worth, social standards result in lower self-esteem and the feeling of being inferior. 

Excessive use of technology is also contributing to the growing obesity rate, while shrinking brain development rate among children. Livestrong.com states that fifteen percent of children aged between six and nine years old can be considered overweight. These lifestyle changes are not limited to technology but also affect the daily lives of children. Children prefer cars instead of walking and elevators instead of stairs  --  these accessibilities are the new normal to this generation. The sensory imbalance caused from technology use is contributing to problems in neurological development. The brain's anatomy becomes altered and brain activity is inhibited.

Exposure to violence in media has also become a considerable problem among the youth. Graphics in games are more realistic than ever before and allow children to place themselves into these characters. The violence in many video games has been linked to higher aggression rates among children. Along with higher aggression rates, studies have shown that children may become numb to violence or even mimic what they have played on the game. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, media games emphasize the killing of people or animals, drug abuse, stereotyping, and foul language. When playing violent games, the body experiences a high state of adrenalin and stress and cannot differentiate between reality and the virtual world. The high levels of adrenalin and stress are linked to a growing anxiety rate among children. 

To grow as individuals, we must overcome adversity and solve problems that we face  --  this adversity shapes the individual we become. Simple solutions are given to difficulties, instead of the trial and error of learning. With technology, we are often given the solutions too easily and can become dependent on the ease of information. Relationships are often formed and maintained through social media while personal connections are less than ever. Family time in the past consisted of board games or road trips and now family time is simply a group of mindless faces around a television screen. Growing obesity and anxiety rates are consuming us along with growing violence. We live in a world where everyone is connected but what we don't realize is that while we are all connected, we are also more isolated than ever before. There is no simple solution to this magnitude of a problem and life style. Parents could simply take their children's smart phones, tablets, and laptops but would continue to connect on their own devices. One possible solution to this problem would be to introduce a technology free zone in preschools through high schools which would force students to communicate and research the "old-fashioned way" with mouths and paper books. Parents could also set restrictions on technology for their children and provide them with an outdoor adventure in return. Moderation is key. 

I am interested in researching this topic because it is personal to me. My 13-year-old sister seems more disconnected than the average smartphone user and I often worry that she will not develop the personality skills that are essential in life. This research does affect my values because I knew that this was a major problem in the world today but I did not realize that so many people had the same concerns. My values are that we need to spend more time connecting outside of media and I prefer being with people, not virtually. My personal experience regarding this is not limited to my sister but also to my mom's business. My mom owns and operates preschools and it is astonishing to me to see their tiny hands operating a variety of devices. I have watched as these children pick up an unfamiliar device and within a few moments, they have learned the basic functions. I know that these children are soaking up information and I often wonder if technology will hurt them in the future. I feel qualified to write about this because it has affected the person I am today and the relationships in my life. I have recently begun to realize the importance of relationships and the value that words have when they are not sent via text, email, or even calling. 

 I have used a variety of sources to support my opinion. The first source I used was from the website, Psychology Today. I read an article written by Dr. Marilyn Price-Mitchell titled the Generation Tech: The Good, Bad, and Scary. The major claim in this article was that children must have social interactions with peers in order to secure healthy relationship and brain development. Dr. Mitchell cites evidence from Jim Taylor, a doctor and author who writes about the growing issue with technology. There is a substantial amount of evidence in this article and it is presented from doctors. This is a credible source due to the fact that is on a psychology website and is also written by a doctor. This doctor presents her information with the supporting arguments of other doctors and this ensures her credibility. The second source that I used was an article from Princeton on the website, The Future of Children. This article weighed the risks and benefits of technology use and explored the different uses for technology. Homework, playing games, surfing the web, and communication were all explained in depth. Statistical data was used to support these claims and the main argument is that a limit needs to be placed on the time exposure that children have to technology. This is also a credible source, found on an .edu website and supported with evidence from Princeton. The last major source that was used can be found on the American Academy of Child and Adolescent. This article primarily focuses on video games and violence. The main argument and claim in this article is that video games are contributing to violence among this generation and affecting the brain. This is a new article and is credible from a psychiatry website, supported by evidence and examples. 

This research question is arguable through data and personal stories. Media can affect those around us and technology impacts the daily lives of everyone around us. Many may argue that technology is more beneficial to our generation than harmful. Others may argue that technology cannot be studied fully due to how young it is. These perspectives do not affect my perspective. When I hear my parents talk about how different their teenage years were, it makes me wish that I could have experienced the simplicity that they were able to. Other perspectives are logical but they do not change my individual opinion. I may need to revise my research by providing more examples and adding even more sources to ensure the quality of my argument. 
