On The Go

I admit that my attention span may not be as sharp as I would like it be. I don’t have ADD or ADHD, but there are times where I believe I do and the doctors just keep missing it during my checkups. I can be very attentive during class, but once I go home and have to read assignments out of a textbook, my mind will wander all over the place. I’ll start off by reading the book for a few minutes, then my focus will shift to the tv for a couple seconds, then back to the book and after a few more seconds of reading I end up playing video games. I think my short attention span is just another reason why I like to text so much.

The younger generations of kids are definitely used to getting things at a really fast rate with all the advanced technology there is now. Susan Greenfield, a research scientist of Oxford University, is worried that the mid 21^st century mind might be characterized by short attention spans, sensationalism, inability to empathize, and have a shaky sense of identity (Elmhirst, 2009).

Our brains are easily molded. Possible trends like increased Ritalin prescriptions for people with ADD and rises in autism diagnosis may have come about from over excessive texting habits (Elmhirst, 2009). This is an interesting take on the effects of texting that I have never heard before. There is little evidence to prove these allegations, but it will be interesting to see what research shows once it’s looked into more.

Greenfield also believes those who spend too much time on computers will struggle to see the consequences of their own actions, even if they are damaging themselves; i.e. schizophrenia, gambling, and obesity (Elmhirst, 2009). Mobile phones nowadays are like mini computers so I feel this is relevant to the subject. In a way it’s linked to the “Cell Phone Zone” that was discussed earlier in the blog. Greenfield is warning people that technology can take over someone’s life so much that they kind of lose sight with reality. I think that may be the case in extreme situations, but I don’t think most people will have issues that serious when it comes to texting.

I think it is important to carefully monitor how frequently we as a society use technology. After reading about Ms. Greenfield’s theories on how texting may have affected our society, I know I may need to look in the mirror and scale back a little bit on how often I text my friends. The last thing I want to do is have a hobby of mine turn into an addiction and then lose focus on what is important in life.

Elmhirst, S. (2009). Mind bending. New Statesman. Retrieved December 5, 2011, from the EBSCOHost Database.