Allison Soto some experts are arguing that technology is

affecting the way we learn and retain

Mrs. Ferrara
information, others argue that it is affecting
English
the way we communicate with one another.

How is the internet affecting our lives? Many also have made assumptions that our

Introduction: constant use of technology is affecting our

use of grammar and punctuation. However,

Throughout the 21st century, there
there are also many that insist that the
has without a doubt been a technological
advances in technology that we see today
revolution. With the introduction of the
are extremely beneficial our personal
internet and technological advances such as
advancements as a society. This report will
smart phones being made, our society has
delve into different studies that show
become one that relies heavily on
different points of views on how technology
technology. In the past few years,
is affecting our lives.
technology has made its way into becoming

one of the most important tools in our day to

day lives. Every day, we use it to Expert Insight:

communicate with one another, whether it
In an article written by American
be through texts, calls or even facetimes. As
author Nicholas Carr called “Is Google
technology continuously makes
Making Us Stupid.” Carr presents his stance
communication without physical contact
on daily technology use. He acknowledges
easier, more people are becoming more
the benefits of internet use but also
invested in online communities and become
expresses his concern on how it is affecting
reliant on virtual communication. While
how we receive and process information.
Carr uses himself as an example when he processes people had to do in order to

says “I’m not thinking the way I used to thoroughly research a topic. However, it

think. I can feel it most strongly when I’m could also be due to the way we read,

reading. Immersing myself in a book or meaning whether we skim or browse rather

lengthy article used to be easy. My mind than fully taking in the information. Carr is

would get caught up in the narrative of the trying to express his belief that deep reading

turns of the argument, and I’d spend hours results in a more effective way of learning

strolling through long stretches of prose. and with the accessibility of the internet we

That’s rarely the case anymore. Now my don’t do that very often anymore. He wants

concentration often starts to drift after two people to understand its importance due to

or three pages”. (424) Nicholas is saying the fact that it makes us create our own

how he has gradually been noticing how his interpretations and come up with our own

thought processes have changed. He speaks ideals.

of getting distracted easily while reading and

Another expert Michaela Cullington,
how this is out of character for him because
writes an article called “Does texting affect
in the past, he would have no problem with
writing?.” Cullington goes on to present her
focusing for hours at a time.
message that texting is not detrimental

Carr presents us with his argument, towards our use of grammar, and is not

saying that the way we acquire knowledge is affecting our abilities to communicate,

changing due to many different factors. It rather that for now as research suggests that

could be due to the easy access to texting is just another form of

information that we have at the palm of our communicated that presents no positive or

hands rather than going through the lengthy negative effects on those who do it at all.
Within the article, Cullington starts off by fact that she knows how to differentiate

introducing what text messaging is, she says between a social setting and a setting in

“It is a common means of communication which she has to write professionally. I think

among teenagers and is even becoming this is important because she pushes the idea

popular in the business world because it that students and people know the difference

allows quick messages to be sent without between when they speak with their friends

people having to commit to a telephone and when they need to become more

conversation.”(462) This Is important due to professional.

the fact that she’s making the idea of texting

less arbitrary and more relatable. By saying

Methodology:
that even people in the professional world

use it to communicate with one another, she In order to get data correspondent to

breaks it out of the box that people held it to the effects of technology on society, I

by saying only teenagers used it and created a survey using survey monkey, that I

introduced the fact that it is becoming more then proceeded to post on Snapchat and

popularized in all people’s lives. Instagram. The survey that I created

consisted of ten multiple choice questions.

Also, Michaela uses herself an

example by saying “I myself am a frequent When creating my survey, I allowed

texter. I chat with my friends from home everyone over the age of 15 to the age of 30

every day through texting.” (470) In this and older to reply. I also included a question

quote she delves into the fact that she is an about what gender they were, in order to see

avid texter but does not think that it how each demographic represented one

influences she is writing abilities due to the another. The participants were not selected,
rather they participated voluntarily, I did and technology in peoples lives. The survey

this, so I could receive unbiased feedback. I questions really showed how exactly it was

posted the survey for approximately two that technology impacted their day to day

days, in those two days I had received 70 lives.

responses. All 70 participants responded to

Within my survey, I had a couple of
what their age was. 87.14% said that they
questions that all related to a main theme.
were between the ages of 15 to 20, 12.86%
One of these questions was “How many
said they were between the ages of 20-25
hours a day do you spend on social media?”
and ultimately 0% said they were 30 or
I included this question because I wanted to
older.
know approximately how invested people

Overall, I received phenomenal are on the internet. For their replies I gave

feedback, the participants reacted well to my them the option to answer, 2-4 hours, 3-5

survey and answered all the questions I hours or 5+ hours. 37.14% (26 people)

asked. This gave me plenty of data to work answered that they used social media for 2-4

with and enough data to make sure the hours, 27.14% (19) people answered that

results remained credible. Due to the large they used social media 3-5 hours and

pool of data collected from the survey, it 35.71% (25 people) answered that they used

was easier to see many differences in beliefs social media for 5+ hours. This is very

being represented. important because it really draws attention

to the fact that people use social media very

Results:
often seeing as the second highest
In essence, I based my survey
percentage of people are using social media
questions on what would give me a good
for 5 or more hours a day. It is interesting to
general idea of the influence of the internet
see how technology and the internet is television the most, 0 people answered that

taking up a large portion of their day to day they used tablet and 10% (7 people)

lives. answered that they used their laptop/

desktop the most. These results were also

very important due to the fact that it

revealed that the majority of people use their

smart phones more often, implying that they

have constant access to the internet not only

on a day to day basis but in a matter of

seconds.

In my survey I also decided to ask a

more communication-based question, so I

said, “Are you more likely to talk to others

Throughout my survey, I also through social media/ texting or in real

decided to ask, “What kind of electronics do life?” I asked this to see if people preferred

you use the most?” I asked this question, the simplicity of being able to contact others

because as I stated before, I wanted to know virtually or preferred seeking out others. My

how invested people were with their results showed that 48.57% (34 people)

technology and how often they are using preferred social media/ texting, while

more accessible technology like 51.43% (36 people) preferred real life. The

smartphones. 88.57% (62 people) answered results of this question showed me that in

that they used smart phones the most, 1.43% this day and age it is very difficult for

(1 person) answered that they use the people to differentiate which one they
prefer. Due to the fact that people can’t see the world is becoming more and more

one another every day, they grow dependent on the internet and being online.

accustomed to being able to get in contact By the majority of the people saying they

with one another virtually and instantly. would not feel comfortable not using their

social media or texting for a month, it is

Another important question that I
saying that they are so reliant on them that it
asked was “Would you feel comfortable
has become a staple for their day to day
spending a month without using any social
lives. I think it is very interesting to see this
media sites/ not texting?.” This question was
and how it can be seen in everyone around
very important due to the fact that I needed
me.
to see how people would react to having no

access to easy communication for a

significant amount of time. For this question

Discussion:
I offered a simple yes or no option, 54.29%
The overall outcome of my research
(38 people) said no they would feel
has shown me how big of a role technology
comfortable. However 45.71% (32 people)
plays in not only my life but in the lives of
said yes they would feel comfortable. Out of
those around me.
all the questions, I feel as though this one

has the most significance. People here are Most people admitted that they

saying that they would not feel comfortable spend the majority of their days on their

living without their instant access to internet phones, whether it be on social media or

or virtual communication. talking to one another through texts.

However, when asked if they prefer face to

This question seems to side with
face contact over virtual communication,
Carr’s view on technology. As Carr stated,
although it was a tight call, the majority still of internet usage is good or bad. Thus

voted for face to face interaction. making it a very controversial topic. In this

report I provided experts opinions, my own

My results seemingly agree with
personal research and a discussion.
Carrs argument. Nicholas Carr argues that,
Ultimately, each of us has our own opinions
as the world keeps making technological
on how technology affect the world. So why
advances, we become more and more reliant
don’t you question how technology affects
upon them. My results show that we spend
you and those around you.
most of our days on our phones, for massive

amounts of time without even realizing it.

My results also show how uncomfortable

many people are at the idea of being

separated from their phone and not having

access to it for extended periods of time.

Conclusion.

Based on my results, it is undeniable

that technology has become a staple of day

to day life. It is ingrained in the majority of

what we do and is crucial to most of our day

to day routines. Since technology is

evolving rapidly its use is practically

unavoidable. With the data I have collected,

it is still questionable on whether the effects

Bibliography:

Carr, Nicholas. “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” They say I say, edited by Graff, Gerald,

Birkenstein, Cathy, Durst, Russel, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 2017,

Cullington, Michaella. “Does Texting Affect Writing?” Does Texting Affect Writing?, 2018.

They Say I Say