Cyberpsychology 459: Phone Addiction April 2014 | Page 5

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Understanding the current generation of youthful networkers is important because they are the essential key holders to upholding a successful future for our species. Within the context of today's technological advancements, the various outlets for multimedia are "converging" together in a unified whole, as seen in recent innovations such as the smart phone or iCloud. Similar to the paradigm shift from analog to digital technology, innovations within digital media from traditional forms of communication will only continue to rapidly increase and evolve. This change necessitates an adequate understanding and proficiency in utilizing an ever-growing field of multimedia-enabled social connectivity. In order to survive and thrive through the emerging era of ubiquitous computing, our species will be required to possess the skills of online networking and older generations must have the capacity to adapt to the net generation’s natural ability to update and multitask.

The net generation is a demographic of “chronic multitaskers”. We are constantly texting, updating, refreshing, emailing, and entertaining ourselves, while simultaneously focusing on work and school. We spend an average of fifty hours a week using digital media. This documentary explores the long-term developmental effects of chronic multimedia usage. Multitasking induces a higher brain activity however also inhibits the quality of production, performance, and retention. The digital revolution prevents consistent and linear thought process, as students are being conditioned to expect information as fast as possible, only to immediately transfer to a new activity. Implications suggest diminishing returns in education as a result. Jobs that maintain a successful society require effective in-person communication skills. Is the net generation prepared to uphold the future?

Technological advancements in social networking have clearly come a long way from the analog era. With the advent of today’s already emergent ubiquitous technology, there are vast potential benefits for social, political, economic, medical, and evolutionary advancements that can be taken from the rapidly increasing development of social networking. As the convenience and efficiency of the net generation’s era increases, there will be an infinite and unpredictable effect for both positive and negative changes. However, regardless of the magnitude of change, the human species will continue to learn and adapt, as it has for each era before, using these newfound tools for social networking to its advantage, ultimately increasing the quality of social connectivity, and by association, the quality of life for all.