Steven Makkar

English 137H
Dr. Rudewalker
5 December 2014
Plugged In: How Portable Devices Have Influenced Society
This year in the United States, holiday shopping conducted online hit a record-shattering
$89 billion USD according to a study led by Forrester Research Incorporated (Lunden). Societys
adoption of smartphones and tablets has ultimately led to greater accessibility of stores via the
Internet, with its unlimited potential and allure. To a large extent, the world of shopping has
moved online, so much so that Black Friday has gained a counterpart entirely dedicated to online
shoppers--Cyber Monday. The ability to have virtually endless capabilities at the touch of a
button influences the ways in which our society behaves on the whole. As a result of the advent
of personal technologies with internet access like smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc., societys
paradigm has shifted to create a socially-encouraged dependency on these tools; consequently,
such psychological reliance has induced a number of problems for individuals tied to the
overarching trend of heightened intensity in this modern age, including increased stress levels,
desire for instant gratification, decreased physical interaction with other beings, and decreased
eloquence in communication. Despite all of that, technologies have given rise to some of the
most remarkable abilities in mass communication, compelling individuals of all socioeconomic
levels to become more vocal with their beliefs and opinions.
Technological growth has fueled the development of society, enabling members with
unprecedented capacities of information and processing capabilities. Over thirty years ago, it
would have been impossible for individuals to interact with distant relatives, friends, and

corporations at the level that they currently do. If anything, technology has spurred convenience
in everyday aspects of life; now people have the ability to reconnect with old friends, file online
banking statements, read blogs about current events, and shop for hours on end, all with such
ease. These examples of activities common to internet users contribute to the larger picture of
global interconnectedness made available through technological improvements. No paradigm
shifter was as great as the creation of the internet, which is a global system of interlinked
computer networks that links several billion devices worldwide. This major game-changer kickstarted increased communication and allowed for improvements to be made to computer systems
in the following decades. The foundation of the Internet dates back to research by the United
States government in the 1960s, whose goal was to allow members of society to quickly access
data and programs from different sites. This research, along with similar research conducted in
the United Kingdom and France, led to an early precursor of the modern internet, which, through
numerous search engines and pathways, provides users with vast stores of information that
include anything from DNA transcription mutation codes to cooking websites to movie
summaries to hilarious and popular cat videos. At first, people were only able to access the
internet through stationary computers. Laptops eventually emerged, allowing consumers the
freedom of portable internet usage. Shortly after, companies introduced handheld devices,
starting with the PDA and the cell phone, which later were essentially combined to form tablet
and smartphone technologies. These creations played a critical role in mobilizing societies by
giving people the ability to seek information on-the-go. Digital Consumer Report estimates that,
as of 2013, 65 percent of Americans own a smartphone, and the number continues to climb as
more phone companies enter the market and drive prices down (Fingas).

A notable paradigm shift incurred by the rise of wireless internet devices is the heightened
need of fast-paced interaction and movement. Because the ability to partake in pleasure-seeking
activities has become increasingly accessible through the use of easily-portable technologies,
members of this generation have become victims of satisfying their most immediate needs at the
earliest convenience. According to Richard J. DeGrandpre, author of Ritalin Nation: Rapid-fire
Culture and the Transformation of Human Consciousness, children and adults both indulge in
continuous [streams] of escapism, with activities like watching television, playing computer
games or having adventures in cyberspace, or talking on the phone (Degrandpre 36). While
other factors may play into the desires of individuals to partake in these activities for enjoyment,
it can certainly be concluded that these addictions are fueled by the capacity of technology to
provide the source of entertainment. With smartphones, laptops, and tablets, users can stream
endless quantities of media wherever and whenever they choose. The consequences of this are
twofold: not only does this encourage the proliferation of more destructive, self-isolating forms
of entertainment and media, but the harms of the need for speed have begun to manifest
themselves in matters of life that were not previously linked to technological usage. DeGrandpre
writes that rapid-fire culture present in America has resulted in more subtle sources of selfstimulation, such as fidgeting, chronic use of caffeine, snackingor simply living the lifestyle of
keeping busy, always rushing from one activity to another. Ultimately, the paradigm shift
resulting in individuals seeking increased amounts of instant gratification has had a domino
effect on many aspects of life, creating hurried, intense standards for society. Impatience has
become a social norm. The new trend of being online all the time has unfortunately had some
catastrophic consequences, unlike anything experienced by older generations. Now portable
media consumes time outside of home and workconversation and internet usage have move to

the roads. Cases of distracted driving car crashes, wherein the number one culprit for incidences
is the cell phone, have skyrocketed as a result of internet accessibility in mobile phones. As
reported by the World Health Organization, in the United States, driver distraction as a result of
sources internal to the vehicle was estimated to be responsible for 11% of national crashes that
occurred between 2005 and 2007 (Mobile). It further provides the link between crashes and
phone usage, citing that the frequency and duration of mobile phone conversations that take
place while driving lead to a [large] overall impact in terms of crashes: an estimated 1.4 million
crashes result from mobile phone conversations, relative to approximately 200,000 crashes that
are believed to involve text messaging or sending e-mails. Tendencies of individuals to have
less regard for their safety purely for the sake of continuing conversations over the phone
showcase the evident obsession with fast-paced communication in this era.
A second shift in norms as a result of social media and internet accessibility is the increased
physical isolation of individuals. With so much happening on the webnew celebrity tweets,
addictive games, and speedy messaging appsindividuals tend to lose themselves in their
portable devices. In fact, technology has rendered society to the point that they neglect to go
through the motions of physical interaction, as that is no longer a major gateway for
communication. In the name of efficiency, business meetings and group chats can be conducted
purely through certain video conference sites, and questions about homework can be re-directed
through messenger applications. In her book Alone Together MIT Professor Sherry Turkle
argues that, though there are some benefits in accessible communication, like maintenance of
long-distance connections, social media has bloomed what she aptly refers to as modern
madness (Price). In her opinion, under the illusion of allowing us to communicate better,
technology is isolating us from real human interactions in a cyber-reality that is a poor imitation

of the real world. Humans are naturally social creatures, and social media have gradually
adapted to that mindset. Instead of sharing meaningful conversations about books or movies in
person, users can share blogs and statuses with followers to simulate true discussions. Another
paradigm shift related to self-isolative behaviors includes an extreme need for social acceptance
and approval in the internet realm. Most social media sites (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr,
Pinterest, and Twitter) and an increasing amount of group message sites on portable internet
devices (e.g. GroupMe and Viber) allow individuals to be flooded with positive feedback, in the
forms of likes, and favorites. Acquiring vast amounts of likes is relatively meaningless in
the long-runthey cannot be put towards a tangible end goal. As an alternative to laughing in
the presence of others, users can demonstrate approval in the palms of their hands through the
use of excessive emoticons, comments, and likes. This shift to public demonstration of
popularity is evidenced further by the gaining of followers or friends on social media sites.
As Turkle puts it, We Facebook-friend people who do not know their commitment to us and
similarly, we are unsure of what commitment we have to them But their presence can sustain
us and distract us and make it less likely for us to look beyond them to other social encounters.
They can provide the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship, without the
demands of intimacy. Even in terms of family, the use of new technologies can separate the
most fundamental of units. Whereas before the use of portable internet access family members
would have to take turns using household devices and would have to bond over sharing them, the
sense of unity dissipates at the point where members can now indulge in their own private
spheres of entertainment. Familial closeness was the paradigm of the past; because of the ability
of individuals to indulge in simulated closeness with others via their smartphones and tablets, the

paradigm now includes much more focus around the self, and less around an individuals
surroundings.
A shift in the paradigm that has substantially altered younger generations is the
considerable decline in grammar skills; although texting language was not designed to be formal,
slang has become a social norm for youths even in verbal conversations. Whereas it took large
amounts of time and effort to compose letters in the past, current individuals strive to send the
minimum amount of characters possible in text messages because it is simple and efficient. This
lack of energy put into communication strongly reflects the shift to speediness in our Age of
Information. However, the problems sustained with poor texting grammar are a result of more
than pure lazinessthey carry over to a measured decline in critical reading and analysis skills
for members of this generation. UCLA Professor Patricia Greenfield recognizes this, writing,
most visual media are real-time media that do not allow time for reflection, analysis or
imagination those [skills] do not get developed by [media] such as television or video games.
Technology is not a panacea in education, because of the skills that are being lost (Wolpert).
Society has largely shifted away from reading books as a source of entertainment because of the
opportunity cost incurred spending time perusing through many words on the page. Instead, the
mindset of this generation is attuned towards action-packed YouTube videos or Netflix specials,
neither of which requires adequate amounts of genuine imagination or reflection relative to
reading. This translates into texting behavior, as modern slang often is direct and to the point.
Text messages rarely contain anything of literary merit, and extensive amounts of texting on end
reinforce the idea of simple, unimaginative writing. Even on social media, shorter is better
Twitter restricts a tweets character limit to a mere 140 characters. Evidently, lack of imagination

and increased use of mobile devices go hand-in-hand, showcasing yet another change in social
norms for todays youth.
Finally, a major paradigm shift brought on by portable internet devices is the ability of
individuals to have a well-informed view and larger voice when it comes to the world around
them. With greater exposure to information, like scientific breakthroughs and political
commentaries, at the touch of a button, internet users can learn about the world more than ever.
The power of handheld internet devices and their communicative abilities enables users to
identify and solve problems much more efficiently. People who have trouble setting up online
accounts can google the number of the corporation and speak to experts waiting on the other line.
Devices that contain built-in GPS can prevent even the least-savvy map-readers from ever
getting lost. Weather services that detect unexpected natural disasters can send out tweets in
minutes warning people of the danger. Essentially, the shift has led to the effortless passage of
knowledge and information through regular internet accessibility. Moreover, this new platform
brought on by the Digital Age has created a realm designed for the massive conglomeration of
beliefs and ideas. With larger audiences and the impersonal nature of user profiles, which do not
share private details about the user, frequenters of social media sites or informational sites (e.g.
Wikipedia, eHow, BBC News) can discuss anything and everything on the World Wide Web with
people across the globe. While heated debates may result in group polarization for those who
share similar opinions, the social aspect of confrontation is positive for the overall education of
individuals. As more individuals get involved, the result is a dynamic flow of ideas that could
never be achieved without the presence of internet access. In the words of University of
Pennsylvanias Marwan M. Kraidy, author of Globalization of Culture through the Media, the
media contribute to the homogenization of cultural differences across the planet (Kraidy).

Easily accessible media essentially blends different cultures, all of which contribute to the mix,
creating a linked system of values. In addition to big picture global changes, the availability of
laptops, tablets and smartphones impacts the personal lives of individuals as well. Despite
straining bonds of closeness in families and among friends, these personal devices with internet
help unify families and friends who are separated by long distances, supporting the paradigm
shift of increased global interconnectedness through technology. Since the internet is free and
accessible in most developed countries, it is much easier to maintain relations with family
members through video chats and social media websites. By bringing together so many people
from so many different socioeconomic backgrounds, technological advancements have
substantially improved global awareness and connectivity for all users.
For better or for worse, certain fundamental changes have stemmed from increased
technology and internet use, resulting in a generation that seeks speediness, adoration, and as
much information as possible. The aforementioned arguments have demonstrated a strong
negative response to the timeless adage that simplicity is bliss. Instead, members of society can
expect to get carried away in tidal waves of information, other people, and self-interest. There
can be no doubt that as technology continues to progress, social norms will maintain the easiest,
most viable option when it comes to mass communication. As a result of these shifts in the
paradigm, individuals in society can expect to become more involved in the global sphere, as the
internet remains forever borderless.

Works Cited
DeGrandpre, Richard. Ritalin Nation. New York: W.W. Norton &, 2000. Google Books. Web.
18 Nov. 2014.
Fingas, Jon. "Two-thirds of Americans Now Have Smartphones." Engadget. N.p., n.d. Web. 18
Nov. 2014.
Kraidy, M. Globalization of culture through the media. J. R. Schement (Ed.),Encyclopedia of
communication and information (Vol. 2, pp. 359-363). New York, NY: Macmillan
Reference USA. http://repository.upenn.edu/asc_papers/325
Loveys, Kate. "Online Backlash: Facebook and Twitter 'make Us Less Human and Isolate Us
from the Real World'" Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
Lunden, Ingred. "U.S. Thanksgiving, Black Friday Sales Break $1B; Total Holiday Spend
Online Will Be $89B." TechCrunch. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
Mobile Phone Use: A Growing Problem of Driver Distraction. Geneva, Switzerland, World
Health Organization, 2011
http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/road_traffic/en/index.html
Price, Michael. "Alone in the Crowd." Http://www.apa.org. APA, June 2011. Web. 18 Nov.
2014.
Wolpert, Stuart. "Is technology producing a decline in Critical Thinking And analysis?"
Newsroom. UCLA, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.