When it comes to smartphones, tablets and all the latest apps, teens really know tech, but is it the right tech? Sure, they can Snapchat, Instagram, Whatsapp, and Twitter with ease, but at what expense? Are teens really learning the skills they need to succeed as young adults in the job market and the world general?
Unfortunately, far too many young people enter the workforce with very poor skills in the three mosts popular productivity tools used in virtually every business: Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. Sure, they can use their smartphones with ease and snapchat like nobody’s business, but unless they graduated with a degree focused on social media marketing, all those smartphone smarts won’t get them very far. The video below is intended to be humorous, but is it really that far off from reality?
Evidence suggests that as smartphone use consumes an ever increasing portion of our youth’s waking hours, they could actually be doing harm to brain development. In fact, recent studies indicate that addictive smart phone use can actually change one’s brain chemistry, leading to decreased ability to focus on tasks for extended periods of time and increases in depression and anxiety. So what are we to do? We can start by recognizing that smart phones and apps are great tools, but only when used in a way that is balanced and allows for the other parts of our lives to thrive: physical activity, family time, relationships, learning, rest, etc. We all know that we need nutritious food to stay healthy, but we also know that too much food can lead to obesity and other health problems. Smart phones and apps are no different. When used judiciously, they can help us be more productive and can enrich our lives, but the key is understanding how to ensure that our smartphone use doesn’t begin to reach the point of addictive behavior.If you’re concerned about smartphone use in your family, AppleSlice offers a variety of resources and information to help you regain tech/life balance.