Obsessively Checking In With Our Technology... 24/7

     The first theme that he really looks at is how we obsessively check in with our technology.  In these couple of chapters Dr. Larry Rosen gives real life scenarios of people at restaurants, or at home with their kids, and their experiences with one of them getting worked up about the other constantly being on their phone.  I liked the way he did this because although the whole book was humanizing, the real life examples really hit home and made it easier for people to connect with the book for they may have lived those experiences themselves.  He then goes on to explain the MTV coined term, FOMO, or “fear of missing out”.  This term basically means that people are always attached to their devices, and when they are not, they get an uncomfortable feeling that they’re missing out on something.  After this, he goes on to explain that clearly an iDisorder related to technology anxiety and OCD is becoming increasingly prevalent as we become attached to devices for all aspects of our lives.  Everyone’s constant desire to be connected to the Internet and technology is not only affecting their lives, but the lives around them as well.  The article “May I Have Your Attention? The Consequences of Anytime, Anywhere Technology,” written by S. Craig Watkins gives great insight on this fact when he talks about how kids in schools these days can barely pay attention to what is being taught because they are too busy on their phones to look up and learn from their teacher (Watkins, 2009).

 

     Our technology is becoming an addiction we have withdrawal-like symptoms when we cannot/ are not around it. This is further explained in the second theme talked about by saying that the internet, or texting people causes a release of endorphins and stimulates our mind just like a drug would, making us want to get that feeling again by staying on longer, or using our technology more often.