Technology has seen many advancements and improvements. People believe technology, especially cell phones, has made a massive impact on the world and the newer generations of teenagers. This has many positive and negative effects that affect students on and off campus.  

Technology companies like Apple and Samsung have continuously produced better mobile phones, improving features like video quality, calling, and messaging. 

“A lot of younger people are getting phones nowadays. I know a lot of sixth graders or younger [that have them] than that I think it’s just because of the safety reasons. “The reason why my sister got her phone so young is because my parents needed to call her [since] she’s walking home from school,” said Jane Landon 

Parents not only use cell phones as a means of communication and as a way to monitor their child’s location with apps like Life 360 or Find My iPhone. While this may be a positive use of technology, there are negative aspects as well.

“It takes away quality time with my family but I also feel like there are negatives and positives to the social aspect of it,” Kaylee Garcia said. “The positive part is that you can call, text and Facetime with your friends and that’s fun. But, I feel like seeing them in person is a lot better than seeing them over the phone.”

While cell phones make it easier for parents to get in contact, with their children and for everyone to communicate and stay in touch with friends more easily, there are downsides. Students feel cell phones are distracting and get in the way of school and homework.

“Sometimes I don’t even do my homework and I do it much later, so I think my phone is my priority sometimes over homework,” Emerson Sayles said. “I think it’s negative at school, especially in class so I understand why we have the phone holders because having your phone in class interferes with your learning even if you’re just listening to music, it still distracts you.”

by KATELYN KRISA & LAUREN WILLIS