Question
In this activity, you will be practicing your information analysis skills that you learned in the unit.
Part A
First, go watch this Ted Talk given by a teenage girl, Ilana, on the positive and negative effects of technology on teenagers. Now, open a word processing document and answer the following questions:
Identify three arguments or claims that Ilana made during her talk.
Did she include sufficient evidence to back up her arguments?
Was there any irrelevant information that she talked about?
How does Ilana’s talk contribute to the bigger topic of technology being both beneficial and harmful? (i.e., did she add any new information or perspective to the topic?)
Submit your word processing document using this unit’s dropbox.
Part B
Some studies have suggested that the higher the use of social media, the higher the rates of loneliness and depression. Do you agree or disagree? Make a claim and use sufficient evidence to support your argument. But instead of writing a paper, you will use an audio or video recording device to record your answer. Make sure to use appropriate eye contact and voice volume.
Part A
First, go watch this Ted Talk given by a teenage girl, Ilana, on the positive and negative effects of technology on teenagers. Now, open a word processing document and answer the following questions:
Identify three arguments or claims that Ilana made during her talk.
Did she include sufficient evidence to back up her arguments?
Was there any irrelevant information that she talked about?
How does Ilana’s talk contribute to the bigger topic of technology being both beneficial and harmful? (i.e., did she add any new information or perspective to the topic?)
Submit your word processing document using this unit’s dropbox.
Part B
Some studies have suggested that the higher the use of social media, the higher the rates of loneliness and depression. Do you agree or disagree? Make a claim and use sufficient evidence to support your argument. But instead of writing a paper, you will use an audio or video recording device to record your answer. Make sure to use appropriate eye contact and voice volume.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
### Part A
**1. Three Arguments or Claims by Ilana:**
- **Connectivity vs. Isolation:** Ilana argued that while technology allows teenagers to connect with friends and family from distance, it can also create a false sense of connection, leading to feelings of isolation when face-to-face interactions decrease.
- **Impact on Mental Health:** She cited evidence that excessive screen time can contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, particularly through the effects of social media on self-esteem.
- **Distraction from Real Life:** Ilana claimed that technology can be a major distraction, taking away from meaningful experiences and diminishing attention spans, which impacts academic performance and real-life interactions.
**2. Evidence for Arguments:**
Overall, Ilana did provide some sufficient evidence to back up her arguments, including statistics and research findings about screen time and mental health. However, certain points could have been supported by more detailed examples or studies to strengthen her claims.
**3. Irrelevant Information:**
There wasn't a significant amount of irrelevant information in her talk. However, there may have been anecdotes or personal stories that deviated from the main arguments and did not directly support the claims she was making.
**4. Contribution to the Bigger Topic:**
Ilana’s talk adds a valuable perspective to the ongoing discussion about technology's dual role in teenagers' lives. By sharing personal experiences along with research findings, she emphasizes that technology isn't inherently good or bad but has multifaceted consequences that vary greatly among individuals. Her insights encourage a balanced viewpoint on technology, prompting a dialogue about moderation and conscious use rather than outright dismissal or embrace.
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### Part B
**Claim on Social Media and Loneliness:**
I strongly agree that higher use of social media corresponds with increased feelings of loneliness and depression among teenagers.
**Evidence to Support Argument:**
1. **Research Studies:** Numerous studies have shown a correlation between time spent on social media platforms and escalating mental health issues. For instance, research by Primack et al. found that social media use can lead to feelings of inadequacy, especially when users compare their lives to the idealized representations shared by others online.
2. **Isolation Effect:** Social media can create an illusion of connection while reducing real-life interactions. The paradox of feeling connected to many online but increasingly isolated in real life contributes to a cycle of loneliness. In fact, the American Psychological Association has published findings suggesting that heavy social media use is linked to decreased person-to-person communication, which is vital for emotional well-being.
3. **Anxiety and Pressure:** The pressure to present a perfect life online can lead to anxiety. Teenagers often feel the need to curate their presence on social media, leading to stress and a diminished sense of self-worth. This anxiety can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and depression over time.
In conclusion, while social media has its benefits, the evidence clearly indicates that its overuse can negatively impact the emotional health of teenagers, leading to increased loneliness and depression.
**1. Three Arguments or Claims by Ilana:**
- **Connectivity vs. Isolation:** Ilana argued that while technology allows teenagers to connect with friends and family from distance, it can also create a false sense of connection, leading to feelings of isolation when face-to-face interactions decrease.
- **Impact on Mental Health:** She cited evidence that excessive screen time can contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, particularly through the effects of social media on self-esteem.
- **Distraction from Real Life:** Ilana claimed that technology can be a major distraction, taking away from meaningful experiences and diminishing attention spans, which impacts academic performance and real-life interactions.
**2. Evidence for Arguments:**
Overall, Ilana did provide some sufficient evidence to back up her arguments, including statistics and research findings about screen time and mental health. However, certain points could have been supported by more detailed examples or studies to strengthen her claims.
**3. Irrelevant Information:**
There wasn't a significant amount of irrelevant information in her talk. However, there may have been anecdotes or personal stories that deviated from the main arguments and did not directly support the claims she was making.
**4. Contribution to the Bigger Topic:**
Ilana’s talk adds a valuable perspective to the ongoing discussion about technology's dual role in teenagers' lives. By sharing personal experiences along with research findings, she emphasizes that technology isn't inherently good or bad but has multifaceted consequences that vary greatly among individuals. Her insights encourage a balanced viewpoint on technology, prompting a dialogue about moderation and conscious use rather than outright dismissal or embrace.
---
### Part B
**Claim on Social Media and Loneliness:**
I strongly agree that higher use of social media corresponds with increased feelings of loneliness and depression among teenagers.
**Evidence to Support Argument:**
1. **Research Studies:** Numerous studies have shown a correlation between time spent on social media platforms and escalating mental health issues. For instance, research by Primack et al. found that social media use can lead to feelings of inadequacy, especially when users compare their lives to the idealized representations shared by others online.
2. **Isolation Effect:** Social media can create an illusion of connection while reducing real-life interactions. The paradox of feeling connected to many online but increasingly isolated in real life contributes to a cycle of loneliness. In fact, the American Psychological Association has published findings suggesting that heavy social media use is linked to decreased person-to-person communication, which is vital for emotional well-being.
3. **Anxiety and Pressure:** The pressure to present a perfect life online can lead to anxiety. Teenagers often feel the need to curate their presence on social media, leading to stress and a diminished sense of self-worth. This anxiety can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and depression over time.
In conclusion, while social media has its benefits, the evidence clearly indicates that its overuse can negatively impact the emotional health of teenagers, leading to increased loneliness and depression.