The Matter With Kids Today Amy Goldwasser Analysis
"What's The Matter With Kids Today?" An article by Amy Goldwasser, argues against the old generations who assume that the internet and technology are worthless. The negative views on teens today are viewing teens to be ignorant and blind of the world around us. Goldwasser starts off her article by taking quotes and multiple studies on the problem of teens and technology. Goldwasser makes logical arguments of the benefits of technology in the lives of teens today. She also talks about how the older generations don't like the use of technology by kids.
Goldwasser gives examples of the opposing side. She talks about a survey conducted by the common core research organization. "A phone (landline!) Survey of 1,200 17-year-olds, conducted by the research organization common core and released Feb. 26, found our young people to be living in "stunning ignorance" of history and literature." She also mentions …show more content…
that the survey was conducted over a landline phone, which proves that the survey was biased. Goldwasser shares a quote from Doris Lessing, A noble prize in literature winner, saying "the internet has seduced a whole generation into its inanities" and states that, "young men and women ... Have read nothing, knowing only some specialty or other, for instance, computers." Goldwasser seems to be very familiar with the internet and teens today. Goldwasser doesn't see the internet as being good or bad, she just thinks it is a communication way that teens use today to express themselves. As Goldwasser states, "33 million Americans who are fluent in texting, emailing, blogging, IM'ing and constantly amending their profiles on social network sites - which, on average, 30 of their friends with visit every day, hanging out and writing for 20 minutes or so each." She argues in this quote that teens are still reading and writing, but in the way they feel comfortable with. She is saying that teens aren't only doing it for school, but also write for pleasure. Goldwasser believes that the older generation people aren't with this form of media because they are attached and used to their old ways and the internet is something new to them. Goldwasser describes the internet as a different outlet for the same things. She says teens are still familiar with literature and their meanings behind them. 97% of the common core surveyed teens were familiar with Dr. King's "I have a dream" speech and 80% know what "to kill a mocking bird" is about.
Goldwasser argues, it shouldn't matter, whether the source was a laptop or a kindle, we should just recognize these as different mediums for the same source.
She believes that instead of criticizing a new form of learning and communication, people should embrace it, assist and encourage increase in knowledge through this technology. She says, "We need to start celebrating this unprecedented surge, incorporating it as an educational tool instead of meeting it with pop quizzes and suspicious... Once we stop regarding the internet as a villain, stop presenting it as the enemy of history and literature and worldly knowledge, than our teenagers have the potential to become the next great voices of America." Goldwasser is entirely saying in this article that teens aren't being destroyed by the internet. Their focus is just different and it should be accepted. She finalizes her argument by saying, "One of them, 70 years from now, might even get up there to accept the very award Lessing did - and thank the internet for making him or her a writer and a thinker"
(Goldwasser).
Goldwasser gives examples of the opposing side. She talks about a survey conducted by the common core research organization. "A phone (landline!) Survey of 1,200 17-year-olds, conducted by the research organization common core and released Feb. 26, found our young people to be living in "stunning ignorance" of history and literature." She also mentions …show more content…
that the survey was conducted over a landline phone, which proves that the survey was biased. Goldwasser shares a quote from Doris Lessing, A noble prize in literature winner, saying "the internet has seduced a whole generation into its inanities" and states that, "young men and women ... Have read nothing, knowing only some specialty or other, for instance, computers." Goldwasser seems to be very familiar with the internet and teens today. Goldwasser doesn't see the internet as being good or bad, she just thinks it is a communication way that teens use today to express themselves. As Goldwasser states, "33 million Americans who are fluent in texting, emailing, blogging, IM'ing and constantly amending their profiles on social network sites - which, on average, 30 of their friends with visit every day, hanging out and writing for 20 minutes or so each." She argues in this quote that teens are still reading and writing, but in the way they feel comfortable with. She is saying that teens aren't only doing it for school, but also write for pleasure. Goldwasser believes that the older generation people aren't with this form of media because they are attached and used to their old ways and the internet is something new to them. Goldwasser describes the internet as a different outlet for the same things. She says teens are still familiar with literature and their meanings behind them. 97% of the common core surveyed teens were familiar with Dr. King's "I have a dream" speech and 80% know what "to kill a mocking bird" is about.
Goldwasser argues, it shouldn't matter, whether the source was a laptop or a kindle, we should just recognize these as different mediums for the same source.
She believes that instead of criticizing a new form of learning and communication, people should embrace it, assist and encourage increase in knowledge through this technology. She says, "We need to start celebrating this unprecedented surge, incorporating it as an educational tool instead of meeting it with pop quizzes and suspicious... Once we stop regarding the internet as a villain, stop presenting it as the enemy of history and literature and worldly knowledge, than our teenagers have the potential to become the next great voices of America." Goldwasser is entirely saying in this article that teens aren't being destroyed by the internet. Their focus is just different and it should be accepted. She finalizes her argument by saying, "One of them, 70 years from now, might even get up there to accept the very award Lessing did - and thank the internet for making him or her a writer and a thinker"
(Goldwasser).