Is technological advancement a plus for society or does it push people back?  Although it can be agreed that the development of the Internet, instant messaging, and wireless technology helps students quickly research material for school, it can also be considered a major distraction.  For many, the issue of modern technology is a prominent concern.

In a 2010 Newsweek article, writer Sharon Begley states, “Generation Y cares less about knowing information than knowing where to find information.  It is a travesty that employers are spending 1.3 billion a year to teach basic writing skills, as a 2003 survey of managers found.”

Many teachers will agree with Begley’s statement. Countless students want to complete a task rather than to analyze the logic behind it.  Let’s look at any sort of mathematical equation.  When one wants to find the x variable in a proportion,  he or she would simply cross multiply to find the answer.  Even though this is the correct way to solve the proportion, students don’t understand the reasoning behind that equation or why is it being used.

When a student says that certain equation will never be used in reality, chances are that student is failing to recognize the importance of the problem solving process. Students are taught these equations not only to simply solve mathematical equations but also to understand and analyze how it functions so it can be used in the future.

Google is also a controversial issue when it comes to studying. Google can help students confirm their answers, assist them with lessons on the desired topic, and provide links to other reliable sources.  Of course, too much of a good thing can potentially be bad. Many students take advantage of Google and use it to search for answers rather than the process.

In a 2008 Atlantic article Nicholas Carr wrote that reading became more difficult for him as the web started to take over his mind.  He wrote, “I feel as if I’m always dragging my wayward brain back to the text.  The deep reading that used to come naturally has become a struggle.”  The more technology booms, the more it will grab people’s attention.  The popularity of the iPhone blasted off just in our nation alone. According to a report that was released by the Online Publishing Association, 68% of smartphone owners now say that they cannot live without their phones.

The gaming industry is also experiencing a substantial incline in consumable goods. Gameinformer states, “According to data-tracking giant Nielsen, gaming is on the rise. The numbers show that gamers in the U.S. are spending more time and money on video games. One of the most interesting figures is the fact that over half of U.S. households – 56 percent – own at least one current-generation gaming console. Nielsen points out that this is a 50 percent increase over last year’s numbers.”

Sources like Google and Ask.com are becoming more reliable sources to a greater percentage of Americans.  People want the easy way out.  If searching for answers online becomes easier than reading, then fewer people will read.  A cartoon by Roz Chast best illustrates this reasoning.  She depicts a seated young adult, occupied by a laptop.  Behind him are tons of books personified in a way such that they seem to be yelping for his attention.  It shows how much of a distraction technology can be.

This doesn’t necessarily apply to everyone, but it’s safe to say there’s a big chunk of people who experience difficulty studying because of phones and Google. Are you one of them?