While reading over these essays, my reading practice consisted of highlighting and annotating while I went along. In order to engage in critical reading, I would highlight main ideas as well as quotes that seemed essential to the article. Additionally, I would annotate and label main ideas that were easier to find during class discussions and when I needed to use the article. Furthermore, I will occasionally write ideas that I have about the reading in the margins in order to talk about the questions in class. Examples of things that I highlight and annotate in readings are claims, where I agree or disagree with ideas, and summarizations of ideas such as “created by gov” or “activism reinvented and new due to social media tools”. Additionally, I used these annotations and summarizations to remind myself of what the paragraph was about during class discussion and that way I could quickly find my place while discussing topics. This process of active reading and annotating shows that I am able to think critically about readings as well as develop ideas based on the text and then communicate those ideas during in class discussions. Furthermore, by reading and annotating I was able to learn ideas that challenge my own and then create conclusions based on these. All in all, this annotation process that I went through in these specific readings, as well as all the others in this class, helped to further my understanding of these texts and the ideas we were working with as a whole. 

Relevant Journal Responses

Page 1 Paragraph 3 – Agree –
In paragraph 3 on page 1, the author writes about the effects that phones have had on teenagers since 2019. Specifically, the authors says that there is now evidence of a “international epidemic of mental illness” and that since 2012 this has continued to accumulate, with phones as a reason behind this. To back up his point, author writes that because of smart phones there is now an “addiction and distraction”. Finally, the paragraph says that “the United States surgeon general issues an advisory warning that social median can carry ‘a profound risk of harm to the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents’”. In general, I agree with this idea that Haidt presents, as I have personally seen the effect social media can have mentally, both with myself and my peers. As a result of social media, we can see everything, even if that thing is not necessarily true, and this can thus lead to mental health issues. For example, editing of images and posting said images on social media can lead to people having false impressions on how they need to look, and lead to poor mental health issues. Due to these reasons, I agree with the idea the Haidt presents in this paragraph. 

Page 2 Paragraph 5 – Agree –
In paragraph 5 on page 2, Haidt writes about phone usage and its effects on “adolescent’s abilities to focus and apply themselves”, as well as the academic effects technology can have, such as “heavy phone users hav[ing] lower GPA’s”. For the most part, I would once again agree with the idea that Haidt presents. Due to the increase in phone usage, I have seen myself have a harder time concentrating, as I am wondering what is going on inside my phone or get distracted by notifications. Additionally, using technology while studying, such as E Books, makes it significantly harder to focus compared to reading physical books. Despite my agreeance, I don’t fully support Haidt statement heavy phone users had lower GPAs, as I know people who are chronically on their phone, yet still have very high GPA’s. Despite this, I can agree with the idea that phone usage can create distractions and take people away from their schoolwork, which may ultimately cause people to do worse in school and thus have lower GPA’s. Due to this, overall, my opinion would be agreeing with what Haidt writes in this paragraph. 

Page 4 Paragraph 6 – Complicated –
In paragraph 6 on page 4, Haidt talked about a common argument that parents bring up regarding the topic of phone free schools. Haidt writes that many parents “are afraid that something might go wrong at school and want to ensure that they can reach their children at all times”. He also writes that he thinks these fears are contributing to Gen Z’s mental health problems. When thinking about this paragraph my response is defiantly complicated. While I agree that hovering or helicopter parenting may cause mental health issues and tension between children and parents, I don’t fully agree with the other points Haidt brought up. I would disagree with his perspective that parents wanting to contact their children at all times can so negatively effect children, and rather I would agree with parents that being able to contact your children is important, especially in the world we live in today.

Page 344 – Paragraph 3 – Agree
Paragraph 3 on Page 344 talks about how we tend to turn to our phones when we are “bored”, as well as how we get bored due to being accustomed to the constant connection, information, and entertainment that our phones provide. Regarding this, I would agree with what the author wrote, as I have personality experienced this countless times. Often, I find myself becoming bored and turning to my phone to entertain be or distract me, often times getting sucked into what I am looking at on my phone. Additionally, I have noticed that the more I go on my phone to cure this boredom, the quicker I tend to become bored when not on my phone, as I now seek the information and entertainment that my device provided. As a result of these events which I have experienced, this paragraph spoke to me, as I could connect and agree with what the author wrote. 

Page 350 – Paragraph 1 – Complicated
Paragraph 1 on Page 350 discusses how we have become less empathetic, commented, creative, and fulfilled because of technology, as well as how recent generations may not know the loss of conversation as they grew up with little face-to-face talk. While I agree with some aspects of this passage, there are also aspects that I take issue with. In terms of my agreeance, I would agree that because of the lack of conversation that now exists, we as humans have become less empathic, connected, and much more. I have personally experienced this lack of empathy and connection, as often when talking to friends we will all be using our phones and thus be less connected to each other. Additionally, because of technology and digital conversation, I have often found myself having trouble empathizing or understanding someone when conversing over text. However, I also disagree with the aspects of this passage that talked about recent generations growing up without face-to-face talk. As someone who grew up in the age of technology, I have had my fair share of phone and text conversations, but this does not mean that I have lacked face-to-face talk or grown up without it. I believe that it is a stretch to state that recent generations have lacked face-to-face talk while growing up, as this is simply not true for someone who grew up in the technological generation. 

Page 350 – Paragraph 6 – Agree
Paragraph 6 of Page 350 talks about how people who know about good conversation and how it works need to step up and pass on this still to help genuine, good conversation continue. It terms of this paragraph, I would agree as I believe that conversation has been effected by technology and that genuine conversations skills need to be taught and continued. In terms of my personal experience, I have undoubtably seen a shift in my ability to have conversations and notice the difference between online and in personal conversations. I understand that in personal conversations are vital in relationships, education, businesses, and life, and unless we continue to practice and use genuine conversations, these aspects will be affected. As a result of this, I agree with what this passage wrote about the importance of conversation and passing on these skills.

Page 2, Paragraph 2 – Agree
In paragraph 2 on page 2, the author Sam Anderson writes about the information and what it is consuming. He writes that “what information consumes is rather obvious: it consumes the attention of its recipients” and says that the “wealth of information creates a poverty of attention”. By this, Anderson is saying that the more information we have available to us, the less attention we are paying to other things, and thus more information causes less attention. In this regard, I would agree with what Anderson is writing, as I have experienced this lack of attention that goes along with a gain of information. For example, when more information is available to me, such as the ability to use the entire internet and look anything up, I no longer pay as much attention to a singular thing, as I have some much information readily available that my mind is getting drawn to. Due to this, I would say that I overall agree with Anderson in term of information and its consumption of our attention. 

Page 2, Paragraph 3 – Disagree
In paragraph 3 on page 2, the author discusses the attention crisis and how it is affecting western civilization. In this passage, Anderson writes that “Good is making us stupid, multitasking is draining our souls, and the dumbest generation is leading us into a dark age of bookless power browsing”. It terms of what Anderson writes in this paragraph, I would generally not agree. For starters, I don’t believe that Google is making us stupid, but rather that it is changing the type of knowledge which we have. For example, with the emergency of Google we have also been introduced to new resources such as spell check and Grammarly, which have changed the way in which we right, but also allowed us to become more efficient writers and introduced new knowledge of websites to us. Furthermore, I take issue with Anderson saying that we are the “dumbest generation”, as the amount of knew knowledge that we now have thanks to technology is like nothing before, and this knew knowledge is not making us dumber, but simply smarter in different ways. As a result of these reasons, I would overall have to disagree with Anderson writing in this paragraph. 

Page 5, Paragraph 3 – Agree
In paragraph 3 on page 5, Anderson writes about Linda Stone and her options of partial attention. In this paragraph, Anderson writes that many people “don’t stick with any single task for more than a few minutes at a time; even if left uninterrupted, they will most likely interrupt themselves” as well as states that “when we read online, we hardly read at all, our eyes run down the page in a F pattern, scanning for key words”. I agree with what Anderson wrote in this paragraph, as I have experienced much of what he wrote. For starts, I find that often when I am doing a task, I will somehow find a way to distract myself if I am focusing on one thing for too long. Additionally, when reading online I often stop and catch myself scanning, as well as not truly absorbing the information that I am reading. Due to this, I would overall agree with what Anderson wrote about in this passage, as I have experienced much of this myself.

Page 3 Paragraph 1 – Agree
Page 4 Paragraph 2 – Agree
Page 7 Paragraph 2 – Agree

In paragraph 1 on page 3 of Small Change, I would agree with what the author Malcom Gladwell wrote. In this paragraph Gladwell wrote that “the new tools of social media have reinvented social activism” as it is “making it easier for the powerless to collaborate, coordinate, and give voice to their concerns”. I agree with what was written in this paragraph because social media now allows us to communicate in new ways, which in turn changed the way in which activism takes place. Since we are now able to communicate more readily, activism can be organized and coordinated easier, and people can also express their concerns and beliefs easier. For example, people can participate in activism without attending events or protests, simply by using social medica to express their belief on issues and movement. Due to all of this, I would agree with what was written in this paragraph, as it is inarguable that social media has changed social activism in a variety of ways. 

In paragraph 2 on page 4 of Small Change, Malcom Gladwell wrote that “Innovators tend to be solipsists. They tend to cram every stray fact and experience into their new model.” I would have to agree for the most part on this, as this quote is saying that the inventors of social media sights tend to be self-centered and cram every fact into their ideas and beliefs even if it does not necessarily fit and work. I would agree that this is true, and people often want to support their own ideas any way that they can, to increase their credibility and confirm their personal biases. Furthermore, think it is true that inventors of social media and similar sights often try to increase the credibility of their sights by overestimating or over advertising the uses and advantages of it. Due to all of this, I would overall have to agree with what Gladwell wrote in this paragraph. 

In paragraph 2 on page 7 of Small Change, I would agree with what Malcom Gladwell wrote. In this paragraph, Gladwell wrote that “the kind of activism associated with social media isn’t like [strong connections] at all. The platforms of social media are built on weak ties” as well as saying that “that’s why you can have a thousand “friends” on Facebook, as you never could in real life”. I agree with what was written in this paragraph because I too believe that social media doesn’t require you to make strong or genuine connections with people, as it makes it so you feel connected even though you aren’t physically. Additionally, I believe that social media allows people to feel more confident or brave online, and thus makes people more inclined to post about or support activism, even though they might not do so in person. Due to this, I think that what Malcom Gladwell wrote holds a lot of merit and due to this I would overall have to agree with it.