Hooked on Technology and Paying a Price

            Matt Richtel wrote this article to describe the growing roll that technology is playing in our everyday lives. He uses the personal example of the Campbell family to help us see the strain that technology places on our relationships, time use, and increased brain activity. The Campbell family showed the reader an extreme case of technology in the family setting.  I think Richtel used this example to scare the readers into lessening their personal use of technology.

To further stress the point, that we need to shrink the amount of time spent online, Richtel uses quotes from notable researchers to support his claims.  One researcher remarked that “technology is rewiring out brains,” which Richtel used to emphasize the impact these new technological devices have on our minds.  This quote is implying that our society’s increasing dependence on technology physically changes how we think. To follow this thought Richtel gives us, the reader, other sources stating similar results.  Many of the college studies are showing that rather than increasing our ability to multitask these innovations are lessening our ability to remain focused.

By using these real life examples Richtel tries to persuade the reader to change their technological ways.  I found Richtel’s argument convincing because while reading through it I found myself examining how often I use my iPhone and computer.  I do not think the article will make me change my ways, however, because I do not use my devices as often as Mr. Campbell.  Richtel used the Campbell family to show us how addicted we could become to our technology, but I think this example’s extremeness makes it less persuasive because it is not completely relevant to my life. Although Richtel’s article did fulfill its purpose in making me question my own technology use but it did not make me change my ways.