Technology and personal communication: Our devices are changing our

relationships!

Specific Purpose: I determine to persuade my audience that social networking, texting,

email and app usage is causing some losses in social skills and is affecting our personal
and social relationships

Thesis Statement: Our devices are changing the way we relate and communicate.
Human contact is becoming a renewed art form. Social networking is actually causing
antisocial behaviors (removing us from normal life structure). We need to take charge of
them, not let them be in charge of us.

I. Introduction:

A. Attention getter: I sent my daughter a text reading

time leading u

and have lost organizational

time. Finally, I open the door into the living room where she is sitting on the

left her phone and tablet in the room next to her napping and knew walking in
would disturb him, but by now, all the alerts from my messages were sure to wake
him.

B. Introduce topic and motivate audience: Our phones, tablets and computers
connect us to the world. We can:
1. Facetime, Skype, Google Plus
2. Visit the streets of Tuscany through Google maps
3. Get a college degree
4. Telecommute to our jobs
5. Tell your phone to call your mom
With all these wonderful conveniences and tools, we are gaining so much, but
giving up some fundamental skills as Sherry Turkle, author of Alone Together

C. Establish credibility: Technology makes me happy. My first degree was in

computer technology. I love to communicate electronically! I have four different
devices to work from. Waiting for FedEx to deliver them is like waiting for a

D. Preview main points/thesis statement: I believe we are meant to be this

advanced and that we are to utilize these instruments. BUT, With them comes a
responsibility to make wise decisions. As devices continue to replace tasks, we
s.
II. Body

A. Need or Problem Step: WE ARE Losing touch with face-to-face interaction!

1. Describe the need:
To build confidence in face-to-face interchanges
To be comfortable in the present moments without a device
To teach children by example put the tablet down;
listen AND teach them the value of conversation

2. Explain the importance of the problem:

Addicted to the screen; what am I missing
Dr. Larry Rosen, Professor of Psychology at California State
University, Have you heard this acronym FOMO? --Fear of
Missing Out

Missing present moments; kids sports, table talk

It shows disrespect to those around us

3. Describe what could happen if the problem is NOT solved:

Build a false sense of self Sherry Turkle on creating a
of ourselves
Become isolated; get lazy in outside social events
Lose critical time with children; not only building walls, but
teaching them to repeat the behavior (Callie 3 yrs old,

post these to your Facebook )

Anti-social behavior
to connect, causes

*Transitional statement between steps

phone and give full attention to a person or activity.

B. Satisfaction/Solution Step
1. Describe your plan in detail:
Determine if we are addicted to social networking and internet
activities; how hard is it to shut it down?
Define off-limits times for family and our self; put devices
away at meals, at games, etc.
Create a balance; prioritize; become aware of the distribution
of time
Handwrite a card, make a phone call instead of text or play a
board game versus an app with a child.
 Create dates, outings or specific family commitments outside
of the technological environment

2. Explain why your plan will work: I believe human nature is to

connect. I also think we are built to regenerate through natural elements. We will
find physical and emotional energy when we balance our time.

*Transitional statement between steps

Examining how we can gain control over our device usage and puts a surplus into our
closest relationships brings personal revenue.

C. Visualization Step:
1. Describe what results your audience can experience if your plan is
adopted:
Enhanced personal relationships
Empowerment over time management
Much less guilt
2. Describe the benefits that relate to your audience:
Actually feel more productive
No need for defending ourselves
3. Describe the consequences that will affect your audience:
Gain confidence
Deposit confidence in our children/relationships
Actually see more productivity
4. Commit to finding out if your relationships
are suffering due to overuse of devices. Take an inventory of time spent.

*Transitional statement between steps

The Internet has created remarkable advantages for connecting with people across the
globe. It has opened doors for understanding different cultures, bridging gaps and
understanding human nature from other angles.

III. Conclusion (In progress)

A. Signal ending: We are more than an avatar or a Facebook timeline.

B. Restate the importance of the problem:
C. Re-
D. Memorable ending:
 Bibliography

Brey, P. (2000). Theories of technology as extension of human faculties. Research in

Philosophy and Technology, 19, 2-20.

McLuhan, M. (2011). Marshall mcluhan speaks. Retrieved February 6, 2015, from

http://marshallmcluhanspeaks.com/

Nomophobia and the rise of smartphone addiction. (n.d.). Retrieved February 9, 2015,

from https://www.argosy.edu/news-events/nomophobia-and-the-rise-of-

smartphone-addiction-200684

Rosen, L. (2012, May 13). IDisorder - Dr. Larry Rosen - Research Psychologist and

Educator. Retrieved March 2, 2015, from

http://drlarryrosen.com/2011/03/idisorder/

Turkle, S. (2012). Alone together: Why we expect more from technology and less from

each other (Vol. 1, p. 384). New York: Basic Books.

Turkle, S. (2012, February). Connected, but alone? Retrieved February 6, 2015, from

http://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together?language=en

Across the generations, I see that people can't get enough of each other, if and only if
they can have each other at a distance, in amounts they can control. I call it the
Goldilocks effect: not too close, not too far, just right. But what might feel just right for
that middle-aged executive can be a problem for an adolescent who needs to develop
face-to-face relationships. An 18-year-old boy who uses texting for almost everything
says to me wistfully, "Someday, someday, but certainly not now, I'd like to learn how to
have a conversation."

Texting, email, posting, all of these things let us present the self as we want to be. We get
to edit, and that means we get to delete, and that means we get to retouch, the face, the
voice, the flesh, the body

we sacrifice conversation for mere connection. We need to develop a self-aware

relationship with technology and with our selves.
We expect more from technology and less from each other. And I ask myself, "Why have
things come to this?"

As a society, we seem to be losing our social abilities.

Facebook ermined to
stop. And they tell us of their plans and principled thinking. In a week or a month they
ook
pe again! It

says, connection is why we're

here. It's what gives purpose and meaning to our lives. We numb vulnerability we
ca

of our technical tools help us do. Create a false sense of self; protect from vulnerability;
lose authentic connection.

No more conversation

too much time spent on these sites can cause teens to develop narcissistic tendencies and
anti-social behavior, according to a study at California State University.

Obsession vs Addiction Dr. Larry Rosen

Obsession When we are obsessed with something we strive to reduce the anxiety
molecules in our brain. Trying to ease anxiety
Addiction - trying to get your brain to release neurotransmitters that we have learned
signal a pleasurable experience. We strive for the pleasure it brings.

He
discovered that teens who used Facebook most demonstrated traits of narcissism,
antisocial
mania and other aggressive tendencies.

Like many of us, Dr. Larson and Sherry Turkle appreciate technology, but remain
optimistic that we manage it and it not manage us.

Billy Graham gave a TED Talk in 1998. The topic was On Technology and Faith. One of

he was speaking of those who take something good and use it for evil. The fact is the
same. We make the rules; we control technology; it does not control us.