On Sept. 16, the University of Tampa hosted a lecture with Mark Bauerlein, the author of The Dumbest Generation and Professor of English at Emory University. Hosted on the ninth floor of Vaughn, a full and diverse crowd was in attendance.
In his opening, Professor Bauerlein claimed that his reason for writing a book of this nature is because he feels he has a “responsibility to rebuke adolescents about adolescents and believes tensions between them is healthy for our social environment.”
His main concern is the negative effects that new technology has on today’s youth. His primary targets for what he describes as the “digital age children” are people growing up with the technological advances and using them as a crutch. He writes in the book that he is afraid that with this newfound dependency on technological advances, the digital generation isn’t leaving any room for intellectual growth.
In the 1990’s when the digital age occurred, peer to peer contact became 24/7. With 300 channel TV’s, cell phones with unlimited call and texting features and social networking sites on the Internet. Home was no longer a private space; it was social with all these new media platforms available.
A study that the professor unearthed showed that most teens who own cell phones sleep with them by their pillow in case something “vital” happens.
This constant need to know what is going on with our peers is what drives our need for our technology.
His argument is that these tools introduce a new set of implications of peer pressure, and it is hard to detach yourself based on the relationship and concern for friends.
The meat of his argument stems from his proclaimation that the more time on technology we use is less time for intellectual growth. “It’s all based on the opportunity costs, text messaging or reading a newspaper.” It’s when texting is taking time away from some intellectual activity that it becomes a problem.
His claim is not that technology is bad, but that when it cuts into leisure time and is no longer efficient it is a hindrance. Professor Bauerlein says that all the things which are prevalent in youth today add up to a formula of complacency. We are limiting ourselves to the things we like. We need to be open to disagreements to our beliefs because disagreements challenge us and make us question our beliefs.
Following his lecture Professor Bauerlein hosted a question and answer section. The crowd was diverse, and he had many good student and faculty questions. Overall, the lecture was a positive, vivacious discussion.
Dr. Erin A. Koterba, Assistant Professor of Psychology at the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education, said, “I thoroughly enjoyed him as a lecturer; it was very interesting and [I] thought he handled a provocative topic well.”
His passion for the topic derives from his “care about the minds of the young and the culture. It’s important for youth to test beliefs and debate and discuss and think about memories of the past.”
The 10 percent of America’s youth that is already balancing intellectual growth and technology are really going to stand out, but “society demands more than 10 percent and we don’t want cultural elite, so this is why I am addressing this problem.” His concern for today’s youth can be further examined in his book, The Dumbest Generation.
Seannon Nichols can be reached at snichols12392@yahoo.com.