A generation of multitasking youth

The noun “multitasker” can be used to describe a man or woman who is able to perform multiple tasks over a short period of time.  Our generation in comparison to others, live in a digital age, a period in human history where we have gone from an industrial revolution to an economy based on information computerization. With all the social media our generation are influenced by, it is very common for young people to multitask all the time, but does multitasking give a positive or negative outcome?

“Studies have shown us that it is impossible to focus on more than one task at a time.However, if one person qualified at one of the tasks at hand, then it is possible to do these tasks.” (“Human Multitasking,” 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_multitasking.) Our brain cannot fully focus when multitasking, which leads to people using longer time to complete tasks and are often predisposed to failure. When a person attempts to complete many tasks at once, or alternate rapidly between them, failures go way up and it takes longer – often double the time or more – to get the tasks done than if we did them separately.

“A study by Meyer and David Kieras found that in the interim between each exchange, the brain makes no progress whatsoever therefore, a multitasker not only performs each task less suitably, but loses time in the process." I would like to use this study in my argument against mobile use in class or while doing homework. 

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Although I myself am guilty of using the phone once or twice in class or while doing my homework, I have noticed that I stay a lot more focused in class with my phone in my backpack and not in my hand.  As Mayer and David said, homework takes a lot less time if you lay your phone away from where you are studying. If you do that, you will let your brain focus fully on one thing instead of confusing it with all the social media you use on your phone. It will also be easier to do your homework and actually understand and absorb what you have to learn.  I can see on my tests that I do better on the ones where I don’t use my phone as a distraction, than the ones where I do.

 Another argument I would like to use is that multitasking can increase the possibility of engaging in a traffic accident.  In 2011, at least 23% of car collisions involved a mobile phone.  Those 23% equals 1.3 million crashes. (“Past Statisitcs on Texting and Cell Phone Use While Driving,”). This isn’t only dangerous for you but for the people around you.  May young people would think “oh, it´s just a text, I can just type back 5 seconds won´t hurt”. In fact it´s shown that 5 seconds without looking at the road in the speed of 55mph, is the same as driving the length of a football field without looking at the road, and approximately 10 % of their driving time is spent outside their driving lane.  (Davis, Johnathan. “Texting Drivers Take Eyes off Road 5 Seconds on Avarage : Study,” 19/05-12).

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I would say that multitasking when it comes to phones can wait. You have all the time you need. A Snapchat won´t disappear in that one hour you are doing your homework or that 5-minute drive from your school to your home.  If the phone is that important, you can either have 10 – minute breaks after half an hour of studying for a test or pull over the car while driving.  How important was that one text you got, when you fail a test or get in an accident where you risk someone’s life.

To finish this off, i wanted to test your capability to multitask. I found this video below on youtube where our "multitasking skills" are being tested. I recommend you to watch it, it was very fun!

Video link

Sources:

·             “Past Statisitcs on Texting and Cell Phone Use While Driving,” n.d. https://www.edgarsnyder.com/car-accident/cause-of-accident/cell-phone/past-cell-phone-statistics.html.

·             “Human Multitasking,” 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_multitasking.

·             Davis, Johnathan. “Texting Drivers Take Eyes off Road 5 Seconds on Avarage : Study,” 19/05-12. http://www.ibtimes.com/texting-drivers-take-eyes-road-5-seconds-average-study-699189.