Argumentative Writing: Technology

The article “Virtual Addiction: Sometimes New Technology Can Create New Problems” written by David N. Greenfield explains that the Internet represents the forefront of industrial Revolution with innovations in technologies that improve the ways of doing things. A new technology is exciting at first, but it requires a lot of effort, time and energy in maintaining it. However, technology has not fulfilled its promise of improving the quality of life and the internet and computer can be dissociating and time distorting. As such, the internet can be used and abused, and that psychological factors contribute to the power and appeal of the internet. It seems clear that the features behind the potency of the internet have become habit forming. The study involved interviewing to establish the internet behavior of nearly 1800 individuals through answering a study on a website. The results support the argument that the internet is psychoactive in nature and that some individuals are compulsively using and abusing the internet. In this way, the internet is considered mood altering and thus it poses behavioral impacts. The author supports the thesis adequately since the information obtained from the comprehensive online research supports the argument since out of the 1800 individuals examined, 30 % of them indicated that the internet alters their mood. As such, they have become addicted and ended up using the internet as a drug. Besides that, the author examined recent studies on the nature and effects of the Internet that yielded intriguing trends and patterns in internet behavior. The writer quoted substantial evidence from existing surveys like The Carnegie Mellon University study (Kraut et al, 1998) which stated that internet use caused depression and social isolation. In addition, the assumptions made by the author are acceptable. He considered all relevant factors by basing his assumption on independent studies conducted throughout the country.Although the author admits that some information on the human/internet interface is not clear to many, he presents legal, clinical and anecdotal evidence that suggest that being online has a dramatic impact on individuals. The author should recognize opposing positions from the numerous debates in relation to the terms and definitions in providing a description of pathological Internet behavior. Since the internet is potentially habit forming, some researchers express concern over terminology that is used to demonstrate the ‘addictive nature’ of the internet. The author targets internet users to inform them the negative and positive impact of relying on technology. The study involved individuals with an average age of 33 years old, which ranged from 8 to 85. 82 %of the participants were predominantly white and male accounted for 71%. Most of them were employed while the majority of those were students. He gained the trust and readership of this particular group by indulging them in the discussion by providing statistics obtained from the survey to make the readers make up with their own conclusions. The author uses a light informing tone, which influences emotional response from the reader thus fostering expectations of the conclusion.He presents his argument by emphasizing on the studies that have been conducted in the field and thus makes an assumption. One can infer the persona in the work since it is the author himself speaking although he incorporates opinions of other researchers. Throughout the article, the writer established ethos- have they made their authority clear through demonstrating obvious good character since he does not impose his opinions on the readers. Thus, in conclusion, he urges that, individuals should remember that if technology does not improve life, then it is of no benefit.