Do we start using smartphones too early?

Anabel Costa-Ferreira, Comment Editor, discusses the use of smartphones from a young age

AS you read this, I guarantee that most of you are either holding or in view of your phone (and if you are not, I have to say I am impressed). Both owning and using a mobile phone have become such a huge aspect of our lives, to the point we fail to realise how much reliance we have on them. This, however, was not always the case if you think back to childhood days, when the term ‘entertainment’ was not always associated with a screen of sorts. Yet the question remains, at what part of our lives does this begin and more importantly at what age should it?

Thinking back to 2013, I remember very clearly getting my first phone. Surprisingly, it was an old Nokia brick that I had found in the bottom of a drawer no longer in use. I remember using this exact line of reasoning to claim ownership of it. After a few days, I would sit and endlessly play this bowling game and another I could only define as a poorer copy of Tetris. It is interesting to note that I did not care for a SIM at this point; clearly watching adults around me use their phones influenced my want of one and subsequently having one made me feel more grown-up.

I would say for most individuals their first phone was given because of safety reasons: to let their parents know they got home okay or to be able to call if there is an emergency. For this reason I would argue in favour of giving a child a phone at whatever age they begin making journeys by themselves — even if this is just a 20 or so minute walk to school. However, the introduction of social media is a completely different aspect of owning a phone and I do think the age at which the two sides are introduced should differ.

Social media is a completely different aspect of owning a phone

Regarding owning a phone, recent data from Ofcom shockingly suggests that as of September 2022 around 91 per cent of 11-year-olds are thought to own one. Considering the age restrictions of social media, this ever-decreasing age leads to some real concerns. Teenage and ‘tween’ years are crucial stages of development; therefore, parents should take caution as to what children are exposed to. In particular, the dangers of social media (and the internet as a whole) are more threatening to children. Without sufficient education in watching out for these, allowing children on these apps too soon poses a real threat to their safety. Personally, I think back to when I first had social media and my parents used to monitor it. Though at the time (in those typical moody teen years) I found this an invasion of privacy, I look back now and am beyond grateful, as it was first and foremost for my safety.

Teenage and ‘tween’ years are crucial stage of development

Though studies conducted remain inconclusive in establishing a ‘correct’ age for phones, there is also a reminder that this is often heavily dependent on the child themselves and their level of maturity. Similarly, with social media usage, studies conclude “the effect sizes — both positive and negative — were small.” While current recommendations remain inconclusive, what is certain is that technology continues to remain a fundamental aspect of our lives. The online world can be tricky to navigate and regardless of when this may be, children should be taught and shown how to do so in a way that protects them and their mental well-being.

Is learning another language a dying skill?

Gracie Moore, Lifestyle Editor, discusses her experience of learning languages

LEARNING a language can be described as Marmite — you either love it or you hate it. I’m fortunate enough to be a language lover and I find it relatively easy to pick up on new grammar and vocabulary and decided to challenge myself when I chose to study Italian at university from beginner level. I already study Spanish as an advanced student (post A-Level) and it has been instrumental in building my communication skills in both Spanish and English. Learning languages helps you to connect to others all over the world and also directly impacts your understanding of different cultures.

At Exeter, I have been lucky enough to have a large amount of contact hours for my Italian language seminars. The tutors believe it’s important to be able to practise your spoken, written, listening and reading skills regularly and this has been instrumental in accelerating my skills. Beginner languages are heavily encouraged here at Exeter, either through ‘proficiency’ in a degree title or simply by modularity. The classes are fun and despite the difficulties, it makes me glad that I decided to learn Italian at university. The problem is that schools do not do enough to encourage language learning. In most schools, it isn’t a requirement to take a language to GCSE level and this means that many lose interest very early on. For example, between 2002 and 2011, the numbers of students taking a language at GCSE reduced by 36 per cent and this can be almost fully accredited to the lack of encouragement from teachers. As much as schools shouldn’t force students to study languages (because it would be more discouraging), students should be made more aware of the benefits of language learning as well as the cultural aspects that

Beginner languages are heavily encouraged here at Exeter accompany the language. This is because when one learns a language, the side benefits are just as helpful as the language itself.

Schools do not do enough to encourage language learning

Without a doubt, being able to speak a second or even a third language is invaluable to employers, arguably more than an outstanding GCSE Maths grade, so it has to make us wonder why more isn’t done to promote language learning from a young age. Britain is a very diverse nation; many of our citizens are children and grandchildren of immigrants — or even immigrants themselves! Usually, this goes hand-in-hand with being able to speak at least one other language aside from

English. So why don’t the rest of us learn second languages too?

Undoubtedly, English is the universal language, with nearly two billion people proficient, the numbers growing exponentially on a daily basis. Despite this, I don’t believe that expecting everyone we encounter to be able to converse in it is fair or helpful and learning other languages helps us become more inclusive as a global community. Personally, I have formed the deepest connections with people who speak Spanish or Italian as their first language as many foreigners are hugely appreciative of you trying to communicate in their mother tongue. So, hop on Duolingo and keep that Spanish streak ticking over — you never know when the vocabulary you learn is going to next come in handy.

How

Comment writers discuss pressure felt by final-year students surrounding whether to take a master’s or head straight to the job market

More time at university — for the sake of it?

SINCE I’m in my third year at the moment, it’s no surprise that lots of my friends are weighing up their options for after graduation. One of the key phrases being thrown around in my year at the moment is ‘panic master’s’ — in the absence of knowing what else to do next year, people are considering signing up for an extra year of education, in order to delay the inevitable and stick to what they know.

Obviously, last-minute stress and confusion is not the only reason students sign up for master’s programs. Some have worked out an area they are interested in working in, and have signed up for a master’s relevant to this. Some people have a genuine passion for their subject, and think that they’d really enjoy an extra year spent studying this, and that a more advanced master’s program is an exciting, interesting project.

I guess that my main worry is that doing a master’s often appears to be something people fall into, rather than a choice they make. Coming to the end of an undergraduate course is a daunting thing, and most of us have family, friends and financial pressures pushing us to make quick choices. Many students are scared to finish uni without a clear graduate program lined up, seeing the non-graduate job market as a daunting place, and graduate schemes are difficult to come by, particularly for those looking to go into more ‘creative’ or humanities-based professions. I worry that the necessity for ‘delaying’ can so often not be an individual choice, but a way of proving to others that you know what you’re doing, at a time when you don’t have to. tical benefits to working rather than continuing further study — namely that you earn money rather than go into further debt. If you do a job you don’t like for a couple of months, you at least have some earnings to show from it, unlike a master’s program.

You at least have some earnings to show from [a job], unlike a master’s program

Graduate

Though jobs are not easy to come by, they’re not impossible. Sometimes exactly what you might need is a few months of careful job hunting, honing your CV, and exploring different areas where work is available, to find the perfect job which suits your interests. And there are some more prac -

In saying all this, I haven’t fully ruled out doing a master’s myself. I am interested in a career in journalism (shocker) and am applying for some graduate schemes, but they are incredibly competitive — for some you have less than a one in 100 chance of getting in. With these sort of odds, I’ve got to consider my different options carefully, and while considering how I would progress my career if I didn’t go into a master’s program or get onto a graduate scheme, I’ve nonetheless been looking at Journalism master’s programs.

Although I’ve been hesitant to do a master’s in the past, in my opinion the benefit with doing a Journalism master’s course is that the courses are typically really practical, so they offer a big change from academia. You learn loads of different ways of creating stories, from data journalism to doing more personal pieces, and also loads of different ways of presenting stories, from broadcast skills to the written, print format I’m more accustomed to. In the end, I am really hoping that one of my graduate schemes pulls through, or that another option falls into my lap. But I also acknowledge that I’ve still got a lot to learn about journalism, and while a structured grad scheme could offer the best of both worlds, offering me learning on the job, a journalism master’s could give me similar skills, and would be a far cry from a repeat of my undergraduate English degree.

The main thing I would urge anyone considering a master’s to do, is to try to zone out some of those external pressures and expectations, and ask yourself whether the course you are considering is useful and interesting to you. I would also urge undergraduates, even if you are pretty sure you will do a master’s, to at least take a look at the job market and what’s on offer in the area you’re interested in. Though you might feel scared of a real ‘grown-up’ job as a new undergraduate, you never know exactly what employers are looking for, so you shouldn’t shut down this option out of fear or self-doubt.

Megan Ballantyne, Editor

More time in education — a valuable learning experience?

AFTER completing my bachelor’s in English, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do with my life. I supposed that the logical next step was to become a teacher — that’s what everyone else was telling me to do. I applied for a place on a teacher training course, went through several rounds of interviews... and I didn’t get in. I was really upset and I felt like a failure — but it might have been the best thing to ever happen to me.

MA degree to figure out my calling — I wanted to be a book publisher.

Four months on, my MA allows me the space and funding to continue studying something I love doing, whilst also gaining industry experience through internships, magazines, and modules directed toward my career. This year has been a massive period of growth for me and taking an extra year to do my MA really helped me find myself and figure out what I want from life, as opposed to flinging myself into an industry that I don’t really want to be in just for the sake of it.

If I didn’t do my MA, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today — heading into my dream career with lots of amazing social, educational and professional experiences. Despite many people around me telling me that I would become over- educated and underexperienced, I’ve never felt better about my path.

After failing at the first hurdle of the professional world, I went back to the drawing board. What do I love to do? What’s my purpose? I could only think of one thing — books. I love books and I loved studying literature — so I decided I’d carry on studying. It only took a week or two of my

Taking a year to broaden your knowledge of a subject that you’re passionate about before entering the world of work also allows you to negotiate the transition from student to professional in a more gentle way. Whilst the world of work will push you in at the deep end, the transition from undergrad to postgrad is one with lots of guidance and support from tutors and peers. Whilst I couldn’t get my foot in the door by the end of my BA, I know that by the time I finish my MA, I’ll have the confidence and skills needed to break the whole wall down. So, if you’re really loving your course and just need a bit more time to figure things out, do an MA. You’ll learn so much more, not just about your subject, but also your identity and your own personal goals.

University ViceChancellor to be replaced by ChatGPT

THE University of Exeter has reached a breakthrough in strike negotiations, with a radical administrative switch-up that has resulted in strike action ceasing with immediate effect. The dismissal of Professor Lisa Roberts, Vice-Chancellor of the University since September 2020, and her replacement by the innovative new chatbot ChatGPT, is an unprecedented step, the first of its kind in the world of higher education management. A spokesperson from the University gave the following statement:

“The idea came like a bolt from a blue — we don’t have to pay the bot, so the University is already saving on employment costs, and the running costs will hardly make a dent in the money that would have been used to pay the Vice-Chancellor’s salary. These funds can instead be used to pay the striking lecturers a living wage, thus keeping them employed and fed, keeping our students educated and happy, and restoring peace and harmony to the Exeter metropolitan area. A no-brainer, right?!”

The appointment of ChatGPT has had benefits on strike action beyond the financial. As a machine learning device, it learns from its interactions, and as such is sure to provide a more helpful, measured, and considerate response to the plight of the striking university staff than the administration has done previously.

Cleo Gravett, Satire Editor

Napoleon’s Soapbox

AS the biggest BNOC the University of Exeter boasts, I have to keep up appearances at all times, ensuring that I remain on friendly enough terms with students for them to pet me on Forum Hill. It can be difficult, however, when the image of my species is plastered everywhere as a symbol of revolution and disruption. Of course, I stand with those striking whether it be lecturers, train drivers or nurses but sometimes I’d just love to fly under the radar. Take for example the symbol of the wildcat: another name for a strike that hasn’t been approved by an official union. I live for a revolution — I myself have nearly revolted a couple of times after being rudely awoken from my slumbers by drunk freshers strolling back from The Lemmy after a boozy Saturday, and if one gets too close, I might snap back, no approval needed. However, an example that makes my fur bristle is the image of a skinny black cat as a symbol of the strikers, with the irony being that, as the fat cats don’t need to strike, the image is comically a skinny minny. Being the fattest cat of them all (I can’t help it if students want to feed me after their midday lecture!), I am then labelled as one of these fat cats, and I’m no SCAB-by tabby! I want fairness for all, I want justice right now, but to be honest, I mostly pressingly want my next source of scran and a scratch behind the ears.