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Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Boston, MA Permit No. 54523
Vol. XXVIII · Issue V
december 16, 2011
Newton South High School’s Student Newspaper · Newton, MA · Established 1984 · www.thelionsroar.com
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ADDICTION that never sleeps
Shedding [blue] light on the consequences of smart phone use
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By Lee Schlenker photo by Olivia Kennis
hen midnight comes after hours of homework for junior Zach Holt, he shuts off his overworked brain and goes to sleep — something his iPhone does not do. In fact, since he got his iPhone over four years ago, Holt has never powered down his “most important possession,” whose alarm wakes him in the morning and whose songs put him to bed at night. “It’s on all day, every day,” Holt said. “I always have it with me. I feel naked without it.” According to a Nielsen survey conducted in October 2011, 38 percent of kids age 13-17 own a smartphone. An Edison Research report from six months earlier confirms this data and predicts that if current trends continue, the number could rise to 60 percent by 2012. Smartphone fixation has become an increasingly common phenomenon among students, and Holt’s sentiments are hardly unique. Sophomore Sammi Suga, who also owns an iPhone, said, “I can’t imagine my life without my cell phone.” South’s growing reliance on these ubiquitous devices has left some faculty and students alike concerned about this generation’s over-dependence on its new best friend.
This issue particularly troubles Juniors Beatrice Hernandez and JesSouth psychologist Andrew Aspel. sica Rezqallah conceded that they are adHe said he worries that communica- dicted to their smartphones. “You always tion via smartphone inhibits students’ abil- want to be updated,” Rezqallah said. ity to respond to body language and other Hernandez agreed. “You always want gestural cues. to know what’s going on in the world,” she “If you can’t gauge someone else’s said, while browsing through pictures of reactions, then you can’t gauge or adjust bracelets on her Blackberry. your own social content,” he said. Senior Olivia Kennis said she feels Because of this the same way, citing To read The insularity, Aspel said the access to anything that smartphone mis— from movie times to Roar’s editorial use has played a major map directions to the on the paradox part in the student name of that actress of smartphones, see generation’s diminishthat frequents the tip ing sense of social tact of her tongue — as the pg. and etiquette. “People chief reason for always have to learn that there’s a time and place to having her phone nearby. “[Being on my respond to technology,” he said. “If you’re phone] has become second nature while sitting with your friends, why should you doing anything else,” she said. “The more be on your phone?” there is to do [on a smartphone] the more The answer lies in the psychology of addicting it can be.” addiction, according to psychology teacher Even Turley, who owns an iPhone Sean Turley. and understands why it is addictive, is “[Smartphones] are addicting in the not above the device’s behavior-changing way that everything that rewards occainfluences. sionally is addicting,” he said. “Things that “Before I owned [an iPhone], I reward every time are great as long as they would almost never check my phone for provide you entertainment, [but] as soon any reason. Now I find myself checking it as they fail to give you something posiseveral times in a single car ride,” Turley tive, you stop using them; if the reward is said. “Even with knowledge, addiction can variable, you want to stick around and see be quite burdensome. I have to consciouswhat happens next.” ly think not to do it.”
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B.J. Novak The Roar sat down with “The Office” writer and actor.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
South Spirit An investigation of when school spirit goes overboard.
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Senior Jonah Reider, who now owns a simple flip phone after his Android HTC Aria was severely damaged, looks back on his smartphone overuse with contempt. “It [was] a huge time waste,” he said. “It consumed my life.” Junior Dan Kaufman, who vowed never to own a smartphone, said he has a problem with smartphone owners “not at all interacting with the real world.” “Any free minutes when [smartphone owners’] hands are available, they go on their phones,” Kaufman said. “I’d be fine if [kids’ use] was productive, but the games they play aren’t worth the brain energy; they’re occupied in the least intellectual way.” Sophomore Devlon Grasley shares a similar antipathy for smartphones but implicates constant texting instead of phone games as the impetus for his criticism. “People now text instead of talking. They are communicating without actually communicating,” Grasley said. “What’s created are really shallow people whose entire life is their smartphone — all they do is text all day.” Senior Isabelle Granahan-Field has a more balanced take on smartphone use. “It can encourage personal connection. Someone can always be reached. People SMARTPHONES, 12
Reflection
Four community members share their thoughts on the word.
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NEWS 3 FEATURES 8 EDITORIALS 14 CENTERFOLD 16 OPINIONS 20 COMMUNITY 25 SPORTS 28