Week 2 Reflection


I believe that the general course of adolescence has remained the same as it always has been, but the introduction of technology has exchanged how adolescents experience identity development. Just like in the past, adolescents struggle with developing their identity and rebelling against pressures and expectations placed on them by society. Some still explore negative identity formation through the use of alcohol, drugs, crime etc. For example, rather than cigarettes, a popular form of smoking nowadays is vaping/Juuls. Although technology is rapidly changing the way that adolescents (and adults) communicate, the actual substance of the communication remains largely unchanged. Teenagers still want to develop friendships and become part of a group. Teenagers want to form romantic relationships. Some teenagers still bully others. Some teenagers still feel isolated. But now, often times, rather than sitting in a basement playing board games, teens can play collaborative games online from across the world. When they have a question or problem, adolescents can consult their friends in a matter of minutes rather than the next time they see each other face-to-face. Despite all this, I think Erikson would agree that, at its core, adolescence remains the same.

Teachers should be aware of the way technology has changed the means by which adolescents communicate and develop. I also think that it can be hard for teachers to adjust to a classroom now infused with laptops and cell phones. There exists a mindset that today’s adolescents are too dependent on technology, which may or may not be true. Accompanying that is a concern that today’s teenagers are lazy, entitled, and not concerned about their future. I would encourage teachers to understand that these (potential) misconceptions are ones that every older generation has about younger ones. True, there are many dangers that stem from technology that didn’t exist before, but the mere existence of cell phones doesn’t make today’s teenagers any less capable than the generations before them. Their struggles are still natural for their age. Teachers and parents just have to adjust how they keep adolescents safe while also adjusting to classrooms and households that are changing with technology.

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