1961— The Predicted Future for Electronics

In 1961, Kurt Vonnegut wrote a short story called Harrison Bergeron. It was a fanciful tale that envisioned a future in the United States where the Constitution mandated everyone be alike. In this society, no one could be smarter or more athletic than anyone else. The government even designated officials to ensure everyone had the same abilities and outcomes.

For example, if someone displayed a higher IQ, that person was required to wear an earpiece that buzzed loudly every 20 seconds. This device would emit various sounds to interrupt the individual’s thoughts, ultimately reducing their IQ to average.

[Sarcasm Alert.] Let me get this straight. In a fictional story written nearly sixty-five years ago, an electronic device could supposedly reduce a person’s IQ by constantly bombarding them with distracting sounds, vibrations, and signals. Impossible–that could never happen!

However, Jonathan Haidt, researcher and author of The Anxious Generation, reflects on this story in today’s world. He points out that smartphones disrupt students’ lives by sending notifications an average of 192 times a day. These notifications can be from social media, games, or messaging apps. A typical teen sleeps only seven hours a night, often interrupted by late-night texting or gaming. During their waking hours, their phones intrude on their day every five minutes, distracting them from their studies and social interactions. As a result, young people struggle to educate themselves, maintain healthy lifestyles, and live productively.

We must consider these facts as we navigate the digital world, especially when working with young people. I am not against the use of smartphones. I am against the misuse of smartphones. To draw out the best from people in this reality requires skill, finesse, perseverance, and wisdom.[1]

[1] See Jonathan Haidt’s discussion of this subject in The Anxious Generation, p. 125ff

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