Date of Award

Spring 5-5-2016

Degree Type

Thesis

Department

Moore School of Business

First Reader

Michelle Kitchen

Second Reader

Mackenzie King

Abstract

Ever since technology has boomed and cellphones have gone from phones to mini-computers, the effect of technology has been a hot topic in research. Students use technology for everything – from communication to school to entertainment. The times people spend on their phones and computers versus the time spent actually interacting with people seems to quickly be widening. The effects of technology can especially be seen in the college students today since these students are some of the first generation to grow up with almost complete access to technology. As a college student, these effects were of particular interest. Personal experiences were used to decide how to narrow this wide topic into a few specific categories. The first area of focus is on Tinder, dating apps, and how they have influenced the hook-up culture that has become very prevalent in college. Since Tinder is a relatively new phenomenon, being founded only 4 years ago, it is hard to draw direct conclusions, but it is obvious that there is a stigma associated with the app that seems to be perpetuating random hook-ups. These hook-ups and the usage of the app can lead to stress and regretful actions for students even though many of them use the app as a form of entertainment. The next area of focus is on how technology affects college students in the classroom. Professors and universities have essentially fully integrated technology into their curriculums and new additions such as online classes, quizzes, and homework have made the ability to cheat increase for students. The major issue with this is that students often feel that using Google or other search engines to look up answers is not cheating. Cellphone and laptop use in classrooms also affects students’ ability to focus and retain information from class. Finally, social media is the last area of focus, primarily concentrating on Facebook. Facebook has affected school performance, mental health, physical health, and even relationships. Other forms of social media like Instagram and Twitter also contribute to negative reactions from employers and low self-esteem. While these topics are only a few of the many that can be discussed when it comes to how technology affects college students, it is a good start to understand how and why students should monitor their use of technology.

First Page

1

Last Page

41

Rights

© 2016, Tracy June Dye

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