Technology differs among generations, and even within each generation as each Siena Heights University (SHU) graduating class uses technology differently.

Freshman Brooke Johnson use of technology and social media is drastically different than how senior Matthew Robinet uses it.

Johnson got her first phone when she was 12 yrs. old. Matt received his first phone at 13 yrs. old. Today, Johnson and Robinet both have an iPhone. Johnson spends about three to four hours a day on it while Robinet spends about five hours on his phone.

Johnson uses all the common social media sites, such as, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Vine. “I am getting more and more impatient with my social media. I hate waiting for things to load or refresh. When I don’t have a good connection, sometimes nothing will load.” On the other hand, Robinet uses only Twitter and Facebook and recently LinkedIn. He has a Vine account, but doesn’t use it He also noted hat he doesn’t understand the point of Vine, Instagram, and Snapchat.

When Johnson was asked if she could only have one app on her smart phone which one would make the cut, she said her texting app. It’s her main way of communicating. But then she said if she could choose one that didn’t come with the phone, she responded with Twitter. “…I get most of my news from Twitter and it keeps me updated in the world.”

Robinet also said Twitter because it does everything he needs in a social media site. “…I would be able to have conversations with people whose numbers I don’t have and I can look at pictures from Instagram, I can privately message people, I can reconnect with people, find people with similar interests, find links to other social media content, get recent news stories, gauge public opinion, learn new information…and I think I use it more than Facebook.”

Being without a phone is something that the younger generations now panic about. Johnson didn’t know what would happen if she didn’t have her phone. “I would probably get at least two more hours of sleep every night. I’d have to talk to people in person more, which would require me to leave my room a lot more than I do.”

However, choosing to go off the grid isn’t something Johnson would willing do and she thinks older generations should also embrace it. “Technology improves life in general. I would tell them about email, and how twitter is a fast way of learning what’s going on at that moment in the world.”

Robinet takes a cautious approach to technology and its uses and pitfalls. “I think that technology has taken the focus from playing outside and physical activity to occupy a young person’s time and shifted it towards spending time on the computer, tablet, cell phone, or game system.”