April 14th, 2009
Addicted-to-games students "get worse grades"
I’ve mentioned before my political stance on newspapers such as the Daily Mail, the written version of Fox News, but for once they shed light on something which is directly from the US Department of the Bleeding Obvious.
University student Daisy Jones, 21, said: ‘I was in the library trying to write a 2,000-word essay when I realised my Facebook habit had got out of hand.
‘I couldn’t resist going online. You do that, then someone’s photo catches your eye.
‘Before you know it, a couple of minutes has turned into a couple of hours and you haven’t written a thing.’
What? You’re addicted to Facebook? You physically cannot go 20 minutes without getting a hit from a virtual site? You shouldn’t even be at university if you spend all your concentrated time on everything other than exams and revision.
And it’s not just social networking websites which get people hooked. I’ve seen rooms in student accommodation where it’s media-central; multiple televisions, Xbox, PS3, that other Nintendo gadget where you wave it around and play “virtual tennis”. Just go outside and play real tennis? What is wrong with you?
The point is, even with this fantastic technology around, you’re spending in excess of between $10,000 and $40,000 a year to be at college, so do what normal students do - work on that essay, go out on the lash in the evening, and take some random girl home at the end of the evening.
Can you not blame me for quitting my computer science?
Zack Whittaker, the youngest in the ZDNet network, is a British student at the University of Kent, Canterbury, where he studies BA (Hons) Criminology and Social Policy. His insight into the next-generation is unique and first-hand, sharing his knowledge of the here and now but more so what's next and how to get there.
You can read his public biography and his work disclosures of his current and past industry affiliations.
Fire off an email if you feel like sharing a story or insight, or leave a voicemail. You can also follow him on Twitter to keep up to date with his ramblings.
Subscribe to iGeneration via Email alerts or RSS.
| 04/14/09
