# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

# data[].attributes.body
In the book, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, the Mechanical Hound is continuously haunting Montag, causing Montag’s relationship with himself to start to destruct. Referring to Montag’s thoughts, the book states, “The Hound, he thought. It's out there tonight. It's out there now. If I opened the window . . . He did not open the window. He had chills and fever in the morning” (Bradbury 45). As Montag gets ready for bed, he hears a rustle of leaves outside and automatically thinks of the Hound. The Hound puts him on edge to the point where Montag becomes sick. In Fahrenheit 451, the Mechanical Hound is symbolized as sneaky, and targets Montag. The Hound is an advanced piece of technology that serves as a guilty conscience, constantly reminding Montag of his fears and wrong-doings. Montag’s relationship with himself is being suppressed because the Hound is dictating Montag and making him question himself. "I was just figuring," said Montag, "what does the Hound think about down there nights? Is it coming alive on us, really? It makes me cold" (Bradbury 25). The Mechanical Hound is much like social media in today’s society. Often, people in today’s society accumulate their worth by how popular they are on social media or how many likes they receive. Self-confidence and the relationships we have with ourselves are very vital to maintain a healthy life. Social media is beginning to control people’s lives, determine one’s actions, and mentally make or break someone.

# data[].attributes.body
This chart shows the average time spent on electronic media by American adults in 2014. As you can see, like Fahrenheit 451, TV is a huge distraction in society.

# data[].attributes.body
This chart includes some statistics from 2015 that show the affects of technology on relationships comparing male and female responses. As you can see, percentages for spending too much time on technology are pretty high.

# data[].attributes.body
This image shows a series of situations where people are choosing their phone over interaction. This photo illustrates the saying that if you didn't post it, it didn't happen.

# data[].attributes.body
In the book, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, Mildred is always listening to a device in her ear called a “Seashell”, causing her to be almost oblivious to her surroundings. One day, when Mildred was making toast, Montag came in to see if she was alright, and Mildred hardly reacted. The book states, “She was an expert at lip-reading from ten years of apprenticeship at Seashell ear thimbles. She nodded again. She set the toaster clicking away at another piece of bread” (Bradbury 16). Mildred didn’t even care enough to speak or even listen to Montag, all he received was a few head nods. She chose to continue listening to her seashell and doesn't hear Montag but reads his lips. The seashell apprenticeship is what seems to have triggered and controlled the way Mildred is communicating. This company never wants her to take them out, embedding them inside Mildred as if they were apart of her body. Rather than sitting down with Montag and having a deep, heartfelt conversation about how she’s feeling, Mildred’s relationship with Montag remains stagnate. Technology is decreasing empathy and appreciation in their relationship. Bradbury states, “She had both ears plugged with electronic bees that were humming the hour away” (Bradbury 16). Throughout this book, time is constantly being deprived from the people of this society. Mildred has no idea how much time is being wasted and she has no time to think about it. Like the seashells, technology from our society is wasting so much time. Earbuds, for example are much like the seashells described in Fahrenheit 451. People are spending less time building deeper, valuable relationships and more time hiding away on some form of technology, sometimes even to purposely avoid interaction.

# data[].attributes.body
In the book, Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, Mildred is constantly obsessing over her TV walls, which contributes to her bad relationship with Montag. TV walls are symbolized as a trap and distraction throughout the book. Mildred seems to be trapped in this technology and cannot find a way to escape it. After just replacing the third wall with a TV wall, Mildred insists and finds no problem with replacing the fourth wall as well. “How long you figure before we save up and get the fourth wall TV put in?” asks Mildred (Bradbury 18). Montag is shocked by this because he thought he pleased her by recently replacing the third wall using his money, and now she wants a fourth. Mildred is somehow addicted to this advanced technology, but Montag seems to be unaffected by it. Rather than being appreciative of Montag’s hard work, Mildred just wants more and more. Technology is hindering their relationship because if these TV walls didn't exist, Mildred would pay more attention to her husband and his efforts. Referring to Mildred, the book states, “She didn’t look up from the script again” (Bradbury 17). Mildred has made it obvious that her TV walls are much more important than Montag. This is much like how our society is starting to behave. Most people can’t even make it through dinner without checking their cell phone. This is beginning to eliminate “small talk” between families. While people may be connecting virtually, technology is deteriorating the face-to-face, social, and physiological aspects of relationships.

# data[].attributes.body
This image illustrates how families are so easily distracted and can't even make it through dinner without using technology. This shows how "small talk" (or any talk at all) within families is diminishing.

# data[].attributes.body
In this photograph, a mother seems to be giving her attention to technology rather than her own daughter. Choosing to do this not only affects the relationship between this women and her daughter but also the relationships her daughter chooses to pursue in the future.

# data[].attributes.body
Allison Graham discusses how social media is disconnecting society, what's happening now with technology, and ways to improve communication. She highlights how whatever people are viewing on their screens, is way more important than the people who are right in front of their face. Jealousy is also a huge factor that social media is promoting, and Allison Graham suggests we teach human interaction, and "unplug" for one hour a day.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How social media makes us unsocial | Allison Graham | TEDxSMU

# data[].attributes.body
Sherry Turkle explains how technology is shaping relationships. She explains how people rely more and more on technology to communicate. With face to face conversation, people cannot control or edit what they say, making technology more appealing. Sherry also highlights key points as technology being a distraction, lacking empathy, and minimizing appreciation.

# data[].attributes.body
As portrayed in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, today’s technology is changing aspects of human interaction, the way people communicate, and affecting relationships, specifically limiting face-to-face conversation and physiological connection.

# data[].attributes.body
Emily Brion
Mrs. Jenkins
English 10-7
May 7, 2018

# data[].attributes.body
The internet can make it easy for a person to bully someone and make damaging comments that can be read instantly, ultimately destroying one’s relationship with themself. A therapy article states, “A recent study, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, examined depression rates in younger adults, finding significantly increased odds of depression among those spending the most time engaged in social media” (“Staff”). Technology is making it easier than ever for people to destroy relationships by limiting the personal/emotional impact people get from talking to someone face-to-face. Dr. Alex Lickerman states, “It's as if the part of our nervous system that registers the feelings of others has been paralyzed or removed when we're communicating electronically, as if we're drunk and don't realize or don't care that our words are hurting others” (The Effect). Whereas 20 years ago, it was more common to see a fistfight at the schoolyard, nowadays, technology is allowing bullying to continue online in the form of cyberbullying (Kaspersky.com).  The person receiving the message isn't physically there to interpret emotion, making it much easier to say damaging things. The internet also allows you to make changes to create the ideal message. However in person, people do not have minutes to think before responding to someone. (Turkle) In 2001, a poll showed that the average american had ten close friends. The same poll conducted in 2014, showed that every average american had two close friends. According to Allison Graham, the cause of this decline in friends, is the incline of technology. In today’s society technology is starting to overtake face-to-face communication and physical interaction because it seems like a much easier and more ideal way to conversate. In  particular, this is causing relationships to be limited and even start to deteriorate.

# data[].attributes.body
The meaning of conversations is being deprived through the use of shortened words and acronyms, which can lead to miscommunication. We use the acronyms “LOL” and “LMAO” to express that something is funny to us. However, Doctor Alex Lickerman discusses how, “They're no real substitute for hearing people laugh, which has real power to lift our spirits when we're feeling low” (“The Effect”). Physical gestures such as hugs, pats on the back, and high fives cannot convey through technology. Some people try to make up for this through the use of emojis and stickers, but these animations lack a personal connection. It is becoming more and more common that people use shortened words and acronyms when typing a message. However, these new, “slang” words lack specific meaning that more complex words can express. Therefore, on the receiving end of the message, meaning can be lost in context or misinterpreted. American businessmen, Bryan Kramer, explains, “My biggest issue with technology and relationships is the inability to detect tone. You can never really know when someone is being sarcastic, funny, not funny, serious or joking sometimes” (“How Technology”). Through messages, tone is extremely hard to understand and can really affect the outcome of a relationship. Things such as body language, and tone of voice cannot be seen through a text to understand how the other person is feeling. Bryan also says that, “Unless you see the person’s face, hear their voice and understand the environment, you have no idea the context surrounding the written words” (How Technology). People are focusing less on the physical aspects of personal communication and simply overlooking or not caring about the deep potential that their relationships can obtain by putting technology aside.

# data[].attributes.body
Technology provides many distractions that can lead to very unhealthy relationships. Spending time on technology, rather than on a partner, is a growing issue in today’s society. According to a poll from 2015, of 453 adults across the United States, nearly half of all respondents reported being distracted by their phones in the presence of a romantic partner (Staff). These distractions include games, app notifications, and even other people on the internet, which are limiting face-to-face communication and physical interaction. A research survey, conducted in 2015, states that,“More than 50% of females said that their partner spends too much time on the internet rather than with them and family” (“February”). Technology is increasingly impacting younger generations and the numbers will grow as more generations go on. Amanda Lenhart, a research specialist, found that “42% of cell-owning 18-29 year olds in serious relationships say their partner has been distracted by their mobile phone while they were together” (Lenhart). Time is being taken away from building deeper connections (physically and mentally) because technology seems easier and more convenient. On the other hand, the book, Technology and Society: Opposing Viewpoints, by Auriana Ojeda, says, “Researchers have found that the time spent in direct contact with family members drops by as much as half for every hour we use the Net at home”(Ojeda 51). The book continues to explain how parents that have jobs are often very involved with email and wireless technology that keeps them working around the clock (Ojeda 51). This not only takes time away from family but also time away from focusing on themselves. Most parents are guilty of this but don’t realize the impact it has on children. Children are heavily influenced by their surroundings, and this technology takeover will continue to grow. All of these factors contribute to unhealthy relationships and relationships that aren’t growing to their full potential because connections are being weakened, rather than strengthened. More and more people are preferring communication virtually and ignoring the real world benefits of looking into someone's eyes and physically holding someone’s hand.