Jillian Cogbill

00:01 Hi, my name is Jillian Cogbill, and I'm going to be doing an interview with my daughter. It's going to be over. The effects of Internet on adolescence, a time when, you know, Internet was prominent during her adolescence, which you are right in the throes of. So if you will tell everybody who you are and just a little bit about yourself.

00:37 I'm Toni I'm her daughter, and I'm 17, and I go to public schools.

00:49 Those be high school, right?

00:51 Yeah, I'm a junior.

00:52 You're a junior, and you have a couple of different hobbies. What are they?

01:02 Recently retired from cheer play softball, and I have a basically a full time job as a waitress.

01:14 And you're on the work program at school, right?

01:17 Yeah, I'm also on the work program. So I get out of school 140 and of 330. I also tried to be involved in school, go to, like, all of our football games, went to the playoffs, so I tried to go to all those games. It was fun.

01:37 So I know it wasn't such a big deal whenever I was in school. But as you've been growing up, Internet and video games and stuff like that have been a big part of your everyday life, as well as your friends. And your stepdad likes the video games pretty, pretty good. So how old were you when I first let you have a phone?

02:12 Think they almost eight. But I had a flip phone or was a slide. This Pablo's old slide phone. Yeah.

02:20 And you weren't allowed to access Internet at that time, huh? It was just Google.

02:26 You could Google.

02:27 Okay, um, I don't think you could Google, but I think you can just make phone calls. Um, so then probably around age twelve, you started being able to get on the Internet but still didn't have any social media for a little while. Right? I think you're a little older than that. When you got social media, 15, maybe Facebook at 1515.

03:00 But I got Snapchat a little bit.

03:02 Younger, about 13 or 14. Yeah, I don't think. I don't think I knew what Snapchat was at the time it from it a couple of times. Okay. So pretty much some of the questions that I want to ask you revolve around what having social media and being able to access the Internet and things like that have been for you. And this includes your education, this includes your friend groups and your relationships, whether that be here at home or, you know, at school with, you know, your teenage friends. So the first question is, have video games or Internet ever been, you know, an issue for you? Have you ever viewed it negatively or positively?

04:07 I mean, it both ways. But recently, like, Internet has been a problem, like in school and stuff because teachers take advantage of us having Internet and having. And being able to excessive. To x. What's the word?

04:29 Access.

04:30 Yeah, that one. To access Internet all the time. Like at home you have a phone. Everyone has a phone now, so they can just upload homework and stuff while you're at home. And you technically you have no excuse not to have it done. So they use it as an advantage and overload you with homework and it interferes with like your homework time and like even like sometimes interferes with my work and stuff because I don't have time to homework and stuff with work and stuff, especially when they overload us with homework but because we have no excuse not to have done because we have access to Internet all the time. That's just a problem.

05:13 So. And then you don't just have access to that on your cell phone like the schools.

05:17 Yeah. They provide you chromebooks. So we really have no excuse not to get it done. And they take it into their advantage and overload us with homework and stuff. But also it could be good too, because like sometimes if I don't finish an assignment, I can just log in to my google classroom and I can finish my assignment on there. So that way it's not late because sometimes they'll move the day and give us to like 12:00 to turn in. But they have times, like at certain times they completely locks it. You can't turn them.

05:50 So you're, you're junior this year and I know that your freshman year you were enrolled in some college courses because I kind of started you on that early. And so you were on, you were doing online college courses at that time. So. But it was kind of the same thing then, right? Like with your college courses, you had a deadline and then it locked you out at a certain time.

06:21 Yeah.

06:22 So do you think that the schools doing that, that it's more beneficial for you in preparing you for college or it's still kind of is a bigger issue because the, because of the workload. And I know that you said also that it kind of interferes with your job, but at 17, you know, you know what your number one priority is right in that school. So expound on that a little bit.

06:53 I think in uses of going to prepare, preparing you for college, it can be beneficial. If you're not planning on attending school, like doing like online classes, it can be beneficial. But most of, like people who attend college sit in the classroom, do the work. But I mean, most of the college professors don't assign the homework in the class. They sign it after class. So it can be beneficial to prepare you for that and I guess overloading you in a way where it can be beneficial because professors aren't going to be easy on you and give you a little bit of work to do. They're going to give you the necessary amount to pass the class. So that could be beneficial. But. But being in high school, it is overwhelming because you're not there yet. There are other ways to prepare you for that, but as a high school student, I think you should be able to enjoy being in high school before you are in college, too. Okay.

08:06 So did you ever feel that there was a time that you were scared or uncertain in any real life situation because of your Internet usage or because you had access to the Internet or video game use? You know, I know with the video games, like, you can talk to people on the headsets and stuff. So have there ever, has there ever been an issue there where maybe it you roll uncertain about something or it kind of scared you a situation that you were in?

08:41 Well, I've never been a gamer, dude, so I don't really talk to other people on the Internet through games. But I. I have been uncertain in ways where I have, like, random people at me and maybe I think I know who they are and then accept the follow and they're not who I thought they were. A lot of people, a lot of people now try to pretend to be somebody they're not and to persuade you into thinking that they are who they say they are. And then in real life, they're not people now, like, in school, they'll call them bots. Bots basically being like, they're not real people. They're just trying. They're just people trying to get things from you. Like, people trying to get specific pictures from you or just trying to get your money. One time I was trying to buy a dog and they asked for $100 for a placeholder for the dog so, like, no one else could get the dog while we waited. And when I actually talked about, like, going up there, getting the dog and, like, seeing the dog for myself, they completely, like, lost touch with me and basically refused to give back the money because they just completely stopped communicating with me. So took my money and ran.

10:05 So did they, like, block you?

10:07 Yeah, it was through Facebook, which is a big thing now, cuz, like, you can't trust anything on Facebook. Like a lot of, like, marketplace, like, you'll be interested in a purchase and, like, it's never what you seem. It is what it seems to be. And you never know if, like, your purchase, you're trying to buy it, like, scam or not. So, like, if without technology, you would have to, like, you would have to actually see the people. And most people would, like, show you the product they're trying to buy. But now, like, it's all pictures and you can edit pictures and make it seem better than what it is or make it seem like you're getting something or actually not.

10:48 I don't know if you know this, but before Facebook, there was new paper. There were newspapers. If you wanted to, if you had something for sale, you posted in the newspaper and then they left a phone number.

11:11 When's the last time you saw a flyer? See, flyers were missing people all the time. Well, you get a reward.

11:18 That's missing people. They also put missing people on the Internet. But like, if, like, have you seen a flyer for something for sale.

11:30 For your work?

11:32 You see the little stakes, like, in the ground around town and for me, you get paid.

11:41 Yeah.

11:42 Full stakes in the ground around town and stuff.

11:44 Yeah, like garage sales.

11:46 But do you see. But do you have. Have you ever bought a newspaper?

11:51 No, but you give my brochures.

11:54 See? Have you ever read a newspaper?

11:58 Actually, I read a newspaper. Cobalt. Milton used to keep newspapers. But.

12:09 You ever see that there was like a for sale in the newspaper?

12:13 Obviously, like Papa Harley reads newspapers and you'll see, like, so and so went to jail for this.

12:19 And. Okay, you've seen me read newspapers.

12:23 Yeah, but people always look to see what to do.

12:26 That's not really what I was looking for, but moving forward. So you have had personal experience with trying to purchase something or, you know, doing something online and it has ended negatively for you. So you are aware that there are nothing. Yeah, there's not people, several people about stuff like that.

12:56 Had a friend was trying to get a PS five off Facebook marketplace. They said they were giving it away for free because they bought a new one for work and they didn't see the use of having two. And so when they actually talked to the person about getting the ps five, they. They then wanted. They. They wanted them to pay for the shipping and then, then they needed an insurance fee in case something happened. So instead of it being like $60 just for it to be shipped, it turned out to be like $160. And then the price just kept going up and so had no money more to give and then they were screwed and then.

13:43 So have there ever been any barriers to establishing or maintaining a friendship or relationship with others? Have you found any problems in regards to the Internet or video games that it has been an issue in keeping those friendships or even starting a new friendship that maybe you were trying to pursue and I. Because of these factors that didn't work out?

14:12 Yeah. Friendships have been kind of a problem with Internet because some people view things differently and some people post things that you don't necessarily agree with that can cause a problem between a friendship. And also, like, some people just take things negatively. You don't mean it negatively, but that's how it comes off. Friendships, like, end over that one time.

14:42 You mean, like, in the way of, like, how they have written something or texted something?

14:49 Yeah, or even, like, I know a lot of people, they think it's a flex to, like, get into an argument.

14:57 What is the flex? Thumb it down for me.

15:01 It's a flex, like something brag about social media.

15:05 Okay.

15:06 And they get suffixed to get an argument on social media and screenshot the argument and post it on their story or something. Everyone to see, like, this person really thinks I'm crazy, whatever, and make it seem like something it's not, which is personal. Like, if you get into the argument that's personal, something you should flex about, and he's really nice, should brag about. Okay. Also, like, one time I sent a picture to a boy that I thought I trusted, and his friend got a hold of the picture, and then the whole school had the picture, and some of my friends viewed me differently because of that and lost a few friends because of that. So it's really hard. You have to be very careful with things you post, because also, if you post negative things, some of your friends will be like, I don't associate with. You post things like that on your story because everyone knows I'm friends with you. And then everyone just saw that you posted that. It makes me look bad. So you just have to be very careful. I try not to post anything like that. Like nothing racial, nothing that we can take it out of context. Like, I posted these things, only just me.

16:27 So when that incident happened, there were a lot of consequences to your actions with that losing some friends and relationships, that was one of the consequences that do you feel like, how did that make you feel at the time? Like, some of the readings that we've been through actually talk about some things like that in the text, how, you know, people were. Have committed suicide over things like that and the depression that comes with it. And the consequences that they really didn't know were going to be associated with. You know, there's never really thought that it would ever get out that far. So that wasn't a. You didn't, haven't thought that far ahead as to what the consequences of that would be. So can you talk a little bit about how that made you feel and then how that changed things for you as far as social. Social media and phones and things like that with.

17:33 It's kind of made me feel ashamed for doing that because it was, like, out of character for me, was kind of like a realization. Like, what are you even doing? Like, people talk about things, like, not things like, you're not supposed to do that, being one of them. Like, we have people come out to school and stuff and talk to, like, the whole school about, like, sending pictures and stuff and how people can use that for money and stuff.

18:02 And had you thought about that prior to sending. Prior to sending the picture?

18:07 No, I kind of felt obligated to send the picture, but that was. That's different. Kind of made it out, like, not like I needed to send the picture, but I just, like, made me feel bad about not seeing the picture. So I finally gave in Anson's picture, but ended up going to therapy for it. But it did make me view social media a different way. I've learned to be more mindful before I do things on social media and who to trust, especially on social media and where my friendships I lost, I didn't necessarily lose a lot of friends. I just stopped communicating with a lot of people that I realized were in my best interest. So my friend group used to be very large. No, it's very small. But I'm very consent with my friend group that I have now. Good.

19:04 You do know that even the people that we think we can trust the most, we can't always trust with everything.

19:12 Yeah.

19:14 Okay. Um. Sometimes it's best just not to entice anybody to find out if we can trust them or not with certain things. So are there things that you used to do with your friends before you were so involved in social media that maybe you don't do anymore? Because seems like now every time you turn around, there's, you know, a kid with a cell phone in their hand. You can have two people sitting at a table together, and they're both texting on the phone, and I've seen two people across the room kind of texting each other. And so it seems like that's all like an extra appendage, you know, your cell phone and social media and all this Internet access. So is there anything that you maybe don't do with your friends now that maybe you miss, or is it pretty much the same for you?

20:12 It's pretty much the same for me. Me and my friend group are very strong. One of my friends graduated last year, and we still see each other all the time. And we have another friend in our friend group is actually my cousin and me and her in the same grade. We still go to all the football games and stuff together. We play softball together. We. We have a few classes together, and we also have athletics together. So we do spend quite a lot of time together.

20:44 What about outside of school?

20:46 Outside of school, we all try to make plans with each other. Like, we. Like me, I work all the time, and my cousin, she is in slick softball, so a lot of her time goes to slick softball. And then friend that graduated works at the hospital. So we try to find time, like, if by consequence, or, what's the wrong word? By, um, miracle, for all off on the same time, like on a weekend or something. We all try to let each other know when we're off and make plans to hang out, like, that weekend or one of the days that we're off. Like, even if I had work the next morning, like, we still try to get together, like, after I have work and spend. Spend time with each other, like, through the night and stuff. Sometimes we'll step super late to spend time with each other and get up and go to work, and she'll go to practice or whatever.

21:41 So the digital world has been kind of efficient for you in some aspects because, like, you have some friends who are not in school anymore and then others who pretty busy, and then you work, so you're able to keep in touch with those people. Right. But when you're together, do y'all have any kind of, like, ground rules that y'all go by? Like, maybe y'all don't. Maybe it's a rule that, you know, during certain times, y'all are not on the phone when y'all are together. Or maybe, you know, it's a rule that y'all don't talk to other people while y'all are spending time together so that, you know, your attention spot somewhere else. Do you have anything that y'all kind of go by with that?

22:33 We kind of all, like, I was raised not to be on the phone when you have company or when you're around other people, but we all kind of understand, like, the time, like, when we get to spend time with each other. It's kind of valuable. So we just willingly all just, like, put our phones down. Like, if we get a notification or we leave somewhere, like, obviously we'll get on our phone, but if we're, like, sometimes, like, if we're just laying around watching movies, yeah, we'll be on our phones or whatever. But, like, when one person starts having conversation, like, we all join the conversation and just, like, talk for hours. Won't contact anyone on the phones, or we carry conversations, but still on our phones. But, I mean, a lot of, like, conversation starters are, like, from, like, we'll be sitting in the bed, and Kenzie just shows the TikTok, and then we just start reminiscing about similar things that have happened to us, and that starts conversations. You said, like, you, some people, like, be in the same room, and they'll be texting each other, but sometimes I do that, too. Like, in class. Like, me and Kenzie will be in class, and we can't talk, so we'll just, like, snap each other in text. Or sometimes, like, we'll be in a group of people, and, like, me and my friend group. Like, someone will say something that we think is, like, dumb or funny, and we'll like to show them, like, bro, why did you say that? So, things like, you can't really say out loud, but you can, since you're.

23:58 Bringing that up, first of all, let me make the point that, you know, when you're in class and you're not supposed to be talking, and then you're on the phone and you're messaging each other, that kind of gets in the way of your work, doesn't it?

24:11 No. Me kids I knock my homework out of, so never really have homework.

24:18 But there's repercussions to having your phones out in class.

24:21 Not supposed to have your phones, but, I mean, in certain periods, like, if you know the teacher, it's good.

24:28 So, again, don't feel like, with that type of outlook on it, that maybe you are not thinking of what the consequences of your actions are because you sign these. These promissory notes at the beginning of school saying, you know, you won't have your phone out in class and things like that, or it gets taken up and then you got to pay for it. So maybe at the times, you're just thinking that you're doing what you want to do and not necessarily what you should do. And so social media can actually end up getting you in trouble that way.

25:01 Yeah, it can get you in trouble. But most teachers allow students, like, where they have their Airpods in or something while they work and stuff. You're just not allowed to have your phone. So, like, some teachers will allow you to, like, pull your phone off to switch a song or something like that, which you can do from the Airpods.

25:18 But switching a song is a lot different than having a conversation with a friend.

25:22 Yeah.

25:22 In class.

25:23 But, I mean, most students will look at it like, what they don't know. What they don't know won't hurt. It's like if they're hiding it well.

25:32 But if. But I have seen if. But if they find out, then you get your phone taken.

25:36 Your phone taken. I've seen people, like, out their phone in front of a teacher, like, no regards to what's going to happen and just basically being technically, if you're pulling.

25:45 Your phone out at all, even if you are hiding it well, there's no regard to what may happen. You're not thinking consequences through, but just.

25:53 Like, basically being disrespectful. And then the teacher will see the phone and they'll take the phone and they'll try to put up a fight and be like, you're not taking my phone. And blah, blah, blah. You shouldn't be on it, making it a big deal. Or, oh, now I'll put it up now that you want to take my phone, I'll put it up now. But some teachers do allow leeway with the phones. I know my second period does allow leeway with the phones, but when it becomes a problem with the phones, she does make us put them up, but that's only if she sees, like, multiple people on the phones and not getting their work done. But I have a class. He kind of teaches, like, a college class. Or it's like, if you're on your phone, you're not doing your work, then that's your grade, Oliver. So if you want to have your phone and be on your phone and fail the test because it's physics and it's hard, then be my guest.

26:45 So another thing that you had said, and I won't, we'll talk about this, and then we'll get back on track with the questions. But another thing that you said is that, you know, if you're in your friend group and you all are talking and somebody says something done or whatever, and then you'll text somebody else and be like, I can't believe she said that. So don't you think that that in itself also would have consequences if maybe one friend shared another friend, what you said? Or maybe it hurts somebody's feelings.

27:22 Yeah, if it got out. But, I mean, that goes to being who you can trust and who you can't trust. I mean, I know if I said something to Kenzie and she was sitting there and someone said, dude, like, her dog is ugly, and I just, like, sent text to Kenzie and, like, why would you say, like, that's so relevant to the whole conversation? She wouldn't tell her that? Said that?

27:46 Yes, but, I mean, there's. There's certain instances where you might say something or slip open and text something that maybe. Or, like, you probably shouldn't have, and then maybe something happens later and you make somebody mad, and then they're like, well, look at all this stuff that she said about you.

28:02 I mean, well, like, we were, like, sometimes, like, doing so, like, someone will show up, like, unprofessional in an outfit, like, to practice or something, like, tights or something instead of, like, softball pants, and, like. Like, someone Kenzie or Kenzie will text me, and I'll be like, bro, like, what is she wearing? And we'll just kind of, like, laugh about it and turn the phone off and just, like, walk off.

28:29 But it's kind of inappropriate. You shouldn't talk about it.

28:32 It's kind of inappropriate. But it's also, like, we did it in a. In a way where, like, they wouldn't know what we're talking about. It's like, I literally could have opened anything up, saw something funny on my phone, so really can't hurt someone's feelings, like, unless they found out. But people we talk about, we don't talk to, not associate with.

28:51 So it's just, like, I think, in general, it's just about being a good person.

28:56 Yeah. You're so nice of them. Never mean to them, but it's not genuine.

29:04 We'll talk about that later. Moving on, what do you think the consequences are of spending too much time online or on your digital devices?

29:19 Consequence to being on your phone or on a device, like, video games and stuff for long periods of time? I'll probably say, like, your attention span will grow shorter because I know, like, that's true.

29:37 I just learned about that, too.

29:39 I know, like, being on, like, having a conversation, and then, like, I'll see someone texted me, and, like, I just have to know what they said right away. Like, maybe I've been waiting for them to text me. It just, like, completely interrupts whole conversation, or I get caught up in the conversation I'm having on the phone and actually listening to the conversation. I'm actually having a real life. Or also, I think, like, even if, like, you're on a video game or something and, like, someone walks in, like they're trying to talk to you, you think they're listening to you. And then, like, after you die or something on the video game, like, okay, now what you say? So they have to, like, completely restart over, and it's, like, frustrating, which I know that because. Stepdad, wait, hold on. I'll talk to you after this. After this game. And then it's like, okay, well, then I just don't want to talk to. Because not saying, yeah, so I think that is a problem as well.

30:42 Okay. You know, also, and we kind of covered this in one of the previous questions. I mean, I think it's a great point that you said attention span. I recently learned that one of the things that being on social media and video games and stuff does is cause problems with ADHD. So there's that.

31:14 But also, like, I'll have things I need to do that while I'm a bad procrastinator, but I'll have things I need to do, like homework or, like, even sometimes when I'm at work, like, I would just rather not go see if they need a drink, and I'll just, like, get on my phone and try to watch videos and stuff. I think mostly because it's more relaxing to my mind and having to actually go do stuff. I could just sit here and, like, when I get home, I'm tired. I don't want to do homework. I don't want to do anything, but I can just get on my phone and watch a video.

31:47 So did you ever think that maybe so much time, spending so much time online might be one of the things that makes you tired?

31:54 Yeah, I could see how coons are. My mind tired and my eyes tired, but.

32:01 And then also, you know, whenever you stay on the Internet, too much.

32:09 Sleep.

32:10 Deprivation, things like that.

32:12 A lot.

32:14 So what do you think the digital world being so prominent among youth today is a good thing or a bad thing? Do you think that having Internet and social media and video games and all these things, do you think that that's a good thing, that it's so prominent now, or do you think that it's a bad thing?

32:39 I think really could go both ways, because for someone who doesn't have many interests and things, they can see something on the Internet and it can open their interests to multiple things. Maybe things that they didn't even know existed. But also, if you're not very careful, I think it could also cause you a lot of trouble. Also, like, you talk to me about your class and stuff a lot. So I know that younger minds are prone to addiction and stuff. And so you are on all the time. Yeah. Could cause a problem for you. I know. I have a little sister, my stepmom's daughter. She is very wrapped up in technology. She watches anime films all the time. She's starting to dress like an anime character. She has all these squishies and stuff because she watches all these YouTube videos about squishies. She's ten years old and has a whole room of squishies. She's ten, 1110 or eleven, has a whole room full of squishies. And maybe she's twelve, but yeah, she doesn't do chores and stuff, but that's her mom's fault. But she stays in her room, she doesn't come out. It makes dad aggravated because she never comes out and talks to dad or even plays with her little brother because.

34:05 She'S so she pretty much isolates herself, right?

34:08 Yeah. And stays in her phone and watching YouTube videos. And her mom says it's because she doesn't like to talk to people and she's antisocial. But also think technology can make a person antisocial because you get in that comfortable space of just being in your phone all the time and you have this little world of like minded people on your phone, and then you just don't try to get out in real world and find things you like and try to make like minded people outside of your phone. She plays Roblox all the time. She conversates with people. They share Roblox coins and stuff. So she just stays like on there.

34:48 And so. And finally, from the conversation that we've had, is there anything that you have realized or maybe learned about yourself or about your friends or about just social media in general that maybe makes you take a step back and think, I knew I was doing these things, but maybe these are some things that need to change.

35:24 Yeah. Like most of the things I've been telling you are things like I knew about, obviously, but it's different when you hear what you're saying and realize actually what you're saying. So I think maybe like putting my phone down and doing my job or putting my phone down instead of watching videos, maybe watch videos on how to get the work done, or putting a phone down and actually going to bed, which I've been doing. Haven't had a phone as a. But, um, training myself to put my phone down. And go to bed at a reasonable time.

36:06 So, like, maybe limiting your Internet access on a daily basis.

36:12 Yeah, but I try to come up with an excuse, like, I never have downtime and I get home late every night.

36:17 So this is my downtime, maybe, or even like, watching your show.

36:22 Like, I always try to get home and get dressed, and I'm like, haven't got to watch my show all day, and I just really want to sit down and watch my show at least like two episodes and go to bed, and I end up watching like ten episodes.

36:33 Maybe having some downtime would actually be you having downtime from social media and Internet, having downtime from your phone, rather than using your phone as downtime because you're on it all day. Maybe you'd be less tired.

36:52 And I mean, yeah, you could say, like, I'm on the phone all day, but. But I mean, I'm at school 8 hours of the day. My phone's like on 75% when I leave school.

37:02 So throughout the day, you. You're constantly thinking about it, checking it. Has anybody messaged me? So how does that make you feel? If you don't have your phone, how do you feel?

37:16 Don't have my phone. I feel confused because I use my phone a lot of ways to communicate with my job. Like, do I have work today? What if something happens, I don't have to come in?

37:26 Or does it just pertain to your job? No, but mostly, I mean, if take the job away. And how does not having a phone make you feel?

37:35 Not having a phone still kind of makes me confused. It's like, what if I need to text you so you pick something up on your way home?

37:44 But what if you don't?

37:45 What if I don't? What if I don't text you?

37:47 What if you don't need to?

37:48 If I don't need to? Well, then it's like instead of being at lunch, I'll be on my phone. Now I'm just sitting on lunch, staring at sky.

37:56 So it's kind of like withdrawals, right?

38:00 Yeah, I guess. But I don't sit with anyone lunch, so I sit by myself.

38:04 You could read a book. You have a library at your school. Yeah, but that's a magazine.

38:09 I would read a book if I wanted to go to bed.

38:11 Could draw a picture.

38:12 Because reading, like to draw? Yeah, like if I'm a class and I'll have my phone, I'll do. Or I'll just take a.

38:19 Draw an actual picture.

38:23 Okay.

38:23 Well, I appreciate you doing the interview with me and tell everybody back.

38:33 It.