Recently my 13 year old brother got his second phone, an IPhone 4s. I couldn't believe that a thirteen-year-old was carrying around one of the best technological tools in our world. Since then my brother's free time running has decreased dramatically. His eyes and hands are glued to his iPhone 4s. Finding him playing basketball or throwing a ball in my yard when I come home on weekends has become less and less. This is just one of thousands of children whose physical activity has suffered because of technology. Today our society has created the perception in children that without the latest technology they would not be “cool” or, even worse, poor. The children then beg their parents for updated technology to accommodate. Let's face it, even adults these days need the latest technology to stay up to date with their work. The routine of most children who come home from school is to eat, watch TV, see some food ads and video games and continue the terrible habit they have created. The urge to play outside or get involved with a team is less appealing than beating your highscore at Call of Duty while getting a sugar high. Our world is creating an environment where playing Candy Crush is more popular than playing a sport. 32% of children between the ages of 2 and 19 are overweight and 17% are considered obese (Hingle, Dale). The influence of the media on young people shows a positive correlation with childhood obesity. Times have changed and due to this new technological era we live in, children are spoiled with various types and numerous electronic devices. While these advances are rewarding, they are harmful to young people. From Xbox to television, children spend more time watching television trapped at home, amidst paper, high-calorie foods that influence young children in decision-making. Works Cited Hingle, Melanie and Dale Kunkel. "Childhood and average obesity". Pediatric Clinics of North America 59.3 (2012): 677. Print.Kunkel, Dale. “Media Research Helps Battle Against Childhood Obesity.” Health Communication 25.6-7 (2010): 595-6. Print.Obama, Michele. “Remarks at the NAACP National Convention.” They say I tell with readings. Ed. Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein and Russel Durst. 2nd ed. NY: WW Norton & Company Inc. 2012. 417-433 Print.Powell LM, Schermbeck RM, Szczypka G, Chaloupka FJ, Braunschweig CL. Trends in the nutritional content of television food advertising seen by children in the United States: Analysis by age, food category, and company. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2011;165(12):1078-1086. doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.131.