📘 Part 3: Apps

This episode's vocabulary

reliant on (adj) – dependent on someone or something. → Young people are more and more reliant on computer programs and apps.

adept at (adj) – having a natural ability to do something that needs skill. → They seem more adept at using them.

repercussions (n) – the negative consequences of an action or event. → Some kids can just sit and play games with no repercussions.

cut someone off (phrasal verb) – to stop providing something to someone. → Parents could just cut them off completely from games.

unsustainable (adj) – not able to be continued at the same level. → Cutting them off completely might be a bit extreme and unsustainable.

practical (adj) – relating to actual experience or action rather than ideas. → Agreeing on specific times for games would be more practical.

ubiquitous (adj) – seeming to be everywhere. → Things connected to work, like email and calendar planners, seem just about ubiquitous.

essential (adj) – absolutely necessary or extremely important. → These apps are popular because people consider them essential.

intrusive (adj) – causing disruption or annoyance through being unwelcome. → App notifications can be pretty intrusive at times.

discerning (adj) – having or showing good judgment. → I can see old people being more discerning about what they put on social media.

carefree (adj) – free from anxiety or responsibility. → Youngsters are probably a bit more carefree.

first and foremost (idiom) – most importantly; more than anything else. → I think that's the first and foremost drawback.

Questions and Answers

Maria: Do you think young people are more and more reliant on computer programs and apps?

Rory: Well, they certainly have more access to them and seem more adept at using them, but I don't think it's just young people who need them. I mean, old people definitely benefit from using them. And if they don't, they frequently get young people to help them with that kind of thing.

Maria: Should parents limit their children's use of computer programs and computer games?

Rory: I really don't know. I mean, surely that depends on whether it's bad for them or not. And some kids can just sit and play games with no repercussions. So if that's the case, then I don't see the need.

Maria: And why could it be a good idea to limit their time?

Rory: I suppose if playing video games is limiting their opportunities to develop or have a happy and healthy life, then well, they could just cut them off completely. And that might be a bit extreme and unsustainable though. So maybe agreeing times when children can and cannot play them would be more practical.

Maria: What apps are popular in your country?

Rory: Well, the usual ones, I think. People have a lot of social media apps on their phones that they can scroll through. And things connected to work, like email and calendar planners seem just about ubiquitous. I think they even come with the phones these days. So you don't even need to download them.

Maria: And why are these apps popular?

Rory: I imagine because they're things people consider essential and they just can't live without these days. Almost everyone has some kind of social media presence, especially younger people, or they might need to get in touch with their work or loved ones via different messenger apps. So it makes sense these would be the most popular ones.

Maria: Why do some people dislike using apps?

Rory: Well, they can be pretty intrusive at times. Even if you turn off the sound on the notifications, you still sometimes get banner notifications at the top of your screen notifying you of different things, or even telling you you've turned off the notifications and asking you to turn them back on. That could get annoying after a while.

Maria: What are the differences between old and young people when using apps?

Rory: Well, there could be a few. First of all, it might be about the type of apps being used. Older people probably want to have more work-related ones on their phones, whereas young people will have ones which are more about fun and games. They might also use them differently. I can see old people being more discerning about what they put on social media apps, while youngsters are probably a bit more carefree.

Maria: What are the drawbacks of having too many apps?

Rory: Just being overloaded with notifications and too distracted to actually enjoy life, I suppose. I think that's the first and foremost one. Another thing, more practically or logistically speaking, maybe it would drain the battery on your phone faster than normal.