What “personal growth” and “self-reflection” mean is, to a certain extent, for you to decide. We don’t have to agree on what those terms mean or what each looks like.
Remember, too, that personal growth and self-reflection are different things. Technology might lead to one but not the other, might lead to one which then allows the other, or have some other relationship you’ve found
It will help to get specific. Don’t treat “technology” as one blanket concept. Different technologies will have different results. Different people, behaviors, and uses of technology will also work differently. Get detailed! Maybe some things lead to growth and others do not. You must tell us which—and why.
Another place to get specific is the word “impact.” Your thesis should use a more specific word, like “enables,” “diminishes,” “undoes,” and so on, depending on what you intend to argue.
Remember that it is up to YOU what counts as or leads to personal growth. The authors might give us one answer, but it is YOUR answer and interpretation that we are interested in. In your view, what do the students seem to gain from the class they’re taking? Even beyond its stated goals and unclear directions, how aware are they of their experience of taking the class? Do they understand anything better than they did before?
Twenge might focus on the harms of smartphones, but do any of her stories or examples make us think the people using them are also benefiting in some way? Are they growing? Are they self-reflecting?
As always, remember that this is not an all or nothing question; technology could create more personal growth in some ways but make it challenging in others. Be specific and detailed!
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