User:Mpech18/sandbox

Antiautovirtual(anti-opposite; auto-self/individual; virtual- occuring or existing primarily online)-(adj.) someone that is always using technology, in which the individual becomes attached to social media where he or she is never truely alone. example: That teenage boy is going to become antiautovirtual if he continues to spend more time on his device than with his friends.

The term was first coined on November 11, 2014 by Matthew Pech, a current student at the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. He came up with this term after doing some research on technology, which is interwoven between everyone in the world in one way or another. The sources that have been used to help create this new word to describe this new era of technological users comes from experts such as Dr. Mark Fischetti, editor of Scientific American, who interviewed Dr.Sherry Turkle of MIT. In the 21st century, almost everyone in the United States has access to some form of technology whether it is a smartphone, lap top comupter, tablet or other device. In this new age of technology research shows that people are losing their ability to be alone This observation that has been made is what leads to the creation of this new word Anitautovirtual.

Since people are becoming more anxious about being alone, that is where the "antiauto-" part of this word comes from. It means opposite of self, meaning that a person can not be alone. The very idea of being alone is becoming frightening to people because they are so attached to their devices. They can easily be on social media connecting with their friends, while it is becoming harder for people just to sit in one place without any distractions from their phones or other devices. This is where the "-virtual" part of this word is coming from, meaning that people are not living in the moment of life, but rather through their smartphones or tablets.