Over the years I've seen gradual changes in my school's population as well as their overall attention span and general attitude. The photo, although it doesn't show middle schoolers, probably sums it up from my standpoint. Two guys, probably friends, based upon how close they're sitting next to each other, are totally absorbed by what they're doing and not interacting with each other at all.
This is what I think most of my students do every weekend. They are so absorbed in their video games, computer and You-Tube channels that they literally never interact with another person/friend of theirs until they come back on Monday morning.
How I can tell this is loosely based on anecdotal evidence. My first period class, comes into class after a break, be it a weekend, Thanksgiving break, or Winter break and they literally are screaming at each other. Can you hear me? They have no volume control, nor would they really want it. They're two feet away from each other and screaming. Can you hear me now?
Cell phones, etc., are powerful tools, but I really think they are robbing our children of their childhood. And consequently, these children will have difficulties dealing with real life situations, because they really don't know how to react to people on a personal level, outside of screaming. That's my two cents on the subject.
