Impacts of Technology Use On Children
In the wake of the twenty-first century, there have been significant leaps in technological advancement, which have spanned almost every sector of life. The exponential technological growth has yielded the question of the consequences on some populations such as children. Currently, children are avid users of technology from an early age. Gottschalk (2019) notes that most children are exposed to technology before books, which may have varying impacts on a child’s cognitive and physical development. This research outlines the consistencies in studies about the pros and cons of technology use on children and highlights suggestions on policy reformations.
According to research, most of the children aged 15 years and below (which brings adolescents into play) had internet access at home whereby, they were likely to spend at least two hours of their time online by 2015 (Gottschalk, 2019). There has been an increase in this tendency due to technological advancements, especially in educators. Preschoolers are currently more exposed to digital devices at an early age, attracting diverging studies on screen time, video gaming, and online activities on their overall development. This article argues that there is a gap between the available evidence and some of the policy which is formulated to counter some negative impacts of technology on significant populations. Importantly, the article notes a dualism in every form of media that is used; a child or adolescent may use a cell phone to keep in contact with friends during class. On the other hand, they might use the same phone, tablet, or computer to accomplish school work (Gottschalk, 2019). Some of the limits implemented in the use of technology lack a sufficient basis, and thus the authors call upon stakeholders to evaluate the why and how technology is being used before spelling out the limitations on the use of technology.
One key finding in this research is that extended melatonin exposure may have adverse effects on the quality of sleep; therefore, it is relevant to limit access to blue light before bedtime (Gottschalk, 2019). Additionally, the research notes that media is created differently; in gaming, for example, there are both active and passive engaging games. Parents and other stakeholders in children’s development are therefore tasked with evaluating the relevance and appropriateness of a media for use in different age groups. Notably, this article negates the notion of total rewiring of a child’s brain and calls for more studies to establish clarity in this area (Gottschalk, 2019).
An assessment of various relevant researches in the topic informs this study. This is of utmost importance for psychologists since it notes a minimal effect of certain types of media on a child’s development. Besides, the article highlights the interplay between some media use, such as engagement in violent gaming and negative behaviors such as violence. Furthermore, the research explores some basics that have been scarcely addressed in past research. For instance, playing a shooting game does not necessarily make a child a killer; thus, there is a need to examine individual differences and content of the games before formulating policies.
I found this article rather informative and diverse in coverage. In the age where every child and adult is using one form of technology or the other, multiple theories have been put forward, some of which have been noted as inconclusive in this study. In mapping, the overall impacts of technology on millennials, risks associated with these, such as cyberbullying, should be taken into account. Potential advantages such as improved problem solving and maintenance of friends should also be put into consideration when formulating policies.
References
Gottschalk, F. (2019). Impacts of technology use on children: Exploring literature on the brain, cognition and well-being.