Technology is quickly becoming one of the most utilized resources used by man today. It is not only advancing at an exponential rate, but is also being personified throughout numerous domains across our society. The world we live in today is radically different than the world wenty years ago. That being said, investigating and analyzing the way technology currently affects human development is an area of study that would be of great value. Specifically, we believe concluding implications are the key to gaining an understanding of the present and future development of humans. Through an evolutionary-developmental lens, we will discuss how technology has shown to impact the way infants and young children interact (i.e. socially, and cognitively). Likewise, the same framework will be used to discuss the way technology impacts the development of adolescents and young adults. Finally, the current literature will also address the technological influence on the social and cognitive development of older adults.
The advancement in technology has a developmental impact on infants and young children. Specifically, the impacts of technology can be seen in the social, cognitive, and evolutionary-developmental perspectives. The amount of exposure that infants and young children have to technology has been increasing exponentially over the years. Data reveals that children under 24 months of age have limited access to technological devices due to their limited motor functioning (CITE). Children do not have sufficient haptic ability, and have deficient control over their physiological movement. Despite this, children between the ages of 3 and 5 start to gain motor development, affording the opportunity to interact with the digital world (CITE)...
... middle of paper ...
...ated social support, older adults, and coping. Journal of Communication, 50(30).
Children And Watching TV. (2011, December 1). Facts for Families . Retrieved December 3, 2013, from http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/ Facts_for_Families_Pages/Children_And_Wat_54.aspx
Zack, E., Barr, R., Gerhardstein, P., Dickerson, K., & Meltzoff, A. N. (2009). Infant imitation from television using novel touch screen technology. British Journal Of Developmental Psychology, 27(1), 13-26. doi:10.1348/026151008X334700
72% of the most popular itunes educational apps are targeted specifically towards a much younger audience (pre-school). World that we live in today markets towards a much younger audience
Restaurants
Hill, D. (n.d.). Retrieved From http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/P ages/Why-to-Avoid-TV-Before-Age-2.aspx
Clifford, Brian R., Barrie Gunter, and Jill L. McAleer. Television and Children: Program Evaluation, Comprehension, and Impact. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum, 1995. Print.
Due to this argument, parents and children now heavily rely on technology for a main source of play, limiting the challenges of all creativity and imagination (Rowan 3). Although technology can provide some games and tools that can help children learn, it does not provide the same benefits as actual play and actually causes more harm than good. One of the main problems with play through technology is the fact that children are seeing a “symbolic representation of the real world” and are not receiving a direct experience of the real world with real people and materials (Rice 3). The more time children spend looking at a screen, the more they are isolating themselves and not spending time with other children and adults (Rice 3). This is not only damaging to the learning development of a child, but also the healthy development of forming relationships and social skills (Rice 3). According to a 2010 Kaiser Foundation study, children who are in elementary school use on average 7.5 hours per day of entertainment technology and spending this much “screen time” is damaging to the development of children because their “sensory, motor, and attachment systems have biologically not evolved to accommodate this
The question of the extent to which children learn through technological play is disputed. Most early years specialists agree that the best educational experiences are based on play. Some of the products available for young children use the concept of interactivity to claim they can accelerate progress in learning to read, write and use numbers. The learning toys are marketed at parents who want to get children ready for school but they are often based on mundane educational tasks disguised as entertainment. The so-called interactivity may well provide some initial motivation for learning but it rarely continues beyond the first few encounters and may even get in the way of the educational potential. Exposing young children to such technology presents hindrance to not only their physical and mental development, but their emotions as well.
White, A. V. (2006). Television Harms Children. Opposing Viewpoints. Television. San Diego: Greenhaven Press. (Reprinted from Mothering, 2001, 70)
Television has become a big part in children’s day-to-day lives especially in the 20th century. Children in this century rely on television to keep them entertained and educated instead of entertaining and educating themselves by participating in activities, which will teach them a lot more in life then the actual television. There is no doubt that children are most easily influenced by television because of the different content that they watch as well as the amount of time consumed watching TV. The television does have an emotional and intellectual development on children but this all depends on the content that they’re watching and the way that they absorb the information that the show is trying to send out. Different programs will portray
Technology has changed our world dramatically over the last several decades. Several generations before us did not have air conditioning, telephones, television much less internet. However, today we have access to all of this and more. Technological advances have not only made changes in how we communicate, but also in how everyday tasks are done. The New York Times explains how social media affects children’s behavior and academics, and how the concept of dating has been altered while Louis C. K. explains how the 21st century takes little things for granted and YouTube channel charstarlineTV shows how daily activities can no longer be done without the use of cellphones.
Using the internet as an easy shortcut for things lacks the experiences that children need to develop correctly. There must be a balance of internet and the real life, hard copy form of things for people to really form independent ideas and feelings based on the vast experiences of going to a concert or reading a heavy, worn out, and loved book under a tree that the online version cannot provide. It is experiences like these that help develop motor and sensory skills that are crucial to child development. According to Cris Rowan, the author of “The Impact of Technology on the Developing Child,” the “four critical factors necessary to achieve healthy child development are movement, touch, human connection, and exposure to nature. These types of sensory inputs ensure normal development of posture, bilateral coordination, optimal arousal states and self-regulation necessary for achieving foundation skills” (Rowan). In other words, too much time spent on digital devices instead of playing outside and interacting face-to-face with people can cause some detrimental developmental issues that would affect someone's quality of life. Although technology advancements have created the biggest storage database ever and a world wide web of information and resources, like digital books, that overall improve how society functions, it is still essential for young children to have the experiences that do not involve a screen so that they can develop into healthy young adults who have a understanding of the world, empathy, and their self. Thompson believes that, “We need a new way to talk clearly about the rewards and pleasures of our digital experiences- one that’s rooted in our lived experiences and also detangled from the hype of Silicon Valley.” (353) Individuals cannot appreciate the benefits of technology without the real life
In today’s society we are overwhelmed with technology. Technology is changing everyday, and will forever be a staple in our lives. The effect that technology has on our children has brought on some concerns and some praises. Children these days have no choice but to some how be influenced by the ever growing technology in our societies. Our common concern has been that although digital technology has boosted children’s talent for multitasking, their ability to process information deeply may be deteriorating (Carpenter, 2010). Many people have a wide range of opinions on if technology is having a positive influence on our children or a negative, there is a vast amount of evidence to support both of these arguments. Technology can refer to so many things, but there are three main parts of technology that are having the greatest effects on our children: video games, television/media, and computers. The modern technologies we have today are so powerful because they attract our genetic biases, that the human brain has a tremendous love for visually presented information. Video games, television, movies and computer programs are all very visually oriented and therefore they attract and keep the attention of children easily.
Yadav, Harry. "The Impact of Technological Advancement on Child Development." ArticlesBase. 20 Oct. 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. .
Lowry, Ruth. "Gadgets Affect Child Development." The British Psychological Society, 18 July 2012. Web. 6 Dec. 2013.S
As disclosed in the article, The Impact of Technology on the Developing Child, Chris Rowan acknowledges, “Rather than hugging, playing, rough housing, and conversing with children, parents are increasingly resorting to providing their children with more TV, video games, and the latest iPads and cell phone devices, creating a deep and irreversible chasm between parent and child” (par. 7). In the parent’s perspective, technology has become a substitute for a babysitter and is becoming more convenient little by little. It is necessary for a growing child to have multiple hours of play and exposure to the outside world each day. However, the number of kids who would rather spend their days inside watching tv, playing video games, or texting is drastically increasing. Children are not necessarily the ones to be blamed for their lack of interest in the world around them, but their parents for allowing their sons and daughters to indulge in their relationship with technology so powerfully. Kids today consider technology a necessity to life, because their parents opted for an easier way to keep their children entertained. Thus resulting in the younger generations believing that technology is a stipulation rather than a
... only become greater. With the progression of technology our lives become easier and everyday tasks become simpler to complete, but with increase in ease and simplicity comes a decrease in authentic interactions and activities. Modern technology has almost replaced our generation’s physical social lives, it has left many basic skills unlearned, and has ultimately become a physical part of who we are. Our devices seem to be part of us, and functioning without them, for most, is an unthinkable thought. The effects on our generation’s lives today are all but minimal. With technology progressing each and every day one might find themselves observing the young children who already have the skills to unlock ipones, open and close apps, and who might even own their own “kids tablet,” and ask “How will advances in technology effect the next generation’s lives?”
Negative Effects of Technology on Children? Personal. Psu. 21 March 2010. Web.
In conclusion, since technology is exceeding our humanity, humans have relied on technology for everyday use. Technology is also affecting our future generations with providing the ease of doing school assignments without using their knowledge. Also, toddlers today are professional in using electronic devices before they even pronounce a word. On the other hand, children also rely on the use of technology their entire life like a bad habit. In the end, technology lessens a person’s intelligence and thinking skills, because he/she depended on technology rather than figuring it out on their own.
Technology affects everyone - and everyone! Whether positive or negative, we are all affected, how it manifests itself into problems for youth will be studied and debated for years. Balancing technology throughout the educational process and keeping with current trends and uses of technology will affect everyone. Technology has transformed our youth’s daily and social lives. How do we measure the effects of technology on our ability to socialize or have a successful social life?