Technology: The Negative Effects Of Disney On Children

“I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.” The world’s highly respected genius, Albert Einstein, stated that without hesitation. Einstein’s quote is straight-forward as if he wanted to make his voice clear that this issue with technology is already heading towards an endless pit of disappointment. Some of those disappointment that Einstein have predicted are in media like movies and television, others in entertainment like games, and a main concern of many people, social media such as Facebook. This conversation about technology’s use has been argued and debated since the first advancement of technology; it is making our live easier which only lead us to become lazy. The

use of technology is affecting our minds for the worst.

Movies like Disney have affected our minds at our youth though movies. In Paul Castillo’s writing, the negative effects of Disney on children, he talks about how Disney is this family-friendly corporation, yet he argue, “…are we looking deep enough?” (Castillo). This makes you think, if we are just scratching the surface, who knows what would be underneath? Castillo then goes on to say, “It is from these movies that children often get their first impressions of how men and women are supposed to act.” (Castillo). People said that the first impression is important, so the first movie or show will influence that person. Knowing this, you’ll now understand Disney’s power over everyone. Everyone, know what Disney is and or of them, their influence are targeting at a young age. Sleeping Beauty, a movie created by Disney and is mostly watched by children, is “one of the archetypal Disney princesses” and Castillo have shown an interesting point, “Aurora [, the protagonist,] is described as an extraordinarily beautiful woman…however, you will notice that Aurora’s figure is as impossible as a Barbie’s for humans…” (Castillo). What Castillo is trying to say is that children’s who see this is interpreting beautiful as Aurora, a young gorgeous woman, this will only lead them to

strive for that impossible perfect image. I agree with Castillo on this, see how people are literally starving themselves to gain this so call “perfect image” that everyone wants. Not only is the image is being convey but also the features. Castillo mention, “Disney movies also teach little girls they are supposed to be complacent and weak if they want to be successful.” (Castillo). If this is true, this explain a lot why women haven’t been taking action for year. Even those who have power and speak up are viewed as being the antagonist, just as Castillo phrase, “The vast majority who do use power is Disney movies are the villains.” (Castillo). This only makes children less influence to speak up or be strong. Movies have a big influence on us even if we don’t know it, it is affecting all of our minds.
Television on the other hand is the same as movies with their influences. Kyla Boyse wrote Television and Children, where she question the benefits of watching television at a young age. She compiled, “The Academy [, American Academy of Pediatrics,] is concerned about the impact of television programming intended for children…and how it could affect your child’s development.” (Boyse). Just like Castillo’s arguments, the American Academy of Pediatrics is also noticing the influence that media have on children. In Boyse research, she stated that, “Extensive research evidence indicates that media violence can contribute to aggressive behavior, desensitization to violence, nightmares, and fear of being harmed.” (Boyse). Violence as we know have a negative association with it, and if things go as they are, it is possible that we’ll eventually have serial killers the age of 10. Do we as a society want that for our children, knowing that your child could possibly be a murder? No, you don’t, but as we continue to ignore this dangerous issues, it will eventually lead to serial killer at the age of 10.
Related to violence, video games is becoming well known as a leading source of violence in children. As Zoe Kleinman reported, there is no link between video gaming and violence, and as “The American Psychological Association conclude while there was ‘no single rick factor’ to blame for aggression…” (Kleinman). From this you would think that video game have no violence in it, that they are somewhat good, and they might even been good if somethings didn’t happen. So what does this all mean? It means that from the research from the American Psychological Association, there was no correlation in these two things, so is it safe to assume that we can give our children violence video game without thinking? However, mention in Kleinman’s report, “…a large group of academics said they felt the methodology of the research was deeply flawed as a significant part of material included in the study had not been subjected to peer review.” (Kleinman). Kleinman is saying that the methods used to conduct this research have a largely affective variable that possible skewed the results of their finds. The whole research, data, was not well planned, so the research itself is no credible.
However, some may argue that videogames are not dangerous. Dr. Mark Coulson, associate professor of psychology at Middlesex University, argue “I fully acknowledge that exposure to repeated violence may have short-term effects – you would be a fool to deny that – but the long-term consequences of crime and actual violent behavior, there is just no evidence linking violent video games with that…” (qt in Kleinman). Dr. Mark Coulson makes an interesting point, however I disagree with Dr. Mark Coulson. There are many killings that involve video games, some that are life changing. “Police have arrested a South Korean couple whose toddler starved to death while they were raising a virtual child online, authorities said.” (Salmon). Andrew Salmon have reported this in this article, Police: Couple nurtured virtual child while real baby starved. Ignoring a baby’s cry of hunger though gaming, this couple let their own baby died all because of a video game. Dr. Mark Coulson said that there is no link, but this is the link, playing young and becoming addicted to this game as an adult. Their reason was, that the “Police said the couple had lost their jobs and used the games as an escape from reality…” (Salmon). Technology have changed our minds, they choice games over their own baby, this is one example that technology have changed us negatively. 22-year-old Alexandra Tobias was “…accused of shaking her 3-month-old son to death…” (Martinez). Edecio Martinez have reported that “Tobias told investigators she became angry after the baby cried while she was playing the computer farm simulation game, and she shook him…at which time he may have hit his head…” (Martinez). Her 3-month old baby died because he had interrupted her FarmVille game. People are starting to choose the wrong choice that makes them less than humans. This is the effect of technology, the worst at its innocents. Seeing how people would kill for a second of gaming tears one apart knowing that these victim couldn’t do anything to defend themselves. Gaming altering people’s mind to have a different mindset.
Many argue that social media is bad but what about the good? Social media have only been existence for years, and already people arguing that it have a negative effect on the ones that use social media. Kelly Wallace also agree that, “When I think about…social media, I immediately begin to tally up the negatives.” (Wallace). She goes to arguing, “… a mom of two in New York, monitors her daughter…Instagram account 24/7.” (Wallace). This is one of the benefit for a parent that is worry about what and where their child is participating in. Wallace supported her claim with statistics, “In the survey of more than 1,000 13- to 17-year-olds about how they view their digital lives…” Most of that being said is positive, more outgoing, and less shy. However, is that enough? To have the standard of socializing be just communication through a screen. To see the streets quiet, because there is no longer a need to get out of bed to socialize with one another.
We have over-look what is in front of us. Gary Turk, have made a short film with his lesson that he want people to know and see. The very begin of his lesson, “I have 422 friends, yet I am lonely…” (Turk). Turk is speaking about his social media, all of his friends in that screen of his, he feels lonely because he is not in a personal interaction, which only lead him to become sad and or depressed. “A world where we’re slaves to the technology we mastered…” (Turk). He is voicing his words not only in social media, but the fact that we are in need of technology. “Now the parks are so quiet…” there is so much that he is appointing in his lesson, a lesson that should be shown to everyone in the world. “Don’t give in to a life where you follow the hype, give people your love, don’t give them your like. Disconnect from the need to be heard and defined Go out into the world, leave distractions behind.” (Turk). Stop this madness of technology, I completely agree with Gray Turk, every word that he said. Stop with conversation with screens and start a conversation in person.
So what is technology, good or bad?

The movie’s influence to teach children what is wrong and right, to the influence that television have on you without one even realizing it. The fact that people wants change in this society but is not changing that beginning of where it starts, to the video games portraying violence, the baby killers. The use of technology, the addiction that people created has made them into a psycho killer. Lastly, the use of social media, have torn us apart from each other. We are now in a screen, talking to screen, no longer would it be face to face. Gary Turk, the person who is voicing his concern about society, the fact that we’ll see kids with Ipads. That is not a bad thing but the way they use them, the chances that they miss by being sucked in to their little screen. Considering all that I have said and mention from others, technology is affecting our minds with or without us knowing negatively. In the end the people you were so blind to see will be there not your phones or that movie that keeps the children busy. So I am going to say what Gary Turk said, “So when you’re in public, and you start to feel alone, put your hands behind your head, and step away from the phone. You don’t need to stare at your menu, or at your contact list, just talk to one another, and learn to co-exist.” In other words let go of your virtual life and enjoy the real life that surrounds you, that you were born into, and that you will learn to

love.