Would you believe me if I told you that 66% of all American children under the age of two years old have watched television? Astonishing, right? In today’s America, the use of technology within the everyday life has increased tremendously throughout the past few decades. While these advances are abundantly significant, and improve Americans’ overall lifestyle, it would be naïve to ignore the destructive side effects due to these progressions. Technology, like tablets and computers, have been implemented into school systems as an attempt to enhance the learning experience for grade schools. For some children, this is a helpful tactic. For other children, it is purely a disadvantage due to the distraction created by the electronics. Ideally, when these items are being utilized, the teacher or adult present is aware of whatever software the child is using. However, is this type of supervision always guaranteed? There is no way, mainly due to the amount of students in a typical American classroom. With that being said, however, there are upsides to using technology in schools. It provides a unique learning experience to each child due to the programs they are allowed to use on these electronics. Also, students are able to access a world of information at a touch of a button. This itself has pros and cons. The use of electronics in schools is just one counterargument. Another side people could argue, is that children are using technology and electronics to become enriched with knowledge of the growing field of technology, itself. This is an argument because children in elementary schools are exposed to this technology more so than someone senior. While it is good to know how to maneuver through technology, these children are at a disadvantage because they do not have the self-discipline it takes to know when to power down the electronics, and take a break. This is where a responsible adult should step in. 

It is important to note that many parents are using electronics to aid in the entertain of children, rather than having to pay for extracurricular activities, or having to take their child to the park. Technology is being used as an easy out for parents, simply so the parents do not have to interact with the children themselves. In a way, electronics are being used as a babysitter. This reason is why it is so important for Americans to understand the risk children are at with the extensive use of technology. When it comes to children being developmentally delayed and socially out of touch, it is the duty of the parents to step in and monitor technology usage. The usage of technology can be all types of ways, including watching television, playing games on a tablet or computer, or even watching YouTube videos. Children being active and having social interaction is key in these early stages of life. Technology is interfering immensely with the development of children in the United States, so adolescents’ technology usage should be monitored and limited, in order to prevent developmental delays, emotional delays, and issues creating relationships, as well as, issues with addictive behaviors early on in life. 

This decade old controversial topic and usage of technology is not a new concern. As new technology is developed and leaked to the world, it takes time to refine the issues and control them. The article “Children and Computers: New Technology. Old Concerns,” discusses this cycle by explaining that every time a new technology is developed and released to the public, it is advertised as beneficial, and a “must-have.” However, the concern of how the technology will affect the children is always a priority. As American’s discovered more and more about the developmental aspects of the human body, the concern for children to receive the right amount of exposure to things that could affect their development, increased. Wartella and Jennings explain this by the using the example of once films were created and shown at movie theaters, parents grew concerned about the context in which the films featured. This is where movie ratings came about to control what content children were able to view. Now, a few decades later, we see the same type of worry from parents and adults today. The only change is the newer technology, but it comes with the same concerns attached.

                For as long as children’s development has been a concern, what they do and who they interact with has been an interest. The thoughts behind how much exposure children have with technology during their crucial developmental years is due to the decline in adolescents’ mental growth. Children’s ability to create relationships among peers, recognize nonverbal ques, and the negative effects on children’s self-esteem is decreasing substantially. Looking past the effects on social interaction, the concern worsens when discussing the negative effects on brain development, and lack of sensory and motor development in these children that have a large amount of exposure to the electronics. Many studies have been performed comparing the use of electronics and social media and their link to these developmental issues. Cris Rowan’s article, “The Impact of Technology on the Developing Child,” discusses some of these studies. Specifically, a 2010 Kaiser Foundation study showed that adolescents “use on average 7.5 hours per day of entertainment technology, 75 percent of these children have TV’s in their bedrooms, and 50 percent of North American homes have the TV on all day.” This study in particular show that parents are pulling back on giving out hugs, having family dinners, and developing a real relationship with their children. Instead, parents are purchasing the latest cell phones, gaming devices, and tablets for their children. The results of this parenting style in a digital age is destroying children’s ability to actually develop real relationships, and creating materialistic people. It is important for parents to realize they are not helping their children, only hurting their overall development.

            The difficulty with these issues is that technology has become a big part within the school systems, with the hopes of enhancing the students learning with a more modern experience. While it is important for students to have interaction with technology, because of its progressing development in the work place, and everyday life, it is still an issue because of too much exposure on these devices. At school, the time on the electronics are hopefully monitored and used only for education purposes. However, the children’s at home usage is a different story. It is often used as entertainment for the children, in order to keep them occupied and out of trouble. This is a topic for discussion because parents, guardians, or baby sitters are using these electronics for the wrong reasons, allowing children unlimited, and sometimes unmonitored access to these devices. It is important for the adults in these children’s lives to realize what destruction they are causing to the overall health of these kids. While these concerns about technology and children are not new, they are still an issue. It has become increasingly difficult to convince children to go outside and play. Using their imagination instead of playing video games is not appealing to children anymore. This is where monitoring time spent on these devices, as well as what content is important.

As technology is being integrated into school systems, it is important to notice the pros and the cons these electronics inflict on the children being exposed to them, and it is not stopping there. Children are being introduced to electronics such as, cell phones, tablets, and computers faster and sooner than ever before. With these devices, comes along social media influences, games, music, and just about any information desired. This information is not always appropriate for children. However, if the child is given free rein of the device, no one is preventing the undesirable views a child may encounter. It should be considered how excessive technology usage, as well as what the child is doing on the devices, is effecting the psychologic side of children. This can contribute to developmental delays, as well as harming the child’s ability to focus. This is a tremendously important issue that many Americans are not taking notice of. Unfortunately, most people will not be aware of the risks until it is too late for many children whom will be suffering the developmental delays.

Cris Rowen presents an excellent support of these claims in her article, “The Impact of Technology on the Developing Child.” One main difference with the youth of today versus the youth from twenty years ago, is the fact that they are not being challenged to use their imagination. They are not handed a few matchbox cars, or Barbie’s, or even sent outside to play on the jungle gyms. All of these activities allow these children to interact with one another, and use their creativity. Children playing outside lead active lifestyles, while children playing indoors on tablets are not receiving any health benefits. Along with these issues, are several others, like the lack of sensory and motor development, as well as the increase of disorders due to the excessive use of technology. These delays lead to difficulty for the child to achieve a satisfactory education learning things like how to read and write. Schools are just now detecting psychological, physical, and behavioral disorders that may be linked to the use of technology, requiring children to stay sedentary, instead of being active. More specifically, disordered like ADHD, autism, sensory processing disorders, anxiety, depression and even sleep disorders in children have been linked to the use of these electronics. Past these issues, comes the topic of childhood obesity that is now an epidemic in America. All parents are different, with different parenting styles, however, most parents would do whatever they had to, in order to keep their child safe and healthy. This is why it is so important to make parents, and educators aware of these dreadful risks. Rowen mentions the critical factors needed for children to have a healthy development. These factors include movement, human connection, touch, and exposure to nature. Most American’s can agree that these are crucial needs that children need to achieve in order to grow and develop. 

Aside from the fact that this technology usage by adolescents can harm their health, it can also affect how they learn. Pamela Deloatch’s article, “The Four Negative Sides of Technology” provides a critical lens to how the use of these electronics in the classroom truly impact the student’s ability to learn, and how they learn. Deloatch provides the shocking statistic, “More than a third of children under the age of two use mobile media.” At such an early age, it is not shocking to know that tablets, and smart phones handed off to children who are developing, are creating a lasting, undesirable affect. The claim has been made many times that technology is changing how children’s brains work. Once children adapt to always using search engines, it is said to have the effect of being able to find good quality information, but also not being able to remember this information Not only does technology change how children think, but it also changes how they feel. When children are addicted to a certain game on their tablets, or social media, it is easy for them to zone in and forget about their surroundings. Studies have shown that children are less likely to pick up on nonverbal cues, and their ability to empathize is altered. This is yet again; another reason it is so important for the social interaction through face to face contact of children. If they do not learn how to communicate in person, it will be harder for them to develop these communication skills later on. 

While the negative and less desirable effects are noted, it is also reasonable to note the pros on these adolescents growing up in a digital world. “The Digital Revolution and Adolescent Brain Evolution” written by Jay N. Giedd, M.D., discusses these positives. Studies have shown these children are more likely to be thrill seekers, as well as moving away from parents. These adolescents are taking more risks, as well as using the technology to their benefits when it comes to information seeking There are always both positives and negatives, but what is most important is which side outweighs the other. Children accessing electronics and having unlimited time viewing their favorite cartoons, or video games is the fault of only a few people. It comes down to parenting. It is the parents’ responsibility to monitor their children’s activity, and know what their children are viewing. Many parents allow their children to occupy themselves. This allows a child to make the decision of what to watch, or what games to play, often giving them the access to view content much above their age. There are other ways to occupy children. Children are like a sponge, they absorb much of the things around them, and mimic these things in their own lives. One of the most important things a parent can do is set an example for their child. If your child sees you reading a book, rather than being on social media, they are more likely to pick up a book, too. While it may be hard to change your own behaviors, most parents would agree that it is worth it for the sake of their own child’s wellbeing. Also, it is helpful if parents actually parent. Although sometimes unpopular, it is the parents responsibility to make the difficult decisions to enforce the rules set in place for their children. Your child may not like them now, however, they will thank you in the future when they are not struggling in school as much as their friends who are always playing games, and watching television. A happy medium between a parent and child could be to eliminate televisions in the bedrooms, but have designated times to watch appropriate cartoons as a family. It is also important for parents to encourage other activities. Allowing children to be involved in sports or other activities, gives them the opportunity for peer interaction. This gives them the ability to make friends whom have common interest with them. Another tip for parents, play with your children, interact with them. Building this level of a relationship is important when they are young, it will develop a sense of closeness and the children will be more likely to communication with their parents. Being involved in your child’s life has to be an intentional act by the parents at certain points in the child’s life. However, as the child gets older, they will have more respect and better communication with their parents as teenagers. It is overall the best option for both, the child and the parents, to be involved with each other.

It is true that more and more school systems are incorporating technology as a new teaching mechanism. As long as this interaction between the students and the technology is purely for educational purposes and monitored closely by the teachers and assistants, then it can be used a beneficial tool for the students and the educators. Parents can be involved in this aspect as well, and be involved and communicate with their child’s teacher in order to know exactly what their child is up to in the classroom, and how well they are doing. Most of the weight for this problem falls on the parents.

Though this is an important topic to discuss, this argument could go back and forth for a long time. Technology is growing and developing every day, so it is important for children to have moderate access to computer, and other uses of technology so that these children will be successful later in life when they enter college or the work force. In America, the issue that is being unfolded is the issue of the uncontrolled aspect of children growing up in a world full of information accessible through technology. Most parents would agree that they shield their children from the negative aspects of the world. Technology can potentially have content that could be possibly dangerous for a children’s health and development. There is content shown that is too explicit for an innocent child’s mind. Technology can become addictive, so it is important for parents to set limits with their children, and always be aware of what they are doing on electronics, or viewing on television. This issue is quickly growing to an epidemic due to the side effects of the hours and hours children spend on electronics, and watching television. They are developing more aggressive behaviors, struggling with obesity, developing learning disorders, and so much more. These serious side effects are outweighing the cool games, or being cool on social media. As long as parents are aware of the negative side effects and take the proper steps to prevent them, technology can be use in a good way. Awareness equals effectiveness.
