Essay on The Negative Effects of Technology on Development of Children

               The technology has changed modern life in so many ways and added so much to the quality of life. This inclusion of technology in modern living is increasing with the passage of time, and if things will continue like this, then technology is going to dominate society in the future as well. It is a fact that no one can avid the essence of technology so it is hard to keep it away from children. There is no argument on the benefits of various technologies, but one cannot ignore its negative side, especially keeping children in mind. It is a common situation that a young child is seen watching cartoons, playing games on a tablet or using a smart phone, etc. It is happening because technology has got cheaper and it is so convenient to get access to technology. It is true that use of certain devices such as T.V, laptop, tablets, and smart phones can be good for development and exposure of children, but there is one more critical fact to keep in mind that such devices are having various negative effects on mind and development of children (Ortiz, 2017)

How Technology Affecting the Development of Children

               It is vital to look at some real-life facts to see how technology is affecting children. There was a time when technology was not so common and dominant in the world, which means that lifestyle was different. People use to socialize more and stay together to enjoy their life. The same was the case with children, as they used to play together to enjoy their time. The children in the past were more active physically as they used to play physical games, and remain fit & healthy. Then technologies such as T.V, video games were introduced, and children started to use these devices. So, rather playing outside in the courtyard, they started playing video games. If a child was playing physical games for 1 hour, then a situation came where physical activity got zero, and children used to play video games for hours. The other major negative effect of technology is that children don’t involve in exercise. That’s why the rate of childhood obesity has raised too much in the last few years. In the 1980s, the obesity rate of children was 11%, which rose to the level of 18% in 2012, and it is still rising with the passage of time. It was important for children to play outside, breathe fresh air and expose their bodies to the sunlight to get Vitamin D for their bodies. But it is not happening because children prefer to stay inside to play games and watch cartoons (Patel, 2017)

“Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important”. Bill Gates

               It is crucial to get a view from child development experts so that a more authentic view of things is made in this regard. Anastasia Moloney is a specialist in Early Childhood Development, so it is vital to get their idea on the use of technology for children. It is said that technology is now an essential part of daily life, so now it is the responsibility of the parents to take measures for their children regarding their interaction with certain technologies. The parents have a big job to do as they will have to sort out how their young ones will use technology, and what would be their screen time. It has been observed that technology is affecting the development of children in a variety of ways. For instance, research studies have found that children having more interaction with technology tend to lose interest in reading, which ultimately affects their ability for critical thinking. It has also been observed that children having more interaction with technology face problems in imagination and attention. Moreover, the technology can be dangerous for kids’ safety as well. For instance, children may involve in any illegal or unethical activity on social media, or someone may get children in trouble. These aspects are evident to show that child development is negatively impacted by the use of technologies on a daily basis (MOLONEY, 2019)

“Television has changed the American child from an irresistable force to an immovable object”. Laurence J. Peter of The Negative Effects of Technology on Development of Children

               The experts have said that when the child is going through its childhood, its brain also goes through the development phase, so when the brain is impacted by something during this period, it can affect it positively or negatively. For instance, if during early childhood, if children are exposed to internet and technology in severe amounts, then the thinking approach adopted by the brain can be based on technology, like making quick decisions while processing or scanning any information. It means that the overall attention span of a child will be negatively affected due to such a thinking approach (Rowan, 2017).

               The attention and focus are also damaged because the technology works like a distraction for the kids. Moreover, it has also been found in various research studies that children playing fighting video games tend to show more violence and aggression in their behavior while dealing with others. It is quite a dangerous fact and it is necessary for parents to keep such information in mind when they allow their children to play video games. The physical activity of children is also stagnated by the excessive use of technology. The children tend to avoid social interaction, which is not a good thing with regards to their social development. They are part of society, so they should interact with people to get more exposure in life. This is how emotional development and attachment of children is also negatively impacted by the technology (Florida Tech, 2019).

“The 'Net is a waste of time, and that's exactly what's right about it” (William Gibson) (Brainyquote. com, 2019).

               There is one more factor to keep in mind while looking at negative effects of technology and that important factor is education. The education is crucial for the overall development of a child, as it helps him/her to get knowledge, learn new ideas, and broaden his/her vision. But the bad news is that technology also makes a negative impact on the educational development of children. There are ways to get learning opportunities from various technologies, but children tend to focus on its other side, which keeps them away from learning and development. A research study was conducted by the McKinsey consulting firm, which revealed that the use of technology can have adverse effects on the learning abilities of school children. The research showed that children who use e-books, laptops or iPads in their classroom, it hurts the overall learning process of these children. Moreover, children exposed to excessive use of technology tend to lose their interest in education, which ultimately affects their overall school performance (O'Brien, 2018).

               Things can get even serious if the use of technology begins to affect the health of children because good health is crucial for the development of children. A study was conducted in 2014, and the purpose of this study was to investigate, whether exposure to technology can be a cause for developing tumor risk in adolescents as well as children. This study collected data from 15 different countries and the estimated population of these studies was around forty million. The age range of the people being analyzed in this study was 10 years to 24 years of age. This study has analyzed so many cases so far, and it continues to do for the future as well. It is expected that results taken from this comprehensive study will be important for the topic of having the potential risk of tumor in kids (Maule, et al., 2014)

Conclusion of The Negative Effects of Technology on Development of Children

               It can be said in the end that technology can have various negative effects on child development in a variety of ways. The technology can affect their focus, attention, critical thinking as well as the ability to socialize. The children tend to remain socially isolated as they like to spend time with technology, rather than spending time with their friends and family, which is not a good sign. The excessive use of technology can also have a negative impact on the health of children, that’s why research studies are looking to see the relationship between tumor risk and the use of technology.

References of The Negative Effects of Technology on Development of Children

Florida Tech. (2019). How Technology Affects Child Development. Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://www.floridatechonline.com/blog/psychology/how-technology-affects-child-development/

Maule, M. M., Cardis, E., Langer, C., Sadetzki, S., Filippini, G., Farinotti, M., et al. (2014). The MOBI-Kids study protocol: challenges in assessing childhood and adolescent exposure to electromagnetic fields from wireless telecommunication technologies and possible association with brain tumor risk. Neuro-Oncology , 16 (suppl 2), ii73-ii73.

MOLONEY, A. (2019). TECHNOLOGY IMPACT ON CHILD GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT. Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://www.thetot.com/baby/the-impact-of-technology-on-behavior/

O'Brien, C. (2018). Technology can hurt students’ learning, research shows. Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/technology-can-hurt-students-learning-research-shows-1.3385864

Ortiz, A. A. (2017). Negative effects of technology on children. Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/life/wellness/2017/04/19/sound-mind-negative-effects-technology-children/99872132/

Patel, D. (2017). Will Technology Ruin Your Children’s Development? Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://medium.com/thrive-global/will-technology-ruin-your-childrens-development-663351c76974

Rowan, C. (2017). The Impact of Technology on the Developing Child. Retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/technology-children-negative-impact_b_3343245