Digital Technology is arguably one of mankind’s greatest inventions. The digital invention truly changed the world the moment it was created, and this invention will continue to change the world.
Everyday, humans can easily get their hands on any kind of technology at a store or any street corner. Nowadays, it’s very common to see someone carrying or using a piece of technology in their everyday lives; such as a laptop, a tablet, or a phone.
Usually, you will spot an adult holding or using a device, but that has changed overtime. 95% of teenagers in the U.S. have devices (PewResearch.org) too, which has started to upset many adults as technology continues to evolve. Many people including parents or teachers discuss the issues with teenagers using devices. This is because teenagers can and are getting addicted to devices. Regardless, it seems that teenagers having devices has become the norm.
While there are negatives with giving children devices, there are the positives as well. There are some cases in which these devices can be beneficial, like if they need it for emergencies. Children can be positively influenced when using technology, which can happen when being exposed to positive material- the kind of material that has the ability to educate them on something.
There is a point however, where the answer of who should have technology or not becomes more clear.
Sometimes you will spot a device in the hands of the child. Usually they will be playing games, or they will be watching videos on platforms such as YouTube.
Society has always picked on teens for using devices because it messes with their development but now there is a new issue- children using devices.
This issue has been taken seriously in some parts of the U.S., but it was taken and dealt with in Florida. A bill in Florida was passed, and it prevents all minors younger than fourteen from having a social media account (Flgov.com). This bill may seem strict, but it had the good purpose of protecting children from any dangers that exist within technology.
Many children in the U.S. have access to technology, and it has grown ever since. According to NCES, “In 2021, some 97 percent of 3- to 18- year olds had home internet access, according to the American Community Survey (ACS)”. The amount of children using technology is increasing, and will only increase. Children’s safety causes the rise of children using technology if a parent wants to be able to message their children to get a hold of them or to track their location for safety reasons. The use of technology will also only increase because technology is now a main source of education.
To clarify, it’s not too much of a big deal with a child using technology especially in today’s modern society. The problem starts when they are not given many restrictions while using technology.
“If there’s an overuse of technology, I don’t think it’s beneficial for children. If it’s for necessary purposes. such as ensuring their safety then I think it’s important they use it.” says Freshman Grace Li at John W. North.
Some parents are not aware of what power a device like a phone can wield when being placed in front of a child. Some parents are too busy to spend time with their children, or they just don’t want to spend any time with them, so they place their child in front of a device, any kind of device that could distract their child. And toddlers are no exception.
“I think children should be allowed to have devices, but there should be limitations, I should know because I’ve experienced it firsthand. Technology tends to make kids a little spoiled in some ways, by constantly asking for the internet instead of doing something productive. This cannot be good and impacts them mentally. It causes addiction at such an early age. They can even show signs of aggression and mostly use their free time to strictly be on their devices. When kids throw tantrums or constantly cry, their parents will just give them technology. This results in a bad routine that the children will pick up on and take advantage of the habitat, to constantly be on the internet.” said Juliana Martinez, a freshman at John W. North.
As many people know, you can find anything on the internet. The internet has its beauties, yet it can be a dangerous place for anyone, especially minors. The internet can contain inappropriate material that shouldn’t be exposed to children. With the power of technology today, it is not hard for someone to find explicit material.
According to Digital Information World, “[…] it is important to note that around 54% of the teenagers who responded to this survey said that they first saw pornographic content before the age of 13.”
Children are curious, and when they are handed a phone for example, with no restrictions, they are being put in danger. They can go or download any kind of app, and be exposed to whatever is within the app. They can go on YouTube, and they can watch any kinds of videos they’d like.
It’s not just YouTube that they can go to, but also the internet. As mentioned earlier, the internet has its normal material and its explicit material. Children can be exposed to violent videos or pornography. If they are unfortunately exposed to this kind of material, it can potentially mess up their mental health and the way they may act as they grow up.
While there are the negatives and the horrors of giving children no restrictions with devices, there are the positives as well. Children can be positively influenced when using technology, which can happen when being exposed to positive material- the kind of material that has the ability to educate them on something.
If children continue to use technology, it is important to remind parents to control what could be exposed to their children. This includes restricting any kind of app or site that could expose them to inappropriate material. This action requires parents to actually parent and supervise their children as they would in any potentially hazardous situation.
