The Influence Of Technology In Children And Young People

The influence of technology in children and young people

Introduction

Throughout history, technology and its advances have come to have a very important influence within society. Thanks to this outstanding tool, many changes have been witnessed in favor in various fields, both work, commercial, study, etc., as well as against unusual behaviors in infants and adolescents. The influence of technology in children and young people is mostly negative, due to the problems caused in its development, concentration and health in general. Many young people and children, today have been involved by this means, leaving aside important coexistence activities in their development. Within this issue, the attention of an adolescent or child is compromised, due to the thousands of times in which their level of concentration is distracted or lost quickly.  Despite what is indicated, technological advances can be beneficial if they are used properly. The essential objective of this text is to inform about the positive and negative aspects of the technological influence given mainly in children and adolescents, what are its consequences and how it can be handled. From the proposed, it is intended to demonstrate with true examples on studies carried out based on the subject, percentages and statistical data.

During the last decade there have been vertiginous technological advances and a growing use of mobile devices with Internet connection. Tools such as Chat or Social Networks went from the private use of the business field to the necessary personal use, according to ISEP CLINIC experts (Clinical Care Center of the Higher Institute of Psychological Studies).

ISEP CLINIC highlights the fact in which adolescents give a fundamental value to new technologies and the Internet, as a sign of identity and status, and its use has become a priority in their life. "Being connected and having the latest technologies for them is indispensable," adds a report from this center. In the same way, the fact in which being a teenager currently implies having the last iPhone, Tablet, Nintendo (video games), and many times the children even have more advanced technology than their parents possess.

Advantages of technology and its use 

New technologies and the Internet have revolutionized the world of information. Some of the advantages to highlight consist of an improvement in communication between people from anywhere in the world, at any time, continuously and permanently.  Technological advance has also been a fundamental instrument to facilitate the socialization process especially among young people, thanks to the use of the Internet and the different tools that are found, such as various social networks. This has undoubtedly allowed personal development, at the time of relating to more people, knowing new friendships, and exchange ideas or opinions. Communication is one of the advantages, but it is not the only. Access to information is a factor of great relevance in these times, due to the speed and efficacy of technology, many young people follow courses, learn languages, and expand their knowledge. In the case of children, technology is also a learning tool, through games, didactic activities, etc., All are found inside the Internet. Video games, television and technological devices such as mobile phones, tablets or computers, have become almost essential tools in their daily lives. According to researchers, they can improve the performance and development of cognitive faculties. You can currently find numerous applications for smartphones, tablets, iPads, and more, interesting for childhood learning and development. These tools have many advantages for children, since they are designed to read and learn in an interactive game format that makes it really attractive to them. During childhood, children learn by imitation and these tactile technologies have the characteristic in which, while the child learns the handling and operation of the application or game, he has the possibility of imitating the exercises and this helps him continue learning whilefun.

A cell phone may be necessary when having a form of contact with the children, or even make emergency calls or to notify their parents the place where they are. At home they will use technology in the most optimal way and will also be protected from digital violence and bullying. On the other hand, in schools, it is impossible to ignore the fact in which today’s children are digital apprentices and are instructed by electronic devices. There are currently schools which base their dynamics on the effective use of technology from preschool level, thus responding to the needs of the children of the digital era. Some state -of -the -art technological tools allow teachers to guide the class in a totally analogous way, achieving a rupture of the technological gap between children and teachers, allowing a better way learning. It is not about having a computer inside the classroom, but also using this tool significantly to share knowledge and turn the classroom into an interactive space. A correct technological use encourages the creation of multicompetent children capable of successfully face the challenges of the future.

Negative points of technological use

Just as there are several search alternatives, the lack of veracity in the required sources of information is also presence. Another negative aspects within technological advances and their influence on children and adolescents is interference with other activities. This may be due to distraction or absence of concentration and can cause insomnia. "The term" vamping "has been established to define the use of electronic devices until the early hours of the morning before sleeping.”(Navarro, 2015) This is undoubtedly detrimental to the health of children and adolescents due to wear which can be generated in their brain and then can cause fatigue and laziness in them. The problem lies in the inappropriate use of technology, as already proven studies indicate that children often perform multiple tasks and do not develop normal social skills.

One of the main negative effects is the excessive use of technology. From birth to two years, the child’s brain triples its size, and continues in that rapid development state until the age of 21. Environmental stimuli, or lack of them, determine the development of the brain at this early age. No doubt this physically and emotionally harms millions of children around the world. In addition, certain contents of programs and games can generate, by imitation, aggressive and violent attitudes affecting their daily behavior. Other secondary factors are the lack of attention and intellectual performance affecting their optimal mental development, attention deficit, cognitive delays, dissociated learning, greater impulsivity and less self-control capacity.

Pediatricians consider that prolonged use of screens generates more passive children, while lack of physical contact with other people causes lack of interaction and decreases the healthy development of the senses of the little ones. It also affects your dream, both for the content you can see and by brightness and electromagnetic waves, radiofrequency emissions, sound, etc. They leave the physical exercise necessary for healthy development, and as a consequence, obesity and other diseases can be generated. Children who see a lot. Among other negative effects are the increase in depression, anxiety, affective disorders, attention deficit, bipolar disorders, psychosis and child aggressiveness. All these consequences occur from a dependency, especially of adolescents to electronic devices, which can end in an addiction.

Thanks to the Internet we can obtain the required information of any part of the world, being a valuable tool for our work or studies, however when we talk about children in full growth it is not so favorable. This is due to the easy accessibility to information not appropriate for their age, therefore, permanent supervision by parents regarding this is vital. In the same way, many parents should have control over the time that their children use the Internet, time in which infants can use in other activities which help their personal growth, developing their social integrity with other children of their age. One of the options instead of wasting your time in these activities, is to take the option of sport, because it is a very valuable activity in helping to keep your physical condition healthy, as well as to prevent childhood obesity, as mentionedpreviously.

According to studies conducted by Stanford University (United States) they reveal that 43% of children really take advantage of this learning opportunity. The figures change when it comes to young people or adolescents, they cover 28% in the use of technology as a study tool. The figures shown are undoubtedly low and indicate the incorrect use of technology and its relevant presence today. Children and adolescents have dedicated themselves to seeking and obtaining inappropriate information for their age and development. They satisfy this through pages that reduce their time with family and friends, making this a vice which monopolizes their attention and comfort. 

Millions of young people around the world have taken technology as a vicious circle, from which it is difficult to leave, almost impossible. Thanks to this, disorders and various general discomforts are produced, which affect human life in the short term. The excessive use of technology can become the cause of various problems in human beings, both in children, young and adults. The aforementioned problems are mainly hearing damage, such as deafness or hearing loss and subsequently a loss of balance. Mental problems are generated from the unbridled use of technology, that is, a total need for communication. From this there are problems such as depression, social isolation, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment in daily activities. Without realizing it, technology has become a fundamental pillar in the life of the human being, children, youth and adults worldwide. Many people do not realize the various damages and how these can cause serious problems in both mental and physical health, thanks to inadequate technological use.

Technology has become a trigger today that covers many benefits, however negative aspects are crucial and negative in their use by children and young people. It is clear to realize how today many teenagers do not take off from their mobile phones, even at eating time, when this should be an important moment to share with the family. The computer (Internet) has become its center. When mentioning these aspects, it is not intended to indicate only the advances of technology, but how its influence is detrimental in young people and children. Technology has evolved over time and without a doubt years later it will be worse, it will have more influence and it will be more complicated to get out of a vicó in which a child or adolescent has gotten into. Faced with technological advance, nothing can be done, but in control over infants and adolescents in terms of television, internet, radios, computers, web pages, etc.

Having analyzed the negative and positive effects of each posture, the cause of this unbridled technological influence on children and young people are mostly negative. From here several questions may arise such as the fact of whether a child or a teenager can be allowed to use a computer with internet, mobile cell phones, among others. The answer is simple "yes". Technology will always continue advancing, will always influence people, but there are prevention methods, parents are responsible for the control of their children and are in their hands to inform themselves and stop the subsequent consequences. Faced with this problem, studies in the University of Toronto (Canada) affirm an estimated amount of 89 % of children and young people, who are safe, thanks to the supervision and control of their parents about them in front of this crucial issue.

recommendations

Children under 10 should not have access to the Internet while they are alone. You can use the computer as a game tool, leisure, study or source of information. From 10 to 14 years they can access the Internet according to the schedule and the rules stipulated under parents’ supervision. Many children "prohibit" their parents to supervise their chat or social networks because, according to them, they would be "violating their intimacy". This argument lacks logic if one takes into account that, at those ages, children can be highly potential victims of fraud, harassment or deception on the Internet. From the age of 14, very clear rules must be established and the respective sanctions which will apply in case of non -compliance. Children and young people are free to use it, but knowing the risks and danger of doing so as well as the limitations on their use.

According to psychologist Yolanda Vera, director of ISEP CLINIC Terrassa, “parents who come to psychological consultations due to a possible addiction of their children to new technologies, usually have between 30-40 years, while children with mobile addictionThey come from 9 years, an early age, but explainable if one takes into account that, today, children are frequent to have cell phone from 8 years ”. "Children with social media addiction go to consultsocial until turned 14 years old. For this psychologist it is advisable that many parents go to a psychological office “when they cannot control connection schedules or if, when trying, a serious family conflict is generated”. (Vega 2012)

It is also convenient to seek professional help when addiction is the priority in the life of the child and for it breaks responsibilities, such as doing homework, studying, or stops carrying out pleasant activities to continue connected, such as going out with friends orplay. When a child renounces his social or family life and prefers to live isolated in his room or with his mobile or computer, it is also necessary to go to a psychological consultation. Regarding when it would be recommended that the children themselves begin psychotherapy to solve their technoadicction, the right time is when parents decide, since we must not forget that they are minors and, therefore, under the legal protection of an adult. It is the parents who must decide when their child’s behavior begins to be a problem, so you should seek professional and specialized help. The child should not have the option to say no. If there is the ideal situation that it is the child or adolescent who asks for or requesting help, we must take it to an infantic -velocy psychologist without hesitation, ”concludes the expert of ISEP Clinic.

From all these established data, it is clear both the importance and disadvantages of the use of technology in young people and children. Because of this, several control options that parents should take if they come to find in a vice situation in the face of excessive and incorrect use of technology are recommended. The right time to give a child’s technology device corresponds to the degree of responsibilities he has, and the needs and responsibilities. It is important to explain to the child the responsibility he acquires when having a device. Be aware of their activities with these media, as it is also crucial that parents monitor each of the calls or visits to web pages, and where appropriate, the use of social networks, which the child performs, count how long it lasts with eachcall and put a limit to teach savings in services with an adequate plan for them.

conclusion

Starting from the studies on the influence of technology in young people and children, there is a greater emphasis on the negative effects that this medium can cause in its development. Control by parents is also important when allowing their children to continue cell phones, internet, computers, television, game consoles, etc.