PSY 605 Week 3 Discussion 1

For this week discussion, I chose to focus on the influence technology has on adolescents. The advancement of technology has increased dramatically in the past century, more and more people depend on technology for everyday functions. In this day and age, you can’t walk down the street without seeing people with their attention focused on a telephone screen.

Technology has even increased in the educational system, while more schools implement and incorporate the use of technology, through the use of smart boards, tablets and the use of the internet. “They emphasize the development of technology integrated curricula that are developmentally appropriate for young children and that help to bridge young children’s digital experiences at home and in school” ( Ching-Ting, 2014). Job search is even more accessible through technology. “The internet also appears to be of growing importance for any individual who wants to direct and develop his or her career” (Rutten, 2016). There are many positive aspects of the use of technology, such as educational purposes and continuous learning, networking, job searching amongst others.

According to the article “Impact of Media Use on Children and youth,” evidence suggests that television influences children and adolescents by the amount of time they spend watching. Negative influences from technology include the lack of activities that the child participates in, such as playing outside, exercising, eating correctly and building aggression. “Because television takes time away from play and exercise activities, children who watch a lot of television are less physically fit and more likely to eat high fat and high energy snack foods.…many of the concerns about the negative effects of television (e.g., inactivity, asocial behaviour, and violence) also apply to excessive exposure to video games” (Paediatr Child Health, 2003). These negative aspects are a cause of great concern.

As with everything in society it is a matter of moderation. Parents should monitor how long children remain in any form of technology from watching television, playing a video game, texting, or browsing the internet. Technology is rapidly emerging in society with usage it is essential to break away and engage in human interaction. It is imperative to find balance with the use of technology to prevent harmful impact on youth.

Reference

Ching-Ting, H., Ming-Chaun, L., & Chin-Chung, T. (2014). The influence of young children ‘s use of technology on their learning: A review. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 17 (4), 85-99

Kirkorian, H. L., Wartella, E, A., & Anderson, D. R. (2008). Media and young children’s learning. Future of Children, 18 (1), 39-61 

Paediatr Child Health. Impact of media use in children and youth. (2003). Paediatrics & Child Health, 8 (5), 301-306

Rutten, M., Ros, A., Kuijpers,M., & Kreigns, K. (2016). Usefulness of social network sites for adolescent development of online career skills. Educational Technology & Society, 19 (4), 140-150