The development of technological devices, social media, and the internet have drastically changed the world and our daily lives. Technology has become a central part of the human condition, for better or worse. Furthermore, it influenced everyone in the community including the youngsters born in this digital age.
Today’s teenagers, adolescents, and school-age children are becoming more tech-savvy. They are even outpacing what their parents know about the high-tech devices. With that being said, it is very alarming. Gadget use has its benefits to children such as being a source of learning and entertainment, but the excessive use of it can be harmful.
According to Sundus M. in his study on the impact of using gadgets on children, children who spend too much time on gadgets may experience the following:
Speech or Language Delay
Speech or language delay is when a child isn’t developing speech and language at an expected rate. Children learn to talk and communicate through interaction with others. The more time they spend using electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets, the higher the chances of speech or language delays.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Attention deficit: Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder that refers to problems like paying attention, excess activity, or has difficulty controlling inappropriate behavior. This can happen to children and can lead to them being irritable, unfocused, restless, and easily distracted. Dr. Michael Cichy, a psychologist at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare in Brookfield, said that “it causes various parts of the brain to learn how to scan quickly in order to score a point, to move up to the next level, open a new character, whatever these games happen to be about and that is not the same thing kind of attention paying that’s required in a slower-paced environment like a classroom”.
Learning Problems
Kids learn many things before they reach the age of five. Their learning prospects are much faster than the adults. The time spent on the gadgets instead of communicating and interacting with family members limits the learning. Too much exposure has also been linked to cognitive delays and impaired learning.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling of fear or apprehension about what’s to come. Children who suffer anxiety may experience nervousness, shyness, and fear. Too much time using gadgets ruins their productivity or sleeping patterns leading to anxiety.
Childhood Depression
Childhood depression is a very common and serious medical illness that negatively affects the behavior of the child in such as the way they think and act. Too much gadget use introduces depression in children and can also lead to mental health issues during childhood or adolescence.
Negative Impact on Character Development
A variety of contents can be accessed through high-tech devices. Some of these contents may be inappropriate for children and can be a source of bad impact on their character.
Technology offers limitless opportunities to children. However, risks and problems are also present. To prevent future complications, children should be protected from using gadgets and the time spent on them should be lessened.
—- Carlyn Seludo —-
