Embrace or Erase

Technology?
According to The Digital Parent Trap by Eliana Dockterman, todays
generation of American kids (ages 3 to 18) is the tech-savviest in history.
According to Dockterman, 27% of them use tablets, 43% use smartphones, and
52% use laptops. Dockterman adds that in just a few weeks they will start the
most tech-saturated school year ever: Los Angeles County alone will spend $30
million on classroom iPads this year, outfitting 640,000 kids by late 2014. Yet
there are serious consequences when children use technology too much. Parents
have always thought technology is the main reason for obesity, and research has
confirmed this. Studies have shown that technology can also lead to issues such as
suicide, obesity and ADHD. Taken together, these effects are more destructive
than constructive, and suggest that technology use by children should be curbed.
In The Digital Parent Trap, the author notes that reports about the rise of
cyberbullying and sexual predators, as well as the fact that social media--
specifically the sight of others looking happy in photos--can make kids feel
depressed and insecure. Social networks such as Facebook, twitter and Instagram
cause some people to commit suicide. The reason for this is that they cause people
stress from jealousy anxiety and loneliness. In some cases, people may even
decide to commit suicide just because of the reason that social media leads them to
believe other people have happier lives than them. Although its true that social
networks may connect people for work, school, and of course social life, the
detrimental effects outweigh the positives.
Technology contributes to another dangerous contemporary phenomena:
obesity. About 35% of American adults over 20 are obese, and obesity is on the
rise among children as well. Most parents believe that too much screen time can
lead to obesity. This is in most cases true, according to the article. When parents as
Darznik Banaee, Kiyan Tuesday, June 3, 2014 2:05:45 PM Pacic Daylight Time 70:56:81:af:da:55
well as kids are addicted, they both have a high likelihood of becoming obese. It is
true how students can learn on their own with technology, but technology can also
lead to addiction and decreased physical activity, which in turn can lead to obesity.
There is some evidence, according to The Digital Parenting Trap, that
early tech use has cognitive benefits. Dockterman cites that in a recent study by
SRI, a nonprofit research firm, kids who played games like Samorost (solving
puzzles) did 12% better on logic tests than those who did not. And at MIT's
Education Arcade, playing the empire-building game Civilization piqued students'
interest in history and was directly linked to an improvement in the quality of their
history-class reports. She goes on to write that the reason for this is
engagement: On average, according to research cited by MIT, students can
remember only 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear and 50% of what
they see demonstrated. But when they're actually doing something themselves--in
the virtual worlds on iPads or laptops--that retention rate skyrockets to 90%.
Yet according to Dockterman, parenting experts have questioned the value
of educational games. . .as Jim Taylor, author of Raising Generation Tech, puts it,
"they're a load of crap ... meant to make money"--new studies have shown they
can add real value. Addiction to technology can have effects so devastating that
it can lead to ADHD. When addicted to technology, people develop attention loss.
The brain is very affected by too much screen time. Admittedly, it is true that
technology may help retention rates, but long-term it can also lead to addiction and
distractions from school and other situations where concentration is important.
To summarize, technology and screen time may benefit children in learning
to some degree, but when overused they can lead to memory loss, social isolation,
obesity, and even suicidal acts. While it may not be possible to totally cut down
the use of technology, it seems that putting limits on its use is both necessary and
beneficial to childrens physical, emotional, and cognitive health. Setting time
limits, such as two hours a day of non-school related tech time, would be one
reasonable way to balance technology with other activities. Scheduling regular
Darznik Banaee, Kiyan Tuesday, June 3, 2014 2:05:45 PM Pacic Daylight Time 70:56:81:af:da:55
time for physical activity, such as playing team sports, and hanging out with
friends could also be helpful in balancing kids lives and preventing them from
becoming too addicted to technology.
Darznik Banaee, Kiyan Tuesday, June 3, 2014 2:05:45 PM Pacic Daylight Time 70:56:81:af:da:55