Today’s generation is marked by incredible technological advancements, from fully electronic cars to robots that can mimic human characteristics. Technology is a remarkable thing, and even the most old-fashioned individuals must acknowledge that technology has improved the world in many ways. However, amidst all the greatness, there are some significant downsides that cannot be ignored.
Research indicates that today’s children have shorter attention spans than any other previous generation. While this issue may not seem alarming, a closer look reveals several underlying causes that could significantly impact the future of children. Another issue technology brings that can be worrisome is the addiction it can bring to not just young minds, but anyone, of all ages.
The addiction to technology, or Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), grew to unbelievable heights during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the virus had a significant impact on this electronic crisis, it never seemed to die down after the lockdown was complete. One of the areas where this is particularly prevalent is in high schools across the country. Before the pandemic, it was rare for a student to attend online school instead of public school, however, it has become the new normal for many students across the nation.
In addition to this, AI, or Artificial Intelligence, has become a common practice for students to make use of in their assignments, and while this tool can help generate ideas, it is much more common for teenagers to use it as a cheating aid instead of completing their own assignments.
There are many other negative impacts that technology brings; some of the most common ones include reduced sleep quality, not fully developed social skills, obesity, and even depression. The internet is a scary place for children, and when they are not fully ready to experience it all, it can cause a dramatic stunt in their lives.
While these stated issues continue to be a problem, not one person can deny how important it is to understand how to use technology. In today’s fast-growing world, technology is such an important part of nearly every aspect of our lives. From waking up in the morning, to explaining step by step where to go, limiting technology is an impossible seeming task.
All in all, this leaves the question for modern-day parents to answer: “What should I do?”
Some simple steps that people can take toward limiting technology for their children are by taking small steps. For example, set up a screen time rule on the child’s electronic, or, for a simpler option, make a rule for no screen time in the car or in the kitchen!
With Technology continuing to change the world in amazing ways, it is important to remember that it is here to enhance one’s life and not control it.
