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Impact of Internet on Children's Intelligence

The document discusses whether the internet makes children smarter or more socialized. It notes that while the internet can improve children's cognitive abilities like memory and problem-solving, it also poses health and safety risks if unmonitored. Children with more educated and higher-income parents are more likely to have home internet access. However, the internet is not always safe for children due to risks like exposure to inappropriate sexual content and self-harm discussions. Parental guidance is important to help children safely use the internet and balance screen time with physical activities.

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KYLA REIGNE REYES
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26 views3 pages

Impact of Internet on Children's Intelligence

The document discusses whether the internet makes children smarter or more socialized. It notes that while the internet can improve children's cognitive abilities like memory and problem-solving, it also poses health and safety risks if unmonitored. Children with more educated and higher-income parents are more likely to have home internet access. However, the internet is not always safe for children due to risks like exposure to inappropriate sexual content and self-harm discussions. Parental guidance is important to help children safely use the internet and balance screen time with physical activities.

Uploaded by

KYLA REIGNE REYES
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Are children smarter or more socialized because of

the internet?
(A research paper)

“In·ter·net = a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication


facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized communication protocols.”

What does the internet really do for children? Does the internet makes
children smarter? or vacuous?

All of us know that the internet is good for us, that we need it for our daily lives as it helps
us receiving informations, details, and many more in our world. And also because we are
accustomed to it, all the platforms were made with internet, most middle class families own a
piece of technology whether it is a computer, smartphone, or tablet, technology is everywhere.
We live in an era where technology is becoming more advanced. Even a little kid can access the
internet easily. But the question is; Are children smarter because of the internet? Back then, the
internet doesn’t exist. People are using books, dictionaries, newspapers to learn and to be updated
to know what’s going on in our world. And there are no many bad effects on everyone. But now,
it’s getting uncontrolled.

Children today are more expert in technologies, and they can also do a more complex task
at a young age. They can learn from it, they can be updated about our world, they can improve
their skills, have a wider vocabulary , and do their homeworks, and other home-school students
use internet to learn too. By the use of internet, children learns how to socialize, it boosts their
confidence and so on. According to my research, Some kids have a high IQ because of the
Internet. According to studies, Children using the Internet are more sociable, better vocabulary,
and greater confidence. According to a study by Internet security software giant, AVG, by the time
children reach the age of 2, 90% of them have an online history. By the time they’re five, half of
them have already used a tablet or other Internet-connected device, and by the time they reach
age 7 or 8, many of them are already playing video games regularly. So using the Internet can
improve cognitive abilities such as memory, logical problem solving, critical thinking,
concentration, and comprehension. 

But, the problem is if there are a lot of positive effects on children then there are also a lot
of negative effects on our children, not only children but all of us people. Children using internet
all day is not good for its health. Children must be healthy, doing physical activities, learning, and
using internet or technologies in a balance way. This may lead to some serious health problems,
like obesity. According to a clinical psychologist, Kaleyvani Geeseeny Sawmy, children who often
use the Internet may link to both repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel and eye strain.
Children may be sociable online, but they can’t apply this in a face-to-face conversation. The
Internet doesn’t really improve children’s social skills, because the children are just confident
online.  The internet may be good or bad, the point here is we must use technologies and internet
in a balance way, it depends on how we use it.

The percentage of 3- to 18-year-olds with home internet access were higher for those
whose parents had attained higher levels of education. For instance, in 2018, the percentage with
home internet access was highest for those whose parents had attained a bachelor’s or higher
degree (99 percent), followed by those whose parents had an associate’s degree (96 percent),
some college but no degree (94 percent), a high school credential (90 percent), and less than a
high school credential (82 percent). The percentage of 3- to 18-year-olds with home internet
access was higher for those in higher income families. In 2018, some 99 percent of those in
families in the highest family income quarter and 97 percent of those in families in the middle-
high quarter had home internet access, compared with 94 percent and 87 percent of those in
families in the middle-low and lowest quarters, respectively.

Like what others said, internet is not a safe place for children. The risks that may be apply
to children is too dangerous. These are the possible risks:

 SEXUAL HEALTH – this is a popular internet topic for teens, there are many ramblings on
the internet as to why children should not yet learn technology. 
 SOCIAL MEDIA – social media is not that bad for children, and parental guidance is
required. A lot of kids learning how to curse or something bad to do (sexual talks and
every sexual topic) because of exploring social media so that’s why parental guidance is
not optional.
 MESSAGE BOARDS – there are a lot of topics going on here, in this platform, it’s a website
or web page where users can post comments about a particular issue or topic and reply to
other users' postings. This is the same as social media but the only difference is this is a
site. Children have high curiosity, they love exploring especially technologies. This site is
bad for them especially the topics, like self-injurious behaviors (suicidal behaviors &
others), and the child can learn and apply it to themselves. 

Now, the question is;


How can we prevent this issue so that our children are safe? Away from gadgets and internet?
Kids today must be watching cartoons, learning from any aspects, learning how to socialize,
playing outside, and many more. But then, mostly, kids are addicted to gadgets and internet.
As a parent, should you intervene? The answer is yes. Getting them away using gadgets with this
addiction is tough and challenging as most kids do not realize how fun it is to go outside, explore
and play. This not just deprives them of physical activity, but also drains them out of their
creative ability and the ability to share and play in groups. Are you wondering how to get them to
leave aside that mobile and explore the wonders of nature? The solutions are mostly parental
guidance because it’s their responsibility for their kids, if they really care and want them to be safe
on the internet then these are the (possibilities) solutions for this kind of issue:
Socialize with your child about their online activity
Be a good example
Don’t make learning from activities a habit
Change the routine
Monitor them/ Keep screens and devices where you can see them

Common questions

Powered by AI

Parents should strive to strike a balance by promoting the internet's educational and cognitive benefits, such as using it for learning and developing critical skills , while mitigating risks like exposure to inappropriate content and excessive screen time. This involves setting clear usage guidelines, encouraging physical activities, and monitoring online interactions to ensure safety and healthy development . Parental involvement is pivotal in guiding children towards the internet's positive aspects and away from potential pitfalls .

The internet feeds children's curiosity by providing a vast amount of information and diverse communication platforms, which can enhance learning and exploring capabilities . However, this same curiosity can lead them into risky areas such as inappropriate content on message boards without proper guidance . Effective management involves parental engagement, setting education-grounded boundaries, and maintaining open communication about safe online practices to channel their curiosity towards positive and age-appropriate information .

The internet can enhance socialization by enabling children to interact widely and build confidence online . However, this online sociability often doesn't translate into face-to-face settings, as skills developed online may not be applicable in person . Parents play a crucial role by encouraging balanced internet usage, fostering real-world social interactions, and discussing the differences between online and offline communication to help children develop comprehensive social skills .

Excessive internet use in children can lead to health issues such as obesity due to sedentary behavior, repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, and eye strain . To counter these effects, parents should facilitate a balanced lifestyle by encouraging physical activities, monitoring screen time, and ensuring regular breaks from devices to promote better posture and eye health .

Children accessing message boards are exposed to risks such as engaging with inappropriate topics, including self-injurious behaviors, and being influenced by negative interactions . To mitigate these risks, parents should engage in active monitoring of their children's online activities, keep screens and devices in visible areas, and encourage open discussions about their online interactions to ensure safe internet usage .

The internet can contribute to cognitive development in children by improving memory, logical problem solving, critical thinking, concentration, and comprehension . Children also gain a wider vocabulary and become more adept at completing complex tasks . However, the internet's limitations include the inability to foster in-person communication skills despite improved sociability online, potentially leading to a lack of face-to-face conversational abilities .

The internet can enhance children's intellectual skills by improving cognitive abilities such as memory, logical problem solving, critical thinking, concentration, and comprehension . Studies indicate that children using the internet can be more sociable and have a better vocabulary and greater confidence . However, the internet does not necessarily improve face-to-face social skills, as children may only develop confidence online, not in real-life interactions . Additionally, excessive use can lead to health issues like repetitive motion injuries and eye strain .

Socioeconomic status significantly influences children's access to the internet, with a higher percentage of children having home internet access in families with higher income levels and parental education attainment . In 2018, 99% of children in families with the highest income had access compared to 87% in the lowest income families. Similarly, 99% of children whose parents held a bachelor's degree had access, whereas this figure was 82% for those whose parents had less than a high school credential . This disparity can lead to unequal educational opportunities and outcomes, as internet access is crucial for modern learning resources and assignments.

Effective strategies include setting time limits on screen use, encouraging diverse activities such as outdoor play and creative pursuits, and setting examples by limiting parents' own device use . Parents should also discuss with children the importance of maintaining a balance and guide them towards educational content while fostering interests outside the digital realm to prevent addiction and promote rounded development .

High internet accessibility among children from educated families leads to greater exposure to digital learning resources, enhancing educational outcomes and contributing to a knowledge gap between them and children from less educated families who may lack such access . This can reinforce existing societal inequalities and perpetuate an educational divide, thereby affecting future economic opportunities and societal structures by disproportionately empowering those with greater resources and internet accessibility .

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