Scribd
Upload
61 views2 pages

STS Report: Children's Tech Use Impact

This document discusses the impacts of children's use of technology and social media. It notes that technology is ubiquitous in homes today and that children spend 30 minutes to 2 hours per day using technology. The document outlines some negative impacts, such as reduced social skills development, weaker relationships, health issues, and a reduced ability to focus. It also discusses dangers like exposure to inappropriate content online. However, the document also acknowledges positive impacts, such as enhanced organization, support for research and critical thinking, fostering of connections, and opportunities for self-expression and exploring interests.

Uploaded by

Junel Sildo
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
61 views2 pages

STS Report: Children's Tech Use Impact

This document discusses the impacts of children's use of technology and social media. It notes that technology is ubiquitous in homes today and that children spend 30 minutes to 2 hours per day using technology. The document outlines some negative impacts, such as reduced social skills development, weaker relationships, health issues, and a reduced ability to focus. It also discusses dangers like exposure to inappropriate content online. However, the document also acknowledges positive impacts, such as enhanced organization, support for research and critical thinking, fostering of connections, and opportunities for self-expression and exploring interests.

Uploaded by

Junel Sildo
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

Christian Arocha

Marc Sanchez
Jerick Zen Sildo
Christ the King College
STS
Children’s use of Technology and social media
Introduction
 Parenting children of today’s generation comes with a unique set of challenges due to the
many recent advancements in technology. There is no denying the reach technology has in
our lives, as well as the lives of our children. Technology is virtually in every home in one way
or another. How often do kids use technology? Nearly 84 percent of parents said their children
use technology with them or another parent in the home. For those parents who said they
personally engaged in technology with their children, 35 percent said they spend from 30
minutes to one hour a day and 23 percent said they engage from one to two hours a day.
Therefore, it’s important for parents to be mindful of how their children use technology and the
potential effects—both positive and negative.
Negative Impacts
Technology can negatively affect children’s developing social skills, relationships, health, and overall
ability to focus.
 Social skills: With the increased use of technology, children might not be adequately
developing their social skills. This can lead to more children being socially awkward,
withdrawn, shy, or intimidated by social situations. They might not know how to engage with
other children or adults. Developing social skills takes practice, and if technology is often in the
way, there are fewer opportunities for kids to develop these skills.
 Relationships: Children might get used to being alone and lose the desire to engage with their
parents or even friends, outside of the internet. Often the virtual reality of their devices is more
appealing and entertaining than the physical reality.
 Health problems: Technology can potentially influence the child’s developing brain and
problem-solving skills. For instance, the child might be reliant on a device to solve problems for
them rather than using brain connections to work through a problem and find a solution. There
could also be a lack of exercise due to being inside, which can cause weight gain. If kids use
their devices before bedtime, this could lead to reduced sleep quality, affecting their overall
wellbeing and immune system.
 Ability to focus: Children who spend a lot of time using devices might have a reduced
attention span and ability to focus due to their reliance on technology to pay attention for them.
This is evident in classrooms, where teachers are opting for shorter lesson plans to
accommodate students becoming easily distracted.
 Dangers of browsing: With so much information available on the internet, it’s difficult for
parents to monitor what their children are exposed to, including inappropriate content or
interactions with strangers.
Positive Impacts
There are also many ways in which technology can positively impact our lives and those of our
children—it all depends on how the technology is being used.
 Organization: Technology can be beneficial to organization and planning. For example,
families can keep an online calendar to make it easier to stay updated on each other’s
schedules. Group text messaging is also convenient for streamlining communication and
keeping everyone in the loop. Lastly, technology also makes budgeting easier with different
apps, which can help parents teach children about money management.
 Research and critical thinking: The internet provide access to a great deal of information
and resources to help children learn about different topics. This is helpful for school projects or
for researching areas of interest. This can also be a teachable moment, by showing children
how to sift through information to find reliable sources.
 Bonding and community: Technology can foster connection by allowing kids to stay in touch
with family members or friends who do not live close by. Also, kids can interact with others in
their age group while playing games online and learn to play as a team.
 Self-expression: Children can learn how to share their thoughts online, which is a powerful
tool that can build confidence. They can learn how to connect with others and be exposed to
other viewpoints or perspectives.
 Creativity and exploring interests: In many ways, technology fosters creativity and learning
new skills through various apps for all different ages. Children can explore different areas they
have an interest in, such as learning to play an instrument, creative writing, or beginner
program related to various subjects.

Common questions

Powered by AI

Technology's dual impact on children's problem-solving skills includes potential deterioration due to overreliance on devices for solutions, which may hinder brain development. However, it also provides access to rich informational resources and educational challenges that stimulate critical thinking and problem-solving .

Technology negatively impacts children's health by potentially leading to weight gain due to inactivity and decreased quality of sleep if devices are used before bedtime. Conversely, technology can positively impact health by providing apps that promote physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits . On the positive side, children can access educational content related to health, learn about nutrition, and use devices to track physical activity, thus promoting awareness and a healthy lifestyle .

Reduced physical activity due to technology use can negatively affect children's growth and development by contributing to weight gain, impairing motor skills, and impacting physical health. Regular physical activity is essential for healthy growth, and a sedentary lifestyle can impede optimal development .

Technology enhances children's organizational skills by offering tools such as online calendars for managing schedules and apps for budgeting. These resources streamline communication and help families coordinate activities, assisting children in planning and task management .

Technology can hinder a child's ability to focus by creating a reliance on devices to capture their attention, leading to shorter attention spans. This has been observed in educational settings, where teachers adapt by planning shorter lessons to maintain student engagement amidst these distractions .

Frequent technology use can negatively impact children's social skills development by reducing opportunities for face-to-face interactions. This can result in children becoming socially awkward, withdrawn, or shy in social situations, as they might not practice or engage in direct communication with others. The virtual allure of technology may discourage them from interacting with peers or adults in real life .

Technology promotes family bonding and community by enabling communication through group text messaging and online interactions. This allows families to stay connected, even geographically separated, and encourages children to participate in community activities and virtual team-based games .

Technology aids in teaching children about money management by offering budgeting apps that simplify managing expenses and financial planning. This skill is crucial for children to learn from a young age as it lays the groundwork for responsible financial behavior in adulthood .

Technology fosters children's creativity and self-expression by providing platforms and tools such as creative apps for art, music, and writing. These tech-based resources enable children to explore interests, learn new skills, and express unique ideas online, building confidence and exposure to various perspectives .

The vast availability of information on the internet challenges parents in monitoring their children's exposure as it is difficult to control what content they access. This includes the risk of encountering inappropriate material or engaging with unknown individuals, potentially leading to unsafe situations .

You might also like