The Touch-Screen GenerationExcessive Use of Digital Technology and the Negative Impact on Children

Flickr: Medically_Irrelevant

Submitted by: Sarah Hannay

The excessive use of technology raises questions about the impact on future generations.

Flickr: Oberazzi

Flickr: Susan402

It is certain that technology is changing the way children develop.

Source: Kids and Tech: How much is too much? Flickr: SalFalko

31% of children age 3 and under are already using computers. 16% use them several times a week, 21% can point and click with a mouse, and 11% can turn on the computer.

Source: Generation tech: More kids can play computer games than ride a bike. Flikr: woodleywonderworks

69% of children aged 2-5 can use a computer mouse, but only 11% can tie their own shoelaces.

Source: Generation Tech - More kids can play computer games than ride a bike. Flickr: mathowie

The average digital birth happens at 6 months old.

Flickr: Sailor Coruscant

Many parents believe technology devices are crucial for overall childhood development, and they provide a way to keep children occupied.

Source: Toddlers becoming so addicted to iPads they require therapy. Flickr: mdanys

Parents beware: “Parents who allow babies and toddlers to access tablet computers for several

hours a day are in danger of causing „dangerous‟ long term effects.” – Victoria Ward

Source: Toddlers becoming so addicted to iPads require therapy. Flickr: shainelee

The youngest person requiring therapy for use of an iPad was a 4-year-old girl…

Source: Toddlers becoming so addicted to iPads they require therapy. Flickr: FontFont

“… and there were many more [technology] addicts of her age” – Dr. Richard Graham

Flickr: medically_irrelevant

Excessive Digital Technology Decreases

creativity, increases risk of obesity, impacts brain development, decreases socialization, causes emotional distress

Flickr: alles-schlumpf

Studies show that excessive

use of digital technology may

alter the development of

the human cortex…

Source: Too much TV can have negative impact on children. Flickr: phonono

This excessive use can have a negative impact on: academic abilities, attention problems, language difficulties, comprehension, and oral expression.

Flickr: tompagenet

Technology inhibits face-to-face communication as

children continue to hide behind digital devices.

Source: Class Article – The Child, the Tablet and the Developing Mind. Flickr: horizontal.integration

“…if people spend too much time with one technology, and less time interacting with people like parents at the dinner table, that could hinder the development of certain communications skills.” –Dr. Gary Small

Source: Class Article – The Child, the Tablet and the Developing Mind. Flickr: foamcow

Children who watched more than 3 hours on electronic devices a day have a greater chance of emotional and relationship problems by the time they are age 7.

Flickr: Alan Bell

With excessive technology use the brain gets an overload of auditory and visual stimulation. When children are without this, they can get bored, restless and aggressive.

Source: Kids and Tech: How much is too much? Flickr: memekode

“Premature exposure and overexposure to technology creates emotional numbness, confusion between fantasy and reality, and pent-up anxiety that leads to aggressive behavior in children” – Mali Mann

Flickr: colonnade

Excessive digital use decreases opportunities for physical

exercise…

Flickr: Tobyotter

This leads to laziness and childhood obesity.

Source: Children and Technology. Flickr: Sklathill

“Technology snuffs out creativity and turns [children]

into the living dead.” – Rabbi Shmuley

Source: Children and Technology. Flickr: Nesher Guy

“Children should interact with real people, not silicon substitutes, and should be playing with a baseball and riding a bike, not holding a joystick.” - Rabbi Shmuley

Flickr: the UMF

Parents need to help their children manage their time on these high-tech devices. Our future depends on it!

Flickr: Lucy Nieto

All images are licensed under the Creative Commons Non-Commercial Share-Alike 3.0 Agreement and are sourced from Flickr

Sources

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/31/disruptions-what-does-a-tablet-do-to-the-childs-mind/http://www.technewsworld.com/story/52677.htmlhttp://venturebeat.com/2011/01/19/kids-technology/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/10008707/Toddlers-becoming-so-addicted-to-iPads-they-require-therapy.htmlhttp://www.aces.edu/dept/extcomm/newspaper/april19d01.htmlhttp://www.oprah.com/relationships/Children-and-Technology