Finding a Healthy Balance With Technology
Nowadays, information and communication technologies increasingly make up children’s daily routines (Ricci et al., 2022).
Technology has become a big part of children’s everyday lives. Children use phones, tablets, video games, TVs, and other types of technology for many different things like entertainment, learning, communicating, and playing games. Because technology is everywhere now, children are also being introduced to it at a younger age.
Technology can have both positive and negative effects on children depending on how it is being used and how much time they spend using it. It can give children opportunities to learn, communicate, and be creative, but spending too much time on technology can also affect different parts of their health and development (Ricci et al., 2022).
This article talks about the positive and negative effects technology can have on children. The research shows that excessive use of the internet, video games, television, and other technology can affect areas such as attention, verbal intelligence, mental health, and children's development. However, something interesting about the article is that technology is not always negative. When it is used appropriately, it can also support learning, communication, and social connection (Ricci et al., 2022).
The internet is associated with benefits as well as with harms. It is important to optimize the use of internet and reduce risks with the participation of parents and caregivers as moderators, and training of health professionals to better guide them (Ricci et al., 2022).
The Internet can be beneficial for children, who can take advantage of online opportunities for socialization and friendships based on common interests (Ricci et al., 2022).
There are potential benefits of digital technology as a tool to enhance early childhood development, creativity and social connection (Ricci et al., 2022).
Use of electronic applications for less than 30 minutes a day and limited media viewing could be associated with cognitive and psychosocial development of preschool-age children (Ricci et al., 2022).
Use of internet to socialize, exchange ideas and talk about concerns. An opportunity to socialize and make friends (Ricci et al., 2022).
Excessive use of internet, games and exposure to television are associated with intellectual deficits and mental health issues (Ricci et al., 2022).
Higher frequency of internet use was associated with decreased verbal intelligence and smaller increases in brain volume after a few years. The areas of the brain affected are related to language processing, attention, memory, and executive, emotional and reward functions (Ricci et al., 2022).
Playing video games for long periods can cause direct or indirect interruption in neural systems’ development, which can be related to an unfavorable neurocognitive development, especially verbal intelligence (Ricci et al., 2022).
Reflection
I know technology isn’t completely good or bad for children even though not everyone agrees, but this article helped me understand more about both sides of it. Using technology too much can have negative effects, but at the same time, technology can also have benefits for children depending on how it is being used.
I also agree with the idea that completely removing technology from children’s lives is not really realistic anymore because technology is already a big part of our everyday lives. I think what is more important is finding a healthy balance and understanding when technology is helpful and when it becomes too much. What stood out to me the most is that the way technology is used can be just as important as how much it is used.
Reference
Ricci, R. C., Paulo, A. S. C. de, Freitas, A. K. P. B. de, Ribeiro, I. C., Pires, L. S. A., Facina, M. E. L., Cabral, M. B., Parduci, N. V., Spegiorin, R. C., Bogado, S. S. G., Chociay Junior, S., Carachesti, T. N., & Larroque, M. M. (2022, July 6). Impacts of technology on Children’s Health: A systematic review. Revista paulista de pediatria : orgao oficial da Sociedade de Pediatria de Sao Paulo. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9273128/
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