AMERICAN CHILDHOOD vs TECHNOLOGY
Too many kids show worrying signs of fragility from a very young age. Here’s what we can do about it.
By Kate Julian
Suppose you have a child and you are busy all day long between work, family, and taking care of many of your responsibilities as an adult. Would you prefer your kid to spend more time in front of an Ipad, playing videos or searching, not proper content according to his age so you can finish all your responsibilities or will you always make sure to schedule a time and spend it with him or her?
It is terrifying how parents see technology exposure as a gift or reward for children. There are no boundaries set, and a kid two years old should not be exposed to a more specific amount of hours in front of a tablet playing video games or watching television all day long. However, what is the reasonble amount of hours a child should be using a device or expose to technology? The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages media use by children younger than 2 and recommends limiting older children’s screen time to no more than one or two hours a day.
Therefore, Is technology such internet and mobile devices affecting childhood behaviors nowadays? Do parents limit their children to the usage of technology? Do kids find refuge in technology better than any other activity, such as sports?
A longitudinal study, “Social Media Usage and Development of Psychiatric Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence,” was performed where it has been demonstrated a sense of loneliness for more intense social media usage, as it might represent a solution to alleviate the depressed mood. Social Media such as Facebook, Tik Tok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Discord are part of American childhood entertainment. Not only are young children addicted to this, but also many old adults are driven by the emotion of watching or spending excessive hours on social media. Even though technology has connected people worldwide in many aspects, it has created an ambiguous environment among young individuals, especially between 1-year-old child and 18 years old. All this excessive usage carries consequences along the way.
Playing or being exposed to other activities in the last couple of yearshas decreased in American children. As shown in the research conducted by Harvard Health Publishing, most teens prefer to play video games rather than other activities.
Futhermore, According to the article “Effects of Technology on Mental Health,” while not all mental health concerns among young people can be linked to technology, it is essential to recognize the vast number of children impacted by these issues.” It is necessary to realize that the author here offers different issues associated with mental health concerns. There are many others, such as family problems and bullying in school, and the list can keep going. It also claims we should include the percentage linked to excessive technological consequences. Internet addiction is becoming a widespread issue. Researchers indicate that kids nowadays go through many health concerns, and the ones exposed to technology addictions can have more links to health concerns such as depression, lower self-esteem, and suicidal thoughts.
As part of the consequences and based on survey conducted in North Carolina in 2015 teens from low-income families were more likely than more affluent peers to report that their experiences on social media result in offline physical fights, face-to-face confrontations, or getting into trouble at school.
Income is not a factor contributing to technological problems or different health issues encountered by children in the last couple of years. Mental health is related to all of what we process daily. If a kid does not have access to other activities other than just exposure to video games, social media, and television, then their mind will be concentrated in that direction.
Income influences at some family level since parents cannot pay for swimming lessons or summer camp, it is hard for those children to experience something else. Some may argue that nowadays, there are many public schools where kids can be involved in extra activities after school for free, which I agree with. Technology has helped society to be better off over decades, but the overuse of smartphones has destroyed a generation of kids, making them lonely and depressed. But if they have problems with their family members, and we sum up all those issues mentioned above, their refuge will always be technology.
What Parents can do
It is essential to take cautionary steps to address any potential risk factors related to children, including their access to technology. Some of the solutions ccould be;
- Encourage participation in sports or school activities in which youths can interact with peers in person rather than online.
- Be accountable. Set expectations with your kids, and set goals to be intentional about reducing screen time.
- Embrace enjoying screen time together.