Now-a-days technology has become integrated into every nook
and cranny of the lives of the IGen… that’s the new title for the current
generation of youngsters. I-phones, I-pads, Tablets and gaming devices are in
the hands of most young people today. What are the benefits and what are the
down sides?
Research shows that children who use social media cites
extensively have a shifted perspective on the world around them. They tend to
have less of an internal drive and more of an external drive. For example, they
now ask questions like “how will other people perceive me?” and “how can I make
those perceptions positive?” Some undesirable implications of this can relate
to self-promotion, a decrease in empathy and excessive impression management. To
name a few.
However, don’t throw the mallet through the screen just yet.
Social media cites allow the bonds of friendship to span vast
amounts of space and countless years beyond where they would if the internet
didn’t exist. Social events cycle through news feeds along with the promotion
of things like disease prevention activism and community service opportunities.
Positive implications of all of the above can be healthy
self-expression, closeness with far away family members, increased
participation in charitable activities and increased awareness of social
gatherings & current events. To name a few.
A Kaiser Foundation study shows that the young spanning from
8 – 18 use technology over 7 hours a day on average!* Research shows that this
is an excessive amount of time. Also, it is suggested that parents stay
involved and confirm that their child is making constructive choices and
garnering the positive results listed above.
When it comes to the complex management of “screen time” with
your pre-teens and teens, there are multiple schools of thought regarding the
fine point details. However, what every researcher can agree on is that what’s
needed is BALANCE.
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