In today’s world, technology is used in so many different ways. From all ages around the globe having access to technology has become a necessity of communication, entertainment and information. With so much access to this very advanced technology, children especially are delving social habits that exhibit, disconnection, dulled senses and developing a slower cognitive thought. In a way technology is becoming a nanny for these children. When parents need a break they turn to this media to quiet their children so they can focus on work, spouses and taking a break for the day to day struggles of parenting. Children are at risk being in a place where they have unlimited access to highly sensitive information online. Parents need to be cautious with what age they are showing children how to use media and how to use it correctly. Children under the age of twelve should be able to grasp what technology is but have enough life experience to be able to develop personal relationships with other actual humans.
Socialization is one of the main developments that children learn from their parents and siblings If they see their parents glued to their phones, and their siblings on social media constantly they will follow suit and mirror what their elders will do. Culture is not born it is developed over an amount of time. Many parents blame their children’s peers for their addiction to technology but they are overlooking themselves as their child’s first teacher of this bad habit. In Sherry Turkle’s easy “Alone Together” , she talks about the collaboration social media anyhow people communicate today. She says that “Teenagers sleep with their iPhones” , it has truly become a part of these young adults that they feel they are missing apart of themselves when they are without it. Even when they are not using it they still have it right next to them in bed like a surrogate companion, spouse of significant other. Some even go out and say that “a loss of an iPhone is like a death in the family”. Even though children having technology is a way for children to learn new ideas, where is the limit?
I received my first phone at the end of my Freshman year in high school. I cried tears of joy when I received it. Many of my peers have been given the chance to have phones as young as fifth grade. Going into High School was a difficult challenge to me because I lacked the one thing to be able to connect with new friends I have made. Missing out on important events like parties, study sessions or movie nights, made me feel trapped in a tech free zone.. When I received my glistening white iPhone 4 I became a slave to it. I was constantly on it and disconnected myself from my family and friends even though I had all of the opportunities to communicate more now that I had a new phone. I realized that having a phone was not as important as I though it was and tried to limit my use of it. I craved that human connection that children don't even know that they are losing.
Having children go tech free is hard to enforce and can become challenging. Not having the ability by handing off a phone to a crying child can be difficult but attainable. However disconnecting children can be beneficial for the entire family. In Susan Maushat’s “When My Kids Unplugged”, Maushart describes the life she lived when she disconnected her family from all media for six months. To her it was crucial to disconnect her children from media. To her it was “ Inhabiting” them. After six months of going tech free she truly felt released.
Because of lack of tech some times children have a fear of missing out soon important events like I did when I was young. They do not want to be forgotten, left behind and miss out on importing rites of passage. The constant push notifications, updates, and posts are mind numbing and it very hard to keep up with it unless they are refreshing your Facebook, Instagram for Snapchat constantly. The tech world has boomed over children's attention spans and has made a profit of providing child grade advertisements, web access and trending apps. The excessive use is distracting to these children and is becoming the only thing they know.
Disconnection is key to rehabilitating children and their constant need for a screen. Going without Wi-Fi for a few months or disconnecting data from their phones is a great way to limit internet access but still be able to send texts using words and calling. If the internet is the gateway to everything having it eliminated from the home should fall everything into place. Having a discussion with children and taking about how technology is damaging can also help the transition. Having parents set an example by disconnecting from their own homes and media can be great and will reinforce positive reinforcement of the rules that have been places. Some parents today are nervous and scarred about how their children react when they discipline and restrict them. It is crucial to change the way parents parent in this day of age. Setting hard limits for children like specific screen time is a way to give them a chance and explore activities outside of being involved in technology while still giving them the ability to destress and appreciate technology.
In conclusion, giving children technology limits is crucial in their cognitive and social development. Showing a good example by limiting technology though thought provoking activates and appreciating nature is a great alternative to help get children out o their shells. Children are truly becoming slaves to their electronics and if they keep up the pace it will become hazardous to the future of humanity. Showing children how to communicate by realizing social cues and being polite are lessons that need to learned through the culture that his/ her family will teach. Technology is a gift and should be used sparingly. Having the ability to ring up anyone at anytime is amazing. In some ways children learn many things from technology but face to face activities from parents, family members and peers are how this world became so very diversified and unique.
