Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
J.Rodrick
English 115
10/3/2017
outside with your friends, or playing with toys like Legos and Hotwheels. Most people
remember, and say that experiences from their childhood make up a portion of their identity
today. Nowadays, children have technology that we could only imagine of having when we were
young. Today, kids have smartphones and tablets with countless apps, advanced gaming
consoles, and surprisingly, many children and adolescents have social media accounts. Over the
past ten years childhood in America has changed drastically. Some state that advancements in
technology are preparing todays children for the future, others argue that the technological
advancements are not only diminishing the quality of childhood, but that it is also causing
children to have underdeveloped critical thinking skills, and that theyre unable to form real
social connections, or even a real identity. I believe that the advances in technology are
the Home, Lydia Plowman claims that the technology we have today is changing how children
are developing. Plowman states, Since childrens brains are still developing, they cannot adjust
as full grown adults can to the effects of ever more rapid technological and cultural change.
They still need what developing human beings have always needed, including real play (as
opposed to sedentary, screen based entertainment), and firsthand experiences of the world they
live in and regular interaction... In other words, Plowman is stating that childrens brains are
still developing, and instead of having real interaction with peers, theyre bombarded by
technology, causing them to have a hard time adjusting between the real world and technology.
Plowman also states, The damage being done by immersing children in electronic technologies
is becoming clearer. Increasing numbers of them spend hours each day sitting in front of screens
instead of playing outdoors, reading, and getting much physical exercise and face-to-face social
interaction all of which, it turns out, provide essential stimulation to the growing minds and
intellect. Plowmans point is that children are spending a large amount of their time in front of
TV, smartphone, and tablet screens. I can agree with Plowmans statements, before, children had
to be creative and use their imagination to create games they could play with friends to combat
boredom, but todays children have access to endless entertainment right in the palms of their
hands. Apps and games may provide entertainment to children, but they dont require any face-
to-face interaction, and they require very little cognitive skills. By not having to physically
interact with friends and use critical or imaginative thinking, children are becoming
underdeveloped in multiple areas, which could negatively affect them later in life.
Today technology and social media are synonymous with one another. Although social
media is relatively new, society has become so adapted to using social media that its hard to
imagine what life would be like if it didnt exist. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are major
social media platforms where users can post photos, videos, and share their thoughts for the
world to see. Social media can be used to show anything, and that means anything. Children and
adolescents who use social media are at risks to being exposed to inappropriate content, such as
sexual photos or violent and gory videos. Children and adolescents who see these things can be
easily influenced by the inappropriate content, unlike adults and older teens who know how to
regrets about posts or things theyve said on social media. Adolescence is a very crucial period
of self-discovery, changing hormones and conflicting emotions, which when combined can lead
Preferences, an article written by Barry Farber, he states it is hard for young people, in fact for
everyone, to backtrack when an electronic social communication goes awry and someones
feelings get hurt at times, terribly hurt. Ruptures in the relationship may be more difficult to
repair in many forms of e-communication. Farber is basically stating that it can be hard to take
back a comment when its said online. When communicating in person its easier to read
someones emotions, you can tell when someone doesnt really mean what they say or when
something is said by accident. When people communicate through social media you cant read a
persons body language and emotions, so when something is said it is often taken for face value.
Social media addiction is one of the serious problems which is affecting children and
adolescents. Children and adolescents who began using social media at such a young age may
not even realize that they are addicted because its become the norm. In the same study
conducted by Farber, he found that more than 50% of adolescents view their favorite social
media apps at least once a day, and that 22% check their social media accounts an upwards of 10
times a day. Later in the article Farber claims excessive use of online technology results in in
negative offline consequences, he also uses research from a report by the American Pediatric
Association which states Depression, sleep deprivation, social anxiety, aggression, internet
addiction, social isolation, and susceptibility to the influence of the online advertising have all
been noted as potential consequences of adolescent social media usage. Adolescents who spend
so much of their time on social media can develop feelings of jealousy and inferiority all because
of posts they view online. Imagine being an adolescent girl who is bombarded with
photoshopped images of women and teenage girls who all have skinny waist, long beautiful hair,
and glowing tan skin. Eventually you may start feeling insecure and unhappy with yourself
Although technology and social media can be used to enhance education or create new
social connections, there isnt a universal way to protect children and adolescents from the
numerous online dangers. Authors Chelsea Clinton and James P. Steyer, claim in their article Is
the Internet Hurting Children?, We need legislation, educational efforts and norms that reflect
21st-century realities to maximize the opportunities and minimize the risks for our kids. They
even refer to the Childrens Television Act which was passed in 1990 by congress as a reaction
Without a way to protect children and adolescents from dangerous online content they shouldnt
I believe that it isnt good for children to have unlimited access to so much technology,
during childhood children are supposed to be carefree and make friends, they cant do any of that
if theyre spending all their time in front of a screen. In terms of children and adolescents using
social media I believe that there are too many risks. Childhood, and adolescence especially are
when people learn about themselves. Its so easy to be negatively influenced by peers and people
they look up to. Using social media during such a sensitive time could potentially hinder a
by Simon Sinek, YouTube.com, Inside Quest, Dec. 2016, Date Accessed 26, Sept. 2017,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL8AsaEJDdo.
Clinton, Chelsea, and James P. Steyer. Is the Internet Hurting Children? CNN, Cable
www.cnn.com/2012/05/21/opinion/clinton-steyer-internet-kids/index.html.
Farber, Barry A., et al. Children, Technology, Problems, and Preferences. Wiley
Online Library, Wiley Library, 7 Sept. 2012, Date Accessed 24, Sept. 2017,
onlinelibrary.wiley.com.libproxy.csun.edu/doi/10.1002/jclp.21922/full.
Technology in the Home. Wiley Online Library, Wiley Library, 22 Aug. 2008, Date Accessed
0860.2008.00180.x/full.