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Kate Miller
Professor Archer
ENGL 20803
23 April 2019
Technology has become a national phenomenon in which people of all ages are
developing a strong attachment to their electronic devices. Although technology has an important
role in our society as a significant form of communication, children should not be exposed to it
in their early developmental years. The negative impact on children outweighs any benefits of
them using technology. Young children need to be physically active and have human interaction
with those they depend on in their early years. Children under the age of ten should not have
access to electronic devices for recreation purposes because technology interferes with the
development of social skills, it can lead to more serious issues such as mental health disorders, it
can expose the child to mature and violent content, and it can also cause them to be less
physically active. Even though there are countless advantages to using technology, many of these
do not benefit children under ten. There are several serious disadvantages to allowing access of
technology to those at a young age that are important to pay attention to.
People use and depend on technology regularly because it is a quick and easy way for
individuals to communicate with one another. Technology can be used in a variety of ways, both
educationally and recreationally. The most common example of educational use of technology is
the internet’s resources. Nowadays, people who have access to the internet can google almost
anything and find the answer or information on their topic of interest within seconds. The ability
to do this is beneficial because the internet allows one to easily gain knowledge on a specific
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topic. The most common example of recreational use of technology is social media. Social media
allows people to share events occurring in their lives, it enables people to keep in touch, and it
supports exploration of different types of people and places around the world. Although there are
many ways that technology is beneficial in our society, these benefits are not useful to children
Children should not have access to technology, specifically electronic devices, because it
interferes with the development of their social skills. The advancement of social skills can be
hindered because of the fact that humans are attached to their devices, potentially leading to
social isolation as well as the lack of developing interpersonal relationships and qualities.
Plowman argues,
“The focus of these concerns is often on young children because they are seen as
innocent and particularly vulnerable in the early stages of development… The early years
are a ‘busy time for the brain’ and using computers before the age of 7 subtracts from
they spend too much time listening to television (receptive language) and not enough
According to Plowman, children’s development is at risk because they are not actively working
on their interpersonal or social skills that are being introduced to them. For example, if an eight-
year-old is learning how to respectfully talk to an adult and instead of utilizing and practicing
this new skill they are watching television or looking at a computer screen, they might never
develop this skill because they are not actively working on it. In a sense, this concept can be
paired with an athlete; if you watch other people play a sport instead of practicing a new skill
that you are trying to learn, then it will be difficult and most likely impossible for you to master
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that skill. This extra time spent on television or on electronic devices can be used to interact with
real-life experiences.
The lack of developing social skills is affected not only by the usage of technology, but
also by the quantity of time that an individual spends on these devices. Plowman also says,
“Many [children] spend at least as much of their leisure time on screen‐based activities as they
do with the real people in their lives. So what children watch on TV, film and DVD and what
they do on computers and console games clearly affects their development.” Many people are so
attached to technology that some even spend more time on their devices than they do interacting
with other human beings. Spending an excessive amount of time sitting on the couch and playing
video games, watching television, or on social media can cause harm to the development of
children. Babysitters and busy parents tend to let their kids watch television or play with
technology more than recommended because it makes their job caring for the child easier.
However, when they are doing this, they may not be considering the potentially negative effects
technology has on the children: hindering their ability to socially interact with other people,
developing violent traits because of their video games, and becoming less active and not
experiencing life the way that children should. Social skills are crucial to human society and are
developed with experience and lessons that we all learn through human interaction. When
children are not making these personal interactions, their developmental skills are at risk.
Boulianne states, “One set of scholars believe the Internet will have a detrimental impact on
engagement, because this technology is being used primarily for entertainment.” Younger
generations are developing shorter attention spans than ever before; this is mostly due to the fact
that younger generations are always using technology. Technology is instant, but real life is not
which can cause people to be impatient and to lack engagement skills. Sutton brings up, “If
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you’re looking at social cognition and how children learn conversation, presumably they manage
just fine without technology, so the technology isn’t necessarily the most important part of what
you’re studying – it’s just a way to do that.” Although technology can further enhance learning
experiences when used in the correct way, it can also be harmful to young children. If children
are exposed to technology at a young age, they can become dependent on and addicted to these
devices. Children do not know how to navigate these electronic devices and therefore can end up
The long-term implications of poor social skills are not fully understood yet, but there
may be a link to depression and mental illnesses. The lack of social skills established by these
young children can lead to social isolation and even mental health disorders. Vitelli says,
“Researchers have also linked compulsive Internet use to a range of mental health concerns
including low self-esteem, loneliness, depression, social phobia, and even suicidal thoughts.”
Although the researchers are referring to disorders that are more common in teenagers than in
children under ten, by developing these habits at a young age, children can have a higher chance
of being susceptible to these problems as they grow up if they become addicted to and dependent
on electronic devices and social media. Vitelli also mentions that in a recent study of early
teenagers between the ages of thirteen and seventeen, “results suggested that compulsive Internet
use and depression mutually reinforce each other. Spending too much time on the Internet
appears to predict later depression and other emotional problems which, in turn, led to increased
Internet use.” He states here that over-using the Internet can cause depression; depression can
then lead one to go online more often, demonstrating that this can become a cyclical habit that
can be difficult to break. The author informs the readers that this is a problem with children a
few years over the age of ten, but overall exposure to the internet and technology (in excess) can
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cause depression later on in the child’s teenage years. If a young child is exposed to these
electronic devices, the cycle can start very early and be that much harder to break. The longer
one can hold off exposing their child to the Internet, the less likely the young person will develop
an unbreakable negative habit. All in all, the habits these adolescents develop in their formative
years can plague them in the teenage and young adult years.
mature material and even violent video games. Alghamdi mentions a quote stated by a U.S.
Attorney, “Pedophiles are finding new ways and new opportunities to network with each other
on how to exploit children.” Children can be exposed to predators more easily because they
might accidently click on viruses or ads that can lead them to someone or something
inappropriate or threatening. Alghamdi claims that the content accessible to young children are
not usually appropriate for them. He also expresses, “Children show traits of higher aggression
when they are exposed to violence on television or computer. They are misleading to believe that
violence towards other kids is normal. Since younger children can be molded easily, they can
easily pick up wrong traits from television shows…” Children at such a young age do not know
the difference between right and wrong actions and they also are not able to differentiate which
actions are tolerated in video games compared to which actions are allowed in real life. Children
can be desensitized to the violent actions of the people in their video games; this can lead to a
more serious issue of developing violent behavior. This can be a significant problem because if
children are wrapped up in video games, they can be exposed to a large amount of violence that
Not only can children be exposed to violent and mature content, but they can also be
“‘...Cyberbullying—the “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell
phones, and other electronic devices”–is the most common online risk for all teens and can cause
severe psychosocial outcomes such as depression, suicide, anxiety, and severe isolation.”
Although this researcher is talking about cyberbullying in teenagers, it can also be a problem for
adolescents. The opportunity for cyberbullying increases alongside the increase in the number of
young children exposed to the media and technology. Cyberbullying can cause many
psychological problems with children and can cause them to isolate themselves, which can then
Young children being exposed to unrestricted amounts of technology are dedicating less
and less time to be outdoors and to being physically active; in turn, being less active can lead to
long-term health issues. Kids learn a substantial amount from being outside and making forts,
sports, fantasies, and much more. The more time they spend on their devices, the less likely they
will get to experience these carefree times in their childhood; not being active can also affect
children physically. If they are not involving themselves in activities as young children, then they
can potentially lose their ability and desire to interact with others. Children under the age of ten
should be joining club teams, girl/boy scouts, little leagues, etc… Plowman argues that the
goes on to say, “Increasing numbers of them spend hours each day sitting in front of screens
instead of playing outdoors, reading, and getting much‐needed physical exercise and face‐to‐face
social interaction — all of which, it turns out, also provide essential stimulation to the growing
mind and intellect.” The potential negatives of technology on children are crucial to take note of
because electronics can affect children mentally, physically, and emotionally. Being active as a
becoming more and more of an issue for families. Children are choosing to watch television or
play video games instead of going outside to play with their friends. Many children love to read
books, but nowadays they are choosing to use technology over reading. If we do not put
restrictions on the use of electronics for children, then we can hurt them physically, emotionally,
Although there are many negative factors of the impact of technology on children,
technology can be seen as a huge advancement in our society. Sutton claims, “Technology
doesn’t have to be about time away from the real world. And technology has often been used for
the teaching of social skills, directly.” Because technology is constantly growing, people have
come up with intelligent ways to provide educational learning on these devices, which can
directly teach children almost anything. Children can now learn to read and write on their
electronic devices and can even learn important social skills. Some devices can teach children
more than they would learn in a classroom setting, but what they are missing is the interaction
with the other students and the teacher. The interactions and collaborations with others in a
classroom are as important in one’s education as the curriculum the student is learning.
Technology has its positives and negatives, and if used for educational purposes in a supervised
setting then it can have more of a positive impact than a negative one.
Even though technology can be used for educational experiences, it is important to note
that Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, two of the biggest technology influencers to this day, do not allow
their children to use the devices that they helped produce. Weller mentions, “It's interesting to
think that in a modern public school, where kids are being required to use electronic devices like
iPads, Steve Jobs' kids would be some of the only kids opted out.” It is clear that Jobs and Gates
know the educational benefits of technology and these new devices; however, if they, the ones
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who created these products, do not let their own children use technology even for educational
purposes then the average parent should not let their children use them. Weller also adds, “In
2007, Gates, the former CEO of Microsoft, implemented a cap on screen time when his daughter
started developing an unhealthy attachment to a video game. He also didn't let his kids get cell
phones until they turned 14. (Today, the average age for a child getting their first phone is 10).”
This demonstrates that these brilliant men who understand technology are aware of the negative
While some believe electronic devices should not be in the hands of children under the
age of ten, there is a compromise we can all make; we can put limits on these devices when
letting children use them. Parents should not give their children unlimited usage and they should
put restrictions on the games or apps they use. Plowman mentions that the American Academy of
Pediatrics Committee on Public Education urges parents to “avoid television viewing for
children under the age of 2, make children’s rooms ‘electronic media‐free environments’ and
resist using the media as electronic babysitters.” If we change how we use technology and the
amount of time we spend on it, we can reverse the negative impacts of technology on society and
form them into more positive effects. Parents can be more protective of their kids and have more
restrictions on their technology until they are mature enough to know the difference between
right and wrong, until they can better control their impulses, and until they can set their own
Children under the age of ten should not have access to technology, specifically
electronic devices for recreation purposes. If these children are allowed to use technology at this
young of an age, it should be strictly for educational purposes only and should be limited in both
the amount of time allowed spent on their devices and the content they can view. Technology
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can negatively affect the ability for children to develop social skills, it can lead to the
development of mental health disorders, it can expose them to mature and violent content at too
young of an age, and it can cause them to be less active. The compromise we can all make is to
enforce additional restrictions and time limits for children using technology. Technology can
have a positive impact on the lives of the younger generations; however, if there are not enforced
rules, then technology can have very harmful and long-lasting effects on a child’s development.
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Works Cited
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s=true.
Farber, Barry A., et al. “Children, Technology, Problems, and Preferences.” Journal of Clinical
Psychology, vol. 68, no. 11, Nov. 2012, pp. 1225-1229. EBSCOhost,
doi:10.1002/jclp.21922.
Plowman, Lydia, et al. “The Technologisation of Childhood? Young Children and Technology in
the Home.” Children & Society, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd (10.1111), 22 Aug. 2008,
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1099-0860.2008.00180.x.
Sutton, Jon. “Children and Technology.” Psychologist, vol. 26, no. 3, Mar. 2013, pp. 200-201.
EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,uid&db=a9h&AN=9
1894854&site=ehost-live.
Vitelli, Romeo. “Can Compulsive Internet Use Affect Adolescent Mental Health?” Psychology
spotlight/201601/can-compulsive-internet-use-affect-adolescent-mental-health.
Weller, Chris. “Bill Gates and Steve Jobs Raised Their Kids Tech-Free - and It Should've Been a
www.businessinsider.com/screen-time-limits-bill-gates-steve-jobs-red-flag-2017-10.
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