Emma Donovan

October 29, 2018

Period 3

Technology Usage: The Effect of Extensive Technology Usage on the

Development of Young Children

Research Question:
What is the effect of extensive technology usage on the development of young children?

Hypothesis:
Extensive technology usage will hinder devlopment, preventing certain connections from being
made in the brain.

Background/History of the Issue:

Technology plays a large role in development. Screens have been proven to emit a harmful blue
light that may cause headaches for children. Sleep schedules are disturbed by this same light.
Children who spend the majority of their time using technology have shorter attention spans and
less ability to focus. It limits them from thinking critically and creatively (Patel, 2017). High
levels of social media usage have been tied to lower self-esteem as well. Emotions become more
difficult to develop due to limited human interaction. Parents are often worried about
cyberbullying and incomplete homework as a result of their children using technology, but they
should be asking if their children will be able to hold their own conversations. Real conversation
is becoming a thing of the past, harming children’s futures. Although it has minimized over the
years, adults still have the experience of talking face-to-face with people. Children today are
growing up with instant dependence on technology. Since so many things occur through
technology, handling conflict in person is becoming increasingly difficult. Brains have evolved
to need constant stimulation (Bindley, 2011). Reading nonverbal cues is something today’s
young people are not learning. Children are being given devices to entertain them, losing the
strong connection between parent and child. Mental illnesses are soaring in children. Humans
need to be connected to other humans to thrive. Creativity, imagination, and self-initiation are
becoming a thing of the past. A child’s brain is ninety percent developed by age five (Hunter,
2011). It is said that a child’s vocabulary increases from 55 words at 16 months to 225 words at
23 months to 573 words at 30 months (Hunter, 2011).
Rationale:
I feel that this issue is important because technology is becoming so prevalent in many people’s
lives. Technology has taken our world by storm with very little information about its effects.
Additionally, we have yet to see the generation born into immediate technology grow up. For
this reason, the conclusions that this research develops will be very important in determining
how technology affects the development of children, in both positive and negative ways. Since
the brain is such an important body part, this research is crucial. I have also seen numerous
young children staring at the rectangular screens that have become our world during times when
kids should be playing outside and making personal connections, building strong relationships. I
know that technology is used by the vast majority of, if not all, people. In my experience
babysitting many families, it is interesting to see the differences between kids attached to their
iPads and television screens from those who play outside with chalk and ride their bikes. With
some kids, it is very difficult to pry them away from their technology while others are not
permitted to use technology at all, so they never ask. I am interested in trying to see how
technology usage impacts brain development in children. This issue is very prevalent due to the
immense role technology plays in society today.

Limitations:
By focusing on the hindered brain development from handheld devices and television, the
research sources must be very focused. It may be difficult to find significantly varying sources
due to the currency of this topic.

Operational Definitions:
● Extensive - In terms of “extensive technology usage,” I am referring to hours at a time.
This includes when children become anrgy when their designated technology time is
over.
● Young age - In terms of “young age,” I am referring to the age group between zero and
eight years old. This is when the majority of the brain is developed.
● Technology - I am referring to handheld devices, such as phones or ipads/tablets, as well
as television.

Descriptors Used for Literature Search:

● Brain development
● Effects of technology usage
● Young kids’ technology use
References:
Bindley, K. (2011, December 09). When children text all day, what happens to their social skills?
Retrieved October 4, 2018, from
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/children-texting-technology-social-skills_n_1137570

Hunter, E. (2017, February 22). How a child's brain develops from the womb to age five.
Retrieved October 25, 2018, from
https://theirworld.org/news/how-childs-brain-develops-from-womb-to-age-five

Patel, D. (2017, March 04). How technology impacts children's development – Thrive Global –
Medium. Retrieved October 4, 2018, from
https://medium.com/thrive-global/will-technology-ruin-your-childrens-development-663
351c76974