The Use of Technology During The Growing Age: Good or Bad?

Sardia C.

Childhood and Technology

          Over the last 40 to 50 years, there have been major changes and advances in technology which in turn has caused drastic changes throughout the world and the lives of those who inhabit it. As an adult, you may be able to express how these technological changes have impacted you over the years, and like millions of adults around the world, you may also have your bias on children’s involvement with electronic media.

          In his book, The Hurried Child, psychologist David Elkins stated that “In many ways, our new technologies have radically transformed childhood, and not always for the better,” (p. viii). He argued that children grow up too fast due to exposure to age-inappropriate material which may lead to problems later on in life. Although his statement addresses the concern for potential adulthood issues due to childhood exposure to technology, he does not mention any effects technology may have on a child’s childhood.

         Childhood studies looks to examine the current state of childhood through the perception of the child. Therefore, as technology continues to advance and become an even more integral aspect of childhood. New research must examine a child’s view and experiences of technology in this digital era. In his book After the Death of Childhood, scholar David Buckingham attempted to do just that by focusing on the changes in technology and childhood over the years, and how the former has affected the latter. He studied the emotional effects of television on children and concluded that due to the emotional complexity of children, one cannot definitively conclude the positive or negative impact of television on children.

          The World Health Organization published “guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep for children under 5 years of age.” These guidelines aim to address the health concerns of childhood access to technology. According to the guidelines, health concerns are not related to screen time, but rather the physical inactivity while watching television. It recommends a timeframe of 0-60 minutes of sedentary screen time for children 5 and under.

          Technology in childhood is a multi-faceted issue with many conflicting ideas on how technology should be consumed by children. I believe more research is needed to fully assess the impact of electronics in all aspects of childhood, but children’s right to consume electronic media should still be protected.

Resources:

Buckingham, D. (2012). After the death of childhood. Cambridge, England: Polity.

Elkind, D. (1981) The Hurried Child. Reading, MA: Addison Wesley.

James, Allison. Key Concepts in Childhood Studies (p. 70-72). SAGE Publications.

World Health Organization. (‎2019)‎. Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age. World Health Organization.