Negative Effects Of Technology Essay

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Negative Effects of Technology on the Developing Child
Technology today is very widespread; it has become extremely accessible and easy to use. So easy, that some children begin using technology before they are even in school. There are many benefits of technology, but only if it is used properly. Children that use technology too frequently and at too young of an age suffer from altered brain function, subpar education, and decreased social skills.
The use of technology can alter the neural pathways of the developing brain. Neuroplasticity can be defined as the ability of the brain to reorganize itself and form new neural pathways throughout. Children’s brains are highly neuroplastic, meaning they have the most ability to rewire neurons based on the child’s activity and exposures. Because their brains are so malleable, it is important to recognize and control appropriate exposures to ensure proper development. The American Association of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of two are restricted from any exposure to screen time, because this is such an essential time for growth (Johnson).
Technology should not be introduced to children until it could be used in a …show more content…

One psychologist, Nicholas Carr, uses a metaphor that compares them to scuba diving and jet skiing. He compares book reading to scuba diving because you are submerged without excess stimuli that is slow paced, quiet, and visually restricted. A deeper level of thinking is achieved in this type of environment. Technology, on the other hand, he compares to jet skiing, because the Internet user is skimming a lot of information, many distractions, and shallow, simple thoughts. Reading without any interruptions, in the quiet setting compared to scuba diving, has been shown to increase understanding of material, quicken the completion of assignments, and improve recall of the information

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