GeneralPositive and Negative Effects of Technology on Children

There’s no escaping digital technology, and the same goes when it comes to our children. However, the ongoing debate is, does technology have a positive or negative impact on children? Unfortunately, answering this question isn’t clear-cut, as there are significant amounts of research to back each side of the argument. Throughout this article, we’ll take a close look at two negatives and three positive effects of technology on children.

Positive – Enhances Learning Experiences

Tech gadgets and access to the internet are clear examples of the positive impacts of technology on students. For example, children need to learn how to take control of their own education. Thanks to the internet, the majority of children have access to the internet, which is essentially a library of thousands of books and stacks of information.

In 2022, access to the internet is considered a necessity as opposed to a luxury, with many homework and school assignments requiring computer access. However, technology can be expensive and inaccessible to some families. Fortunately, there are initiatives supporting families’ access to technology for educational purposes. In particular, if you’re Fostering in Stoke-on-Trent, you can access additional funding to pay for technology.

Positive – Improving IQ

There has been considerable academic research carried out into IQ tests taken across school year groups. In particular, Cornell University gave IQ tests to around 9000 students and the results demonstrated that the current generation has a higher IQ across the board. According to experts, this is a direct result of the introduction of more technology. However, it must be noted that technology use needs to be controlled, otherwise it can easily turn into a negative.

Positive – More Active Lifestyles

When children live in metropolitan areas, they don’t have many opportunities to run around outside, which can lead to staying still indoors. Thanks to technology, children can be encouraged to exercise daily regardless of the space they have access to.

Negative – Risk of Cyberbullying

The most obvious risk of children using technology is cyberbullying, which is largely unchecked thanks to the number of communication platforms. To reduce this risk, parents need to proactively monitor how their children are using technology. If this means having access to their social media platforms, so be it. Further, parents can educate children on how to block people online, which will put an end to harmful communication.

Negative – Reduced Social Interaction

When children are left to play games and use devices without regulation, they can spend too much time plugged in. Unfortunately, this can harm their real-life social skills because they will be so focused on collecting in-game accolades to prove their worth in a virtual world. Instead of being hooked on level progression, children need to be taught how to demonstrate respect and positive communication outside of the digital world.

There’s no avoiding the benefits of technology in society, and that includes children’s use of technology. However, access needs to be carefully balanced to avoid tipping onto the negative side.