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Technology and Children: Is Technology Harmful to Kids?

Children are using computers, cell phones, video games, and other types of technology with increasing frequency. Paralleling the growing use of technology among children is the increasing concern that technology may have long-term harmful effects. These concerns have to do with topics such as health, obesity, and socialization skills.

Health Concerns
Studies have shown an increase in technology-related health issues, such as:

• back pain
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• concerns about radiation
• eyestrain
• obesity 
• RSI (repetitive stress injuries)
• social anxiety disorder.

Is Technology Harmful To Kids?
Many children use computers for hours each day at school. However, these chairs are not custom fit for the varying sizes of students. Therefore, children are forced to lean over or in some other way accommodate for the generic chair. This puts a continuous strain on muscles and joints that are still developing. Physicians report seeing RSI (repetitive stress injuries) in children as young as eight years old. These injuries are directly linked to the unnatural postures and positions children maintain for technology use.

Of equal concern, when considering the physical implications of children and harmful technology, is the question of obesity. Many children have abandoned an active lifestyle for video games and computers. The results are obvious. Children are gaining weight and staying heavy.

But perhaps even more alarming is the concern about what technology is doing to our children in terms of socialization. Chatting for endless hours on instant messenger is not a healthy form of socializing.

Children do not make eye contact with the people to whom they are chatting and they may socialize with people who would not normally be part of their lives. As a result, bonds might collapse with people in the real world. Time spent indoors with computers and video games means time spent detached from the real world.

Too much social isolation can lead to stunted maturity and a thwarting of social skills and understanding. Children may find themselves increasingly uncomfortable in real world experiences and hide more and more within the safety of their technological escapes. Social anxiety disorder is a real concern.

The Pros Of Technology
And yet if everyone is using technology, there must be a reason. Obviously there are a multitude of advantages and opportunities via the use of technology. Technology enables our children to gain knowledge about anything via the Internet. When used appropriately in the classroom, computers allow students a full range of resources for research and reporting. When it comes to technology, the possibilities seem endless.

The Cons Of Technology
Clearly, however, technology can be harmful to kids. Prominent concerns are:

• emotional effects
• online predators
• physical effects
• weight gain.

Use Technology Wisely
Technology is here to stay, and so it seems wise to work on preventing some of the disadvantages and concerns that are linked to technology and children.  Perhaps the answer lies in finding a balance between technology and real world experiences. Most parents want a technologically advanced experience for his or her child at school, but this experience should not replace the human connection and individualized attention that each child should receive from a teacher.

Some recreational time spent online is to be expected, but so is some time playing outside. Children need to spend real time with real people. That is far more valuable than conversations held on instant messenger.

Basic Balancing Steps
They may seem obvious, but a few basic steps will help children and adults maintain a healthier balance while using technology:

• concentrate on good posture
• exercise
• limit, and be aware of, time spent on the computer, cell phone, and video games
• make sure the majority of socialization is with real people in the real world
• stretch
• take regular breaks.