Although technology as we view it today has only been around for a few decades, it has become an integral part of our lives. The dictionary definition of “technology” is “machinery and equipment developed from the application of scientific knowledge.” In our day and age, this definition has changed and not all forms of what we consider technology is for the purpose of scientific knowledge. With the development of social media, video games, and more, technology is now being used by nearly everyone and for a wide variety of purpose. One of the groups which makes use of technology are children and it poses the question: is it beneficial for children to interact with technology? While it can be beneficial to older individuals, the introduction of technology to young children can harm them is a variety of ways and should be avoided in order to protect their emotional and cognitive development, as well as their health and safety.

One of the main arguments for technology is that it can be used as an educational tool. From learning “googling” questions, to learning new languages, technology has proven useful in these fields. However, with this wide array of resources at their fingertips, it can be easy for children to rely solely on technology for their learning purpose; long gone are the days of using an encyclopedia to do research for a paper. Now, children can type in a few words into Google and get all the information they need at a moment’s notice, or use a website that will do their homework for them. An article published in Psychology Today found that using technology can alter a child’s brain and how they think. For example, a child who uses search engines frequently might be efficient at finding information, but will have a difficult time remembering it after the screen goes dark. Computers have also been used in schools to measure the ability and intelligence of children. However, it was found that these computers are not always reliable and can produce inaccurate information, as well as not accounting for other forms of intelligence.

Another use for technology that has become immensely popular is for the purpose of communication. Thanks to technology, we no longer have to wait weeks, or even days to receive a letter from a friend across the country, we can receive an email in seconds. There is also the use of texting which is becoming more and more popular with younger generations. While this allows them to stay in contact with friends, it also can impair the development of face-to-face verbal communication. In a Huffington Post article, Melissa Ortega, a child psychologist stated that more and more children are struggling to deal with face to face conflict. Most of them do not know how to work through these issues when faced with a person in front of them, because so many conflicts now are caused and solved through media.

Arguably one of the greatest arguments against children interacting with technology is for health reasons. In a study conducted, it was found that an average 8-10 years spends almost 8 hours each day using different types of media. Once school and sleep time are factored in, these 8 hours are a very large remaining portion of the day. This obsessive use of media is taking away time that could otherwise be spent engaging in activities to further cognitive development such as building, and creating. Yet another issue associated with this alarming statistic is that the majority of this media is used while sitting down or even laying. Very few people watch TV or use a computer standing up. If children are spending 8 hours a day sitting, in addition to having sat all day at school, it is likely that there will be negative repercussions regarding their health. There is already a childhood obesity epidemic and using time which could be spent outside playing, staring at a screen is certainly not helping. These 8 hours spent on the computer instead of at a sport, or even just talking a walk, could lead to obesity, heart disease, or diabetes over time.

An issue with children using technology that is often overlooked is the issue of privacy and safety. Many parents use technology to distract or occupy bored children, often leaving them unsupervised. Social media was used by 82% of online sexual predators to gain information or access to children. Because the age of children using technology is decreasing with every year, their lack of awareness against predators is as well. By nature, young children are trusting and would not suspect someone of trying to harm them, especially when there is a screen between them, giving the child a false sense of security. In addition to sex crimes, there are also crimes which are committed by children to each other; cyber-bullying. Nobullying.com reports that 52% of them have been cyber bullied in some way and that victims of cyber bullying are at higher risk for low self esteem and suicidal thoughts as a result.

There is no denying that technology is an incredible tool that we have. Were it not for technology, we would still be living in caves and rubbing sticks together to make fires. However, as the definition and meaning of technology changes from machines to computers and social media, we must reassess who should have access to it. Children should not interact with technology for the simple fact that it does far more harm to them than good. While it may be fun, entertaining, and “cool” to participate, the serious health, safety, communication, and emotional development issues that come tied to the use of technology greatly outweighs the few benefits.