Last Friday, on my flight home from Charlottesville, Virginia, I sat next to a mom and her 4-year-old son. Before the plane even took off, the boy tugged on his mom’s sweater. “Mommy, mommy, can I watch the iPad?” She then began to negotiate with him, and they made a deal that he could watch the iPad as soon as he finished his bagel. I remember when I was that age not so long ago: Coloring books, word search puzzles, and playing cards entertained me on flights. Now, young kids can do these more “traditional” activities on a device such as an iPad, but most seem to opt for a movie or video option.
Technology seems to run our lives. In my Intro to Media Studies class, our professor had us do an exercise where we went without our media technology -- cell phones, laptops, TVs -- for 24 hours. The exercise definitely opened my eyes to my dependence on technology. But I didn't get my first personal technological device -- an iPhone -- until I was in the eighth grade. Nowadays, 4- and 5-year-olds are as familiar with Apple products as I was in middle school.
At what age should children start using personal technological devices? Are they at risk for greater dependence on these devices given the early age at which they are exposed to it? Or does the normality of using iPads at such a young age cause them to be less amused and, therefore, less susceptible to distraction by it when they are older?
It seems that no matter the answer to these questions, convenience seems to make the ultimate decision. Why carry an additional bag of books and games when you have apps that can educate and entertain your child on a device that you’re taking along with you anyways? In addition, screen time can be used as a negotiating device. Instead of candy, parents can exchange time on a screen to get their kids to sit still or finish their dinner. However, is this negotiation a fix so simple and easy that it is too commonly used? Because it is such a powerful negotiation tool, young children are being given more and more screen time.
Increased screen time has also often been associated with health concerns, such as obesity and vision issues. Given the newness of personal technological devices, we are not yet aware of the full effect of large amounts of screen time beginning at such an early age. Abandoning media is not a solution, but as exposure to media increases as the age of users decreases, we have to consider what we may be risking in the name of convenience, especially for younger children who are still developing their minds, skills, and habits.
