Written by Modenie
Technology has been researched on its long term used in adolescents. Adolescents use different reasons, but excessive use of digital can affect their brains that are still developing. Alho et al. (2022) found that frequent usage between websites may produce something called “grass-hopper minds” is when someone can’t concentrate on one task for a long time. I have worked with many children in the past and noticed that they rely more on technology to help with their homework or a companion when they are bored. The use of technology can be negative, but it has its positive side and help video gamers with visual tasks that require selective attention as compared to non-gamers (Alho et al., 2022).
Adolescents have been accustomed to using technology since they were infants. Children learned to swipe before their first birthday and used video calls to communicate with grandparents (Arnott et al., 2018). As children reach adolescents, having proper discipline and using digital medica for other means such as education enhancement, their cognitive development won’t be affected negatively once they pass the infancy stage. For example, the use of video games can help adolescents learn how to drive without even touching cars. It is important to set boundaries for adolescents to not over use digital technology as their brains are still developing.
Alho, K., Moisala, M., & Salmela-Aro, K. (2022). Effects of media multitasking and video gaming on cognitive functions and their neural bases in adolescents and young adults. European Psychological, 27(2), 131-140. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000477
Arnott, L., Palaiologou, I., & Gray, C., (2018). Digital devices, internet-enabled toys and digital games: The changing nature of young children’s learning ecologies, experiences and pedagogies. British Journal of Educational Technology, 49(5), 803-806.