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The article talks about children and adolescents impacted by technology along with researchers and authors. It argues that a lot of screen time is changing the brain functions of young people and possibly leading to issues such as decreased attention spans and damage social interactions. The discussion is important across the United States, affecting families,, schools, and communities. The importance of this issue has grown especially in the recent years due to the pandemic. With the increasing screen time in everyday life, there is a important concern that these changes could stop children's ability to navigate the real world and develop important life skills. While some damage may be irreversible, parents and educators can take action like setting limits on screen time and encouraging more face-to-face interactions.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/tips/2024/04/16/tech-stressing-kids-undo-damage/73278462007/

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The screentime battles are already in full swing with my niece.

She turned 2 years old in January. "I want iPad," she wails across the house during lunchtime. She refuses to eat, even though I can tell she's "hangry." She's even more inconsolable when I tell her she can watch 10 minutes of Cocomelon only after she takes at least three bites of her lunch.

If it were up to me, I would throw "her" iPad away. I'm not kidding. I can't stand to watch her - one of the most intelligent and empathic toddlers I've ever been around - get completely sucked in and tuned out on screens.

She taps and swipes and stares, totally hypnotized by its magnetic pull. Screens are already her go-to method of comfort, her favorite reward - even better than candy! - and all too often, the on-demand babysitter for her parents, who are overwhelmed and just trying to make it through the day.

There's a lot to unpack here, and I have no idea how to help. To be fair, I whip out a phone as fast as anyone else when we're all out to dinner together, and the crayons and puzzles stop working. We all just need a few bites of our food and five minutes of adult conversation, right?

What's worse, I often feel powerless against the pull of my screens too. I have zero doubt that smartphones have rewired our brains in negative ways. Not because so many new studies suggest it, but because of how I feel and what I see happening in the world around me.

The always-on gadgets that were supposed to make my life easier, more fun, and more productive, now often disrupt my sleep, ruin any semblance of work-life balance, and wipe out my self-esteem. I get lost in rabbit holes nearly every time I pick up my smartphone, and I routinely feel incapacitated when it comes to doing anything about it.

As bad as I feel about my own smartphone and screens, I feel worse for our kids. I've witnessed them suffer the most - from our device addictions and their own.

Give them a smartphone or an all-access pass to social media too soon and risk alarming rates of " depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide." But if you're the one strict parent in the neighborhood who denies access, are you stunting their growth in an ever-evolving digital world and potentially socially ostracizing them too?

'The Anxious Generation:' Have smartphones 'rewired' childhood?

Everyone I know is talking about the new book, "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness." In it, social psychologist, author, and New York University professor Jonathan Haidt stacks mountains of evidence indicating a correlation between the rise of smartphones and sharp declines in the well-being of our kids.

Haidt argues that the transition from a play-based to a phone-based youth has "rewired childhood." He also says that it has "disrupted social and neurological development (and caused) social anxiety, sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, and addiction."

The problems ramped up around the year 2012, Haidt says. He cites hundreds of scientific studies and other high-quality data to paint smartphones, tablets, and social media as unstoppable forces, pushing Gen Z (people born after 1996) out of reality and into a digital world where rules aren't always clear, people hide behind anonymous social media accounts, and rumors spread faster than wildfire.

Smartphones and social media aren't the only culprits, though. Sure, they opened a can of worms by providing unrestricted access to carefully orchestrated algorithms trained to lure kids in and keep them coming back for more. But Haidt says it was those factors combined with the rise of "fearful and overprotective parenting (that started) in the 1980s,'' and continues to the present day, that created a perfect storm for a diminishing ability to raise healthy humans.

"We rewired childhood and created an epidemic of mental illness," Haidt said in several recent interviews. "After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. We have overprotected our children in the real world and underprotected them online."

Critics argue that Haidt and his colleagues have all " mistaken correlation for causation," among other complaints. But it looks like some of the sharpest critics haven't actually read the book. The author is next-level transparent and shares the data and sources openly online.

Isn't this just the latest 'parent panic?'

I'll admit, it's not an easy read as a parent. The most frustrating part, for me at least, is that I've known in my gut this was happening for over a decade. Most parents probably feel the same way, and despite doing our very best, we often fall back on the old, "Well, the train's already left the station," or "Before this, there was too much TV, and before that too much risqué rock music, and this is just the latest thing to freak out about" excuses.

But it's pretty apparent that we've collectively relied too much on technology to pacify our kids. If life was a horror movie, this is where we'd realize "the call was coming from inside the house" all along.

Tech companies, of course, are all too happy to oblige. Most draw up extensive "Terms of Use" that prohibit kids of certain ages from using their services, but there's virtually no enforcement of those guidelines. Ask anyone under the age of 13 how they managed to work around social media age restrictions, and they'll say, "I lied about my age." Um, duh.

Kids also love games and communicating with their friends online, and knowing when those habits cross over into problematic territory is proving to be more complicated than many parents imagined.

Social media and video games are among the worst offenders. "They hooked children during vulnerable developmental stages, while their brains were rapidly rewiring in response to incoming stimulation," Haidt writes. "By designing a firehose of addictive content that entered through kids' eyes and ears, and by displacing physical play and in-person socializing, these companies have rewired childhood and changed human development on an almost unimaginable scale."

The damage, he says, is clear: An epidemic of pain and suffering among young people around the world that's produced a generation of "failure to launch" boys and fragile, depressed girls.

Can we raise healthy humans alongside modern tech?

This is a question I've asked myself and hundreds of others in the past decade, both while covering consumer tech and raising a now 23-year-old daughter.

Here's what I know for sure: extremes don't work. "Zero tech" households are a lot like no-sugar families. Kids sneak, hide, and lie about the inevitable screentime they manage to finagle from friends, other families, and even school. They are often worse than their peers at self-regulation.

On the other end of the spectrum, giving a child their own smartphone before double-digits creates a sort of zombie apocalypse too. I'm thinking of one friend with a now 10-year-old daughter who spends nine or more hours a day on TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube. She told me recently she would "die" without her phone.

Anecdotally, "extremely controlled" screen time seems to have the best outcomes, but that's really hard and time-consuming for most parents to manage.

The problem is overwhelming. The peer pressure from other kids and even other parents is extreme.

Many teens and young adults I talk to wish there were clear requirements and boundaries similar to driving licenses and drinking ages. One recent study even noted that a majority of college students say they "wish TikTok and Instagram were never invented." My daughter has told me the same thing.

"The biggest opponent we are facing is not that parents (or even teens) disagree with us; it is that so many feel hopeless," Haidt's lead researcher, Zach Rausch, wrote in an email. "Our goal is to show that there really is a lot we can do, especially if we act together."
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The book recommends four "new norms" to turn back the phone-based childhood:

◾ No smartphones before high school.

◾ No social media until 16.

◾ Schools should ban phones during the entire school day; just put them into a phone locker or Yondr pouch.

◾ Finally, we need to give our kids more independence, freedom, and responsibility to play or hang out with each other on their own in the real world, just as most of us did when we were their age.

Not all screen time is bad

Rausch is quick to point out that "not all screen time is bad." He and Haidt recommend families watch an age-appropriate movie together or play a game in real-time with a friend or family member for a healthier dose of tech.

The problems, they say, come with sites like YouTube, "and other products designed to maximize the amount of time they spend on the platforms (e.g., TikTok). And it's the asynchronous activities, such as posting and scrolling on social media, that sucks kids in and keeps them from real-world interactions that are crucial for their social development."

Haidt recommends flip phones before high school. I've been preaching this for the past several years, too. (I use a $20 Straight Talk Wireless Nokia 2760 flip phone on nights and weekends to help with my smartphone addiction and have recently given a handful to my friends with middle-school-age kids.)

Haven't we heard all of this before?

I've heard - and offered - most of these suggestions before and not seen any real change. What's different now? Will we actually roll back the damage and create a healthier future for our children with tech? Can we get tech titans who won't let their kids use the same devices and apps they created to put age limits and more real-life guardrails around their inventions? We have to try.

Haidt set a deadline and says society can "end the phone-based childhood by the end of 2025." That's a lofty goal, but he says we're at a tipping point and he's sure this can - and will - work.

"We find that we don't need to convince many people about the nature of the problem. Most people see it," Haidt wrote on his Substack. "Our main opponents are despair and resignation. The four norms offer a way out of the trap."

Haidt also compiled several "take action" resources for parents, schools, and everyone else who cares about this problem.
Jennifer Jolly The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. Contact her at JJ@Techish.com. is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech columnist and on-air correspondent.
I plan to take my niece's family a copy of "Anxious Generation." I'm not sure what else I can do for them except try my best to lead by example. That means I'll put my own phone down when I'm with her (even if I might miss an adorable photo or 10). I also plan to take her outside and show her how to make mud pies. The messier we both get, the better.

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Tech has rewired our kids' brains, a new book says. Can we undo the damage?

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In "The Anxious Generation,'' author Jonathan Haidt argues social media is impairing children's mental health. But there's a way to undo the damage.

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This article proves that technolagey can be good for children if you use it properly. Like right now you can find technolagy everywhere like at home, school, or even just walking outside. Technolagy can be use in so may ways other then like helping you with school or looking up something you don't understand.

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Much has been written about the impact of technology on kids. However, the focus is usually on the negative effect too much tech time can have.

The truth is that technology itself is neutral - it is neither good nor bad. Rather, how we use devices and what we use them for lends itself to the negative and positive effects of technology. Usually, we are attempting to shield kids from screens. Instead, we should focus on helping them become savvy screen users.

Statistics show that most kids aged eight and up spend 4-6 hours on a screen daily. That number increases as they hit their teen years. The average screen time for teens is 9 hours a day.

But that does not mean that screen time cannot be a force for good. Parents and teachers alike can use technology in a positive way as an educational tool. Children can learn to use technology to better themselves and society.

For example, educational videos can help children better understand a topic. Technology and coding classes, such as those at Engineering for Kids, allow children to learn valuable skills. With these uses, kids can increase their knowledge and prepare for their future.

Why Technology is Important in Education

Today's classroom has become much more engaging, which is why technology is important in education. This is even more so since the COVID-19 pandemic. Educators found creative and innovative ways to connect with students and help them learn.

Many in and outside the education industry may wonder "why is educational technology important?". The answer is that technology as an educational tool can expand a child's world. For example, take virtual reality. Students can tour natural wonders of the world, art galleries around the globe, or even go back in time. It can enhance the learning process and help more students grasp the material.

Benefits of Tech for Children's Education:

Using technology to teach can be a powerful tool in many ways, such as

Engaging

Students do not all learn the same way. Some learn best from a textbook, while others need more hands-on experience to build their understanding. Educational technology has the ability to engage kids with different learning styles.

Some ways of doing this include -

showing videos about topics or concepts

using virtual reality to immerse students in an experience

using online games to reinforce the learning of facts.

Technology's ability to bring lessons to life is a major positive effect.

Real-world preparation

We live in a digital world. Helping students understand technology prepares them for future careers, including jobs that do not exist yet. From software to collaborative tools like video calls, kids should learn it all. Practicing using technology can ensure they will have the skills needed to be successful in the future.

Soft skills

Technology can also enhance soft skill development. Depending on how it's used, it can help children develop stronger communication skills, teamwork and leadership, and even emotional intelligence.

Information

Your child can access vast amounts of information online with the click of a button. The good news is that when it comes to researching for school projects, the sky is the limit. Moreover, it can provide kids with access to learning possibilities. Online courses or educational videos are two such examples.

We should encourage kids to use online resources in a positive way. They can also build a strong understanding of digital responsibility. Then they can come to understand how to be a good digital citizen.

Learn While Having Fun with Educational Technology

Today's kids spend a lot of time on technology. Screen time and devices are often seen as negatively influencing children. However, they can be a source of positive effects of technology and fun!

Teachers and parents may ponder "why is educational technology important?". Technology can advance the educational experience for children in a variety of ways:

Learning to code

Understanding how to use computers and different computing languages is a valuable skill. It allows students to develop solutions to problems and make lives easier. This includes coding software and building robots. Coding and technology programs make use of educational tools made for teaching kids. They can learn about:

3D CAD Modeling

Game-based coding

Programming a robot

Video game design

Gaming

Video games can also be educational in the right setting. Minecraft can help students understand and appreciate architecture and urban design. Esports can be instructive and fun. Kids can develop their teamwork, analytical, strategic, and soft skills. They will also advance their technology and leadership skills.

Gamification

It sounds similar to gaming, but gamification is somewhat different. It is when you add game elements to non-game contexts, such as using points or awarding medals. In the classroom, combining playing and learning can enhance instruction. For example, consider online trivia games. They help students test and master facts, including mathematics, history, and more.

Educational content

Education technology extends beyond computers and tablets. It can include television shows, videos, and even movies. Kids can spend more time watching educational shows, including documentaries. Or, they can watch online videos that offer instructions, such as learning to code. Kids can also engage in educational experiences such as virtual reality tours of historic places. You can see why technology is so important in education!

Technology and Coding Classes for Kids

Kids today need to have an in-depth understanding of technology, no matter what industry they want to work in. From healthcare to construction, tech tools are becoming a part of every trade and career. That's why it's important to help your children build these skills now. This way, they can be successful wherever they go and whatever they do. Coding classes for kids are an exciting way to introduce them to this world!

STEM programs and workshops help set kids up for the future. There are subjects for all interests - robotics, Minecraft, and even learning how to code. Supporting a positive use of technology will help students learn so much more.

At Engineering for Kids, we have designed a variety of STEM classes, workshops, and camps. They all engage and challenge kids in a fun way!

Find out more about what we offer and our locations. Let us help you unlock the positive effects of technology on children.

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Positive Effects of Technology on Children's Education | EFK

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Discover the positive impact of technology on education and society. Read our latest news on the transformative effects of technology at Engineering for Kids.

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AI is already causing some problems. A good example is the recommendation algorithms used by streaming services. The shows that pop up for you are shaped by what an AI suggests. Overall, current AI systems are affecting how people make decisions in various ways.

https://eng.vt.edu/magazine/stories/fall-2023/ai.html

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There is no denying that Artificial Intelligence has changed our lives. However, some might argue if it’s for the better.

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The article I chose was from the U.S.A and the National university 2024 /N-EDU. The affect of technology on children is that they have to much screen time and it can also affect your child’s physical health as well as their behavior, as in being closed of from the world. Electronics, like smartphones and tablets, make it harder for people to concentrate and easier for people to be distracted by constant sounds and notifications. According to a research study in Canada, since technology use increased (around the year 2000) the average attention span has decreased from 12 seconds to eight seconds. https://www.nu.edu/blog/negative-effects-of-technology-on-children-what-can-you-do/

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Based on the article https://cosmotogether.com/blogs/news/is-technology-bad-for-kids?srsltid=AfmBOoriqwoMeAaYzt69tGXilQBNv5RaTf5qdebPmeg32HJyQDcWTKoD it shows that nowadays kids all over the world are being affected by technology because it affects there communication, there critical thinking, connection with there family and there mental health. All the affects can be a big difference to kids because it can change the way they think and how they are.

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Technology for kids can help them for college. It can help them in prove in there skill and they can also can help them by doing there assignments or it can also do there project online.In otherwise technology can also be bad for kids because they can be addicted to it and that could be bad too.

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How can we use YouTube and streaming platforms to teach our kids valuable life skills? | Treffert Center

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Learn about the academic and mental health benefits of producing YouTube and streaming content to teach social and vocational skills.

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From smartphones and social media to TV and tablet-based toys, today’s kids are constantly inundated by technology. While it’s important for children and teens to develop an aptitude for technology, after all, they will use computers their whole lives, too much technology use can have detrimental health and physical effects. https://www.nu.edu/blog/negative-effects-of-technology-on-children-what-can-you-do/

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Technology affected kids by showing how technology is everywhere, and technology can set limits for children to offset some of the negative effects. Too much time can affect child’s physical health as well and their behavior. Children/Teens act differently and misbehave due to social media. This shows how technology affected children/teens lifes.

https://www.nu.edu/blog/negative-effects-of-technology-on-children-what-can-you-do/

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Based on the article from The Negative Effects of Technology on Children | NU it shows that children are being affected to their health being just by using technology. For example, in the article it says, "The negative effects on children’s health run the gamut from increased risk of obesity to loss of social skills and behavioral problems." this means that by using technology it can affect children to lose their social skills and their behavioral problems.- Briana Martinez