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When talking about the benefits of technology for children, doesn't being in the tech education sphere make us biased?

Well, I wouldn't say biased. If anything, it makes us informed.

So, let's clear the air.

Are there cons to exposing kids to technology? Of course. Like all things, there has to be a good and a bad. But remember this-the bad usually stems from abuse and extremes. Eating pizza is good. Eating a whole pizza is bad. Sleeping. Also good. Sleeping all day? Typically bad.

Sure, you can make the argument that such abuse wouldn't even be an option if the thing being abused was never introduced in the first place.

But if that is indeed how you're thinking about kids and technology, I ask you, how do you avoid it? Do you go the other extreme and keep kids from technology altogether? How could you manage?

Even if you were successful in maintaining such separation, doing so would be to strip kids of fun and entertainment, and more importantly, personal growth, skill-building, and the chance to land a lucrative job down the road.

So, then, we land in the middle; balancing technology and life-ensuring kids soak up all that is considered good, and shielding them from what could easily turn bad with excessive use. For instance, there are hobbies to replace video game playing that still revolve around video games (which helps with engagement), but get kids to progress from only consuming them.

Anyway, let's look at the good that technology offers.

Benefits of Technology for Kids

The positive effects of technology on children can include:

Creativity and freedom of expression

Socialization and relationship building

Independence and empowerment

Problem solving and perseverance

Entrepreneurial spirit

Learning enhancement

In-demand job prep

1. Creativity and freedom of expression

Kids have big imaginations; too big to be contained. Where in the past they only had art supplies like crayons and colored markers at their disposal to get those ideas out and into a conveyable form, they now have computers, tablets, and so much more to help them turn such thoughts into reality, whether that's through a more traditional drawing medium or through digital art.

Sure, they still have pens and paper, but now, instead of - or in addition to - drawing a picture, they can create a 3D animation, and then even send that animation to a 3D printer to allow it to take on a physical form. Who knows...their creation could be the prototype to a million dollar business.

The skills learned from interacting with technology each have an attached creative form of expression. Coding is a skill, but programming a video game or mobile app is the expression.

2. Socialization and relationship building

It's not a scare tactic by any means, but the chances of your child finding other kids to interact and bond with over technology greatly outweigh the odds of them finding other kids who don't use or like technology.

Video games, social media, mobile apps-these are all hobbies and interests just like sports, reading, and more. The opportunity for socialization with tech, then, is twofold.

For one, kids can share in such interests with other kids as consumers - just like they would over baseball cards or TV shows - and two, they can also connect within the technologies, over live chat during video game sessions, or on Facebook, and elsewhere.

And even beyond that, if they want to take interests to the next level and design their own video games or learn to code in a camp or class setting, that's another opportunity to forge solid relationships, as they'll be collaborating and learning with like-minded peers.

You never know where early childhood STEM exposure and the resulting relationships will lead your child. With each project, they're essentially "networking" and gaining new tech allies as they make their way through school, and then on to internships and careers. It could all stem from a friend they met at cybersecurity camp or Fortnite camp.

3. Independence and empowerment

Going back to the first point on freedom of expression, think about the journey from idea to conceptualization. First, you think of something cool, unique, fun, etc. Then, you lay the groundwork and research that thing or idea a bit more. And finally, you do it, or start to actually put wheels in motion to bring the idea to reality as a young entrepreneur, musician, or something else that aligns with your dreams!

With technology, kids can carry out that process on their own! Without technology, who knows how far they would get?

It's not only the act of creating and doing - which is cool enough - but that feeling of independence and empowerment. It can be incredibly powerful; beyond what words can convey.

Tech executive and bestselling author Sheryl Sandberg said this: "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" Even as adults, there are things we often avoid because we haven't had experience with them, and thus, we are afraid to fail. If kids can jump in and do things with technology now, they'll be in better position to keep pushing and achieving as they grow older.

4. Problem solving and perseverance

Have you ever heard the term "survival mode?" It is a gameplay experience found in a number of different types of video games, where the player is tasked with staying alive as long as possible to outlast opponents.

In the popular game, Minecraft, "survival mode" is one way players can sharpen problem solving skills. Specifically, they are dropped into new and different environments, and must immediately build shelter, and collect items like weapons and food in order to survive. As if there needed to be more of a kicker, a " Minecraft day" lasts 10 real-world minutes, forcing players to move fast while making good decisions in order to stay alive.

While honing in on whether or not Minecraft is good for you might seem like an obscure example, that's the point. If I can pull out a way that one single video game can improve problem solving and perseverance, think about all of the other opportunities floating around out there.

Really, all of these points about how technology benefits children are interconnected:

With technology comes freedom of expression, and with such freedom comes the chance for kids to independently set out and achieve something, largely on their own. In doing so, they face roadblocks and challenges that must be cleared if they're to reach their goals, so they learn how to deal with such hurdles.

Whether that hurdle is trying to build shelter in the Minecraft world or learning how to hack, it all helps establish a strong sense of perseverance. In turn, they'll be encouraged to come up with their own solutions when problems are faced in technology, or outside of it-in the form of a homework issue, disagreement with a friend, or other personal hardship.

5. Entrepreneurial spirit

Let's recap up to this point: creative expression, relationship building (networking), empowerment, and perseverance.

Sounds like the making of a budding entrepreneur to me.

Since 1999, we've seen 350,000 kids pass through our summer tech programs. Many go on to secure internships and launch dream careers with big-name companies, while others found nonprofits or start their own organizations.

We've seen how summer camp can change lives, but when thinking about the benefits of tech for kids, I always think of Ian Cinnamon, an iD Tech camper turned author, entrepreneur, and then some.

"I was first seriously exposed to programming at iD Tech Camps, and from there I was motivated to learn more about C++, Java, and programming in general," Ian says.

He went on to write Programming Video Games for the Evil Genius at 15 years old, became an app programmer/developer with several apps to his name at 16, went on to work for Zynga and Apple, and even founded his own nonprofit. He recently penned DIY Drones for the Evil Genius: Design, Build, and Customize Your Own Drones, and built a drone in minutes at the Under 30 Summit while on stage with HP CTO, Shane Wall.

Is Ian's story amazing? Of course. What makes it special is the fact such achievements are not typical of most of us. But the point remains. It started with tech, and it started young. It started with being exposed to programming, which led to motivation, and the rest was history.

The great thing is that technology touches everything, which means there are entrepreneurial prospects to be found in most things tech as well. Sure there are positive and negative effects of YouTube, but the potential to earn is real, even with something as simple as reviewing toys.

6. Learning enhancement

While skills like the aforementioned creativity and independence can easily make one a better learner, this is an example of a more direct application of how technology can enhance the learning experience.

It's also a very easy point to grasp.

What items do you typically associate with the terms learning? Years ago, it was primarily books, schools, and libraries. Then, the computer introduced a new way to learn. While that use of technology really opened the learning floodgates, consider now what virtual and augmented realities could accomplish.

Instead of reading about how the pyramids were built, kids could take advantage of the benefits of virtual reality and step into what it like to be present when the structures were erected. They could stand below and observe the massive stones being dragged into place, leaving them with vivid memories instead of words on pages.

The opportunities are endless! Think about learning a new language, for instance. Reading a book alone doesn't complete the picture: you need to practice, have a purpose, hear form an expert - all things that can be accomplished with technology. Anything that was once written about and illustrated in books for our eyes to read can now or soon be constructed in alternate reality, for us to see, touch, interact with, and experience on a much deeper level.

And if you want to talk about secondary benefits, time management for kids - most of them - is difficult. Giving them time with, and without, tech can help them learn how to manage and maximize efficiency.

7. In-demand job prep

As stated way back in the first few paragraphs, one of the greatest benefits of exposing kids to technology is the fact that they'll be well-prepared to jump into a pool of available, high-paying tech jobs.

I mean, you can't go a day without seeing news on the positive outlooks of such occupations. Just these past couple of weeks:

The cool thing is, we aren't just talking about Silicon Valley, and we aren't just talking coding. Just from the headlines alone: Boston, Birmingham, Chicago, and then when you dive into the articles themselves, Atlanta, Austin, Dallas-and from tech powerhouses like Amazon to others you wouldn't typically associate with tech like Home Depot.

Tech jobs are here today. Tech jobs will be here tomorrow. Some of today's tech will be tomorrow's tech, and some of tomorrow's tech will be completely brand new and something our world has never seen before. Who is going to be best equipped to fill those positions? The ones who start learning now.

Final Word

Nearly 2,000 words into this blog post, and we haven't even mentioned the more traditional tech benefits you'd normally read about, like how video games can be good for you because they enhance hand-eye coordination or because they improve critical thinking and reaction time.

Meaning, there is so much more out there to consider when it comes to how technology could be benefitting your kids. I won't resort to clichés and call it the tip of the iceberg, but all of this amounts to a speck of desert sand, or a single drop of ocean water.

So, want to get your kids involved? View our innovative online coding courses for kids.

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Positive Impact of Technology on Children | Effects & Developmental Benefits

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For kids to benefit from technology, like all things, there must be balance. Ensure your children are soaking up all that is good, with these 7 points. Go!

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Close to half of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 say they are on the internet " almost constantly," and more than nine-in-ten are social media users. These highly plugged-in youth, however, are just as likely as their less-connected peers to socialize regularly with their friends in person, according to a new analysis of Pew Research Center survey data.

In fact, when taking into account both online and offline interactions, highly connected teens report more contact with their friends compared with other teens, according to the analysis, which comes amid concerns that screen time is taking away opportunities for teens and others to socialize face-to-face.

Overall, 24% of teens who report being constantly online say they meet with their friends in person outside of school every day or almost every day. That is nearly identical to the 23% of less-frequently online teens who say they see their friends almost daily. And when it comes to online interaction with their friends, 69% of teens who are online constantly say they talk to their friends online every day or almost every day, compared with 52% of teens who visit the internet less frequently.

The survey also finds that teens who use five or more social media sites are significantly more likely than teens who use fewer sites to talk to their friends online every day or almost every day. Three-quarters of these social media users (75%) say this, compared with 41% of teens who use just one or two social media platforms. However, the frequency with which teens meet their friends in person does not significantly differ by the number of social media sites they use. Some 22% of teens who use one or two online platforms meet their friends in person on a near daily basis, compared with 26% of teens who use three or four social media sites and 23% of teens who use five or more sites.

It's worth noting that regardless of how frequently they use the internet or how many social media sites they use, teens today are far more likely to maintain frequent contact with their close friends online than in person.

Additionally, the likelihood of teens having a close friend does not differ by their frequency of internet use. The vast majority of teens in each group say they have at least one close friend. And similar shares of teens who are constantly online (53%) and who are online less frequently (49%) say they tend to fit in pretty easily with other people their age.

When it comes to their broader attitudes toward technology, teens who go online almost constantly see a wider range of positive effects from social media than their peers who use the internet less frequently. For instance, they are substantially more likely to say that social media makes them feel a lot more connected to what's going on in their friends' lives and that they have people who can support them when going through tough times.

At the same time, this heightened connectivity can come at a cost for some teens. Constantly online teens are around twice as likely as other teens to report that they feel a lot of pressure to only post content on social media that makes them look good to others, or to post content that will gain comments and likes. And teens who are online on a near-constant basis are also more likely to report having experienced online harassment and cyberbullying than teens who are online less frequently.

Previous Pew Research Center surveys have similarly found that the use of internet and social media is linked to stronger social ties, both among teens and adults. A 2014 Center survey of teens ages 13 to 17 found that those who had access to a smartphone or used social media were more likely than non-users of those technologies to keep in touch daily with their close friends. And a survey of U.S. adults in 2004 found that adult internet users had larger social circles than non-internet users. A separate 2010 study found that Facebook users were more likely than non-users to have close interpersonal relationships and receive support from others.

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Many teens say they're constantly online - but they're no less likely to socialize with their friends offline

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Highly plugged-in youth in America are just as likely as their less-connected peers to socialize regularly with their friends in person.

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IMAGE: Satirical Cartoon (Kuczynski)- Creativity

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To what extent do you agree with the artist’s comment/criticism about technology?

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ARTICLE: The drug-like effect of screen time on the teenage brain 

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ARTICLE: The drug-like effect of screen time on the teenage brain 

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ARTICLE: Screen Addiction Among Teens: Is there such a thing?

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ARTICLE: How Social Media Impacts Teens 

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The Recovery Village Drug and Alcohol Rehab

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Constantly connected to the internet, today's teens use social media for many purposes, but the overuse of social media can lead to serious problems for teens.

Technology is constantly changing and creating new innovative ways for people to connect with one another. One of the most common uses of new technologies, especially by teenagers, is social media.

While initially little was known about how social media affects teens, the impact of social media on teens has begun to be understood. Research on social media and teens has indicated that technology may increase peer pressure and bullying while also leading to increased substance use and mental health concerns.

The Rise of Technology

Since the beginning of the public use of the internet in 1991, people have found new ways to use this technology. As technology has expanded and become more accessible, teen internet use has skyrocketed.

With teen media consumption on the rise, companies are more frequently cashing in on the media influence on teens. With industry reports deeming teens the most valuable customers, targeted marketing to teens is unlikely to go away. Today's teens, known as Generation Z, are, as a group, overwhelmingly more connected through technology than generations past.

To understand the increase in teen technology use, statistics can be used to paint a clear picture of the new youth culture. Some important Generation Z technology statistics to know include:

As teen social media statistics have indicated, nearly all teens use social media and most believe their social media use has either a neutral or a positive effect on them. Despite a minority reporting negative effects of social media, some teens indicate negative outcomes, including:

45% of teens feel overwhelmed by online drama

43% of teens feel pressured to maintain a particular outward appearance online

37% of teens feel pressured to receive virtual "likes"

Despite acknowledging these negative impacts, teen social media use continues to rise. While Facebook once dominated the market, teens have branched out to other platforms. Some of the most popular teen social media sites include:

Teen peer pressure is an issue regardless of social media use. However, when combined, social media and peer pressure can be especially damaging. With 59% of teens reporting that they have been bullied online, also known as cyberbullying, the potential for teens to feel pressure from social media is clear.

Peer pressure to use drugs and alcohol was once thought to be only within high school social gatherings, but social media has created a new mechanism that encourages teen substance abuse. Studies have found that as many as 75% of teens felt pressured to drink alcohol and use drugs after seeing their friends post these activities online.

Access to Drugs

Social media doesn't just pressure teens to use substances, it provides a platform for online drug dealers. In some cases, this may mean social media drug dealing, in which a person connects with someone they know, or a stranger, to set up a drug deal. In other cases, it may mean teens buying drugs online, often through social media.

Whether purchased through social media connections or bought from the "dark web," teen drug use has been made easier with the rise of technology. Due to the subversive nature of online drug dealing, researchers have struggledto estimate how many drugs are sold and to whom. Despite not having this data, news reports of overdose deaths caused by substances bought online show that this is a very real problem.

Social media exposes teens to more than drugs. The compound effects of peer pressure and unrealistic expectations of life facilitated through social media may cause an increase in teen mental health concerns.

While many culprits have been blamed for the increase in mental health concerns among young people, social media and mental health statistics clearly show that technology plays a large role.

For example:

Researchers who limited study participants' use of social media to only 30 minutes each day found that after three weeks, participants felt less depressed and less lonely

In another study, researchers found that young women felt worse about their appearance and were dissatisfied with their bodies after viewing social media profiles of women they deemed as more attractive

Research on social media and mental health has found a connection between social media use and increasedsocial anxiety, feelings of isolation and feelings of loneliness. Some have deemed that the measures of popularity created by social media such as friend counts and "likes" have contributed to a rise in depression. Others claim that seeing other people having fun and spending time with friends through social media can lead to feelings of isolation and inadequacy related to depression.

Considering how much time teens spend online, it is particularly concerning that as little as two hours online has been linked to an increase in risk factors for suicide. When the time spent online rises to five hours or more, the increase in suicide risk factors rises to 71%.

Whether the death of a peer or a celebrity, how the media talks about suicide can impact the potential of others to commit suicide in the wake. The way that social media allows these potentially harmful presentations of suicide to proliferate may make the risk of contagion more severe.

Does Your Teen Need Addiction Treatment?

With the rise in use of social media and the associated spike in mental health and substance use concerns, it can be difficult to know what to do if you or a loved one is struggling.

To understand whether your teen needs addiction treatment, you can:

If your teen struggles with substance abuse, it may be time to consider teen addiction treatment. Considering teen drug rehab can be very difficult on parents and guardians but ultimately could save a life. Recovery is possible and doesn't have to wait. Young people can stop using drugs and enter recovery. To learn more about treatment options available for teens, reach out to a representative at The Recovery Village.

Cami Renzoni is a creative writer and editor for The Recovery Village. As an advocate for behavioral health, Cami is certified in mental health first aid and encourages people who face substance use disorders to ask for the help they deserve. Read more

Medically Reviewed By - Nanci Stockwell, LCSW, MBA

A dynamic leader and award-winning business strategist, Nanci Stockwell brings years of industry experience in behavioral health care to her role at Advanced Recovery Systems. Read more

The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.

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How Social Media Affects Teens: Substance Abuse & Mental Health

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Teens are constantly connected to the internet and social media. Overuse of these platforms may lead to mental health conditions and substance use.

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ARTICLE: NY Times: How to Break Up with Your Phone 

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ARTICLE: NY Times: How to Break Up with Your Phone 

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How to Break Up With Your Phone (Published 2018)

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Nine ways to have a healthier relationship with your phone.

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ARTICLE: Here's What A Constantly Plugged-In Life Is Doing To Kids' Bodies

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ARTICLE: Here's What A Constantly Plugged-In Life Is Doing To Kids' Bodies

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The Scary Truth About What Technology Is Really Doing To Kids

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The Scary Truth About What Technology Is Really Doing To Kids

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VIDEO: PBS NewsHour: Teens on being tethered to their phones and social media

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VIDEO: PBS NewsHour: Teens on being tethered to their phones and social media

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Teens on being tethered to their phones and social media

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5 Crazy Ways Social Media Is Changing Your Brain Right Now

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VIDEO: Addiction to Technology is Ruining Lives-Simon Sinek on Inside Quest

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VIDEO: Addiction to Technology is Ruining Lives-Simon Sinek on Inside Quest

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Addiction to Technology is Ruining Lives - Simon Sinek on Inside Quest

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ARTICLE: NY Times: Myth about Teenage Anxiety

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ARTICLE: NY Times: Myth about Teenage Anxiety

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Opinion | The Big Myth About Teenage Anxiety (Published 2018)

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Relax: The digital age is not wrecking your kid’s brain.

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ARTICLE: NY Times: Letters to the Editor: Is Technology Harming Teenagers?

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ARTICLE: NY Times: Letters to the Editor: Is Technology Harming Teenagers?

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Opinion | Is Technology Harming Teenagers? (Published 2018)

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Readers critique a psychiatrist’s essay debunking claims that technology is causing an epidemic of anxiety.

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ARTICLE: Factors Affecting Technology Integration in the Classroom

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VIDEO: Adam Alter: Why our screens make us less happy 

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What are our screens and devices doing to us? Psychologist Adam Alter studies how much time screens steal from us and how they’re getting away with it. He shares why all those hours you spend staring at your smartphone, tablet or computer might be making you miserable -- and what you can do about it.