Should iKill the iPad?
"says she would never hand her iPad to a toddler. But many parents happily do just that, while others are so concerned about the impact of technology on their children that they leave the room to use their mobile. Which is right? Do parents who choose to limit or deny access to tablets deprive their children of technological intelligence, or are they keeping them safe from an as yet unknown harm?”- Cocozza Paula
Every day we see more and more children on iPads spending less and less time out enjoying the sun and engaging in physical activities. Many parents and scientists are beginning to wonder what repercussions will arise as this “app generation” engages more and more with mobile gadgets and other new technologies. Scientists claim that using tables decreases motor skills and promotes obesity and diabetes. Also, the use of violent videogames fosters anxiety and stress, which can lead to sleep disorders and depression. Nonetheless, others claim that it was just a short while ago that parents worried about children harming their eye sight and not exercising enough because they spent too much time reading. So we are left to wonder... are mobile gadgets just a part of society’s evolution or could they eventually lead to our downfall?
Abstract
Reflection
It is somewhat shameful to admit that my 6 year-old cousin knows more features on the iPad than I do. Nonetheless, what is even more frightening is the idea that this is starting to become part of our reality. Or should it be frightening? Is it part of society’s evolution? These questions linger in the minds of many parents and scientists and the truth is that there is no concrete accretive answer.
Some parents believe that it is completely wrong for their children to entertain themselves with new technological gadgets such as tablets and so they will even go to such extents as leaving the room before using their electronic devices out of fear of how their children will react to if they begin to see the usage of electronics as “normal.” These parents restrict their children’s usage of technology on the basis of scientific evidence, which suggests that without playground interactions, and a daily dosage of sunlight and physical exercise, children will not develop social skills and empathy and will lead lives with great stress and anxiety, all of which can lead to depression and sleep deprivation.
On the other hand, there are parents who willingly hand out their phones to their children because they believe that these gadgets are not something to be scared of. They believe that technology should be an innovation that’s embraced by society not rejected by it. To them, these technological gadgets are helping children grow up accustomed to a life that is now a reality. A reality in which technology forms an immense part of our daily life.
The two aforementioned viewpoints are extremes of the spectrum, there are also a lot of people whose opinions fall somewhere in the grey area. For example, some parents don’t completely discourage the use of mobile gadgets, instead they simply regulate it. They have devised a system for their children that imposes a maximum amount of time spent using technology. Some parents are uncertain as to what to think and so they hand over their phones to their children because it’s easier than having to deal with their children’s hysterical tears since they don’t get to have an iPad “like all the other kids.”
Where do I lie on this spectrum? I believe that technology truly is inevitable. The younger generation is growing up to be an experimental group. We must be open to the uncertainty of the future and accept that these opposing viewpoints can only be proven right or wrong until we actually experience them. Hypothesis of right or wrong are not enough to prompt the global community into taking action for or against this new technology. For now, I believe that we should simply let technology takes its course since it will, inevitably, form a part of our future. I think we'll just have to wait and see what the future holds.