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| My nephew Jay using my Mom's laptop. |
We all know that the world we live in today is a
world of technology. Each day, more and more children and young adults are
using technological devices such as computers, smartphones, laptops, iPads, and
other tablets. The usage of technology by children and young adults has its
pros and cons. Research suggests that some of the worries and cons to children
and young adults that use the internet via computer or mobile device are the
following concerns: privacy issues, bullying, pedophiles, spam, chain letters,
withdrawal from the real world, and a false sense of security. Some of the pros
concerning children and young adults that use electronic devices are the
following: sense of keeping in touch with real-life friends, able to talk to
and bring up sensitive topics to their parents
that the children/young adults could not do so in a face-to-face setting,
cellphones are a quick and easy way to communicate and negotiate plans such as
informing parents that the child or teen will be late getting home, and once
again a false sense of security so that the child or teen can push the limits
on where he or she wishes to go. Sonia Livingstone states the following about
children and teens that use social networking sites, “social networking is
time-wasting and socially isolating, and at worst it allows pedophiles to groom
children in their bedroom or sees teenagers lured into suicide pacts whiles
parents think they [the children] are doing their homework. (2008)” Sonia
Livingstone has an excellent point. There have been cases where children and
teens where solicited online to do sexual favors for pedophiles, weather
sending inappropriate pictures or even worse such as meeting them in person.
Also, there have been cases where children and young teens have made suicide
pacts online. Wolak, Finkhelhor, and Mitchell state the following statistic
concerning sex offenders soliciting youths, “Between 2006 and 2006, there was a
21% increase in arrests of offenders who solicited youth online for sex.
(2009)” 21 % is a big increase when we are talking about the safety of our
children and teenagers. Even if it was just one child or teen that was
solicited for sex online by a pedophile, that is still one too many. As far as
the suicide pacts go, there have been some occurrences where teens and young
adults have gathered online to discuss suicide pacts. Some have even been
successful with their mission. Parents have to be more proactive in their child
and/or teen’s online endeavors. Kerry Devitt and Debi Roker states the
following about the positives and negatives of children and teenagers using
mobile phones, “the findings show that young people and parents see mobiles as
a key way for families to keep in touch, and to monitor and ensure young
people’s safety. However, some participants felt there was a downside to this,
in relation to some young people either withdrawing into their own social
worlds, or having a false feeling of security as a result of having a mobile. (2009)”
Mobile phones do allow teens and young adults to fast and effectively
communicate to their parents to let them know where they are at and how late
they will stay out at night with a significant other or with friends. However,
the participants are accurate in their assumption of teens and children getting
addicted to the internet via mobile phones or computers while becoming
oblivious to what events are going on around them. For example, young adults
such as sixteen year olds that are able to drive have a higher risk in getting
into car accidents due to texting while behind the wheel. (www.stopthetextstopthewrecks.org)
The young adults become so dependent on their mobile devices that even while
driving they think they must be on their phone. When they are on their phones,
their attention is no longer on driving; therefore, causing some mistakes.
There have been some occurrences where some young adults have died or killed
others by texting and driving. Even though the mobile device does allow
children and young adults to contact their parents, caregivers, or police in
case of an emergency; however, the child or young adult may not be able to get
to their phone in time during an emergency situation. As mentioned previously,
young teenagers can get into car accidents while using their mobile phones. In
a situation like that, the phone is actually the cause of the accident. Also,
in Devitt and Roker’s article, they mentioned that mugging was a concern for
both the young people and their parents. Both have concerns that people will
see the youngsters with their cellphones and come up and rob them of their
cellphones. (2009) In a case like this, the cellphone would not help the young
adult get out of the bad situation but yet again be the cause. The use of
technology by young people is not all bad. With the right boundaries set and
proper supervision, the internet can connect a young person to a vast array of
learning and positive communication. Students of all ages benefit from the seemingly
unending resources that the internet can connect them to. The use of mobile communication
by children and young people also has its advantages. In addition to being able
reach a child, the parents can also use tracking technologies on most modern
phones to keep tabs on their children. Technology can also be a good way to get
young children interested in learning. There are games you can download on to
your smartphone or tablet and even tablet type devices designed for children
that are preloaded with software that is aimed at learning while playing. These
devices come with parental controls that limit the amount of time a child can
use the device as well as filter content during online activities. Just about
anything you put into a child’s hands can be dangerous if it is misused or
abused and technology is no different. There will always be threats from
online, and young people will always try to get away with something if given
the chance. However, with proper supervision threats can be avoided and with
the right rules and boundaries set, technology aided misbehavior can be kept to
a minimum.
References:
Devitt, K., &
Roker, D. (2009). The Role of Mobile Phones in Family Communication. Children & Society, 23(3), 189-202.
doi:10.1111/j.1099-0860.2008.00166.x
Livingstone, S.
(2008). Taking risky opportunities in youthful content creation: teenagers' use
of social networking sites for intimacy, privacy and self-expression. New Media & Society, 10(3), 393-411.
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