As the world continues to struggle to contain the Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing recommendations remain in place, millions of children and adolescents are not expected to attend school which automatically means that they’ll often be stuck inside their homes and using the internet as a primary means of human connection and digital learning. The pandemic has generated a long-standing, difficult-to-answer question: Is technology going to ruin our teenager’s brain?
It is estimated that more than 5 billion people have mobile devices, and over half of these connections are smartphones.
It’s true that we’re seeing unprecedented levels of teenagers using digital devices and according to a research way back in 2018 , its estimated that 95 percent of US teens have access to a smartphone, and 45 percent are online “almost constantly,. And during the same period of time that internet and smartphone use has increased for a generation of young people, the suicide rate in the US has also steadily increased (across all ages overall), with a disproportionate increase in the rate of tween girls aged 10 to 14 in particular.
Smartphones are very important and wonderful communicative tools used by all age group people especially Young generation. Without smartphones, one feels incomplete and it has become the need of an hour. It has brought a plethora of information resources within the palm of one’s hand and has bridged the communication gap via social networking sites. People remain in touch and come to know every development in all walks of life within no time on social Media. The impact of Smartphones is visible in all areas of life including business, education, health, marketing, social life etc. But it is not out of place to mention here that every technology has its pros and cons within
PROS;
- Many cell-phones allow teens access to the internet, which they may use for assignments, projects and research
- It also helps students keep track of important dates and events
- the internet allows students to explore deeper into topics
- Reach out to parents and necessary authorities during emergencies
Cons:
- They begin to find difficulties in socializing in person
- Teens get distracted on the phone even when they’re not texting or conversing
- Unable to go without it
- Loss of creativity
In the meantime, it’s important to understand what the concerns around the impact of social media on teenage mental health are — and what to consider when it comes to figuring out how to help teens have a balanced relationship with technology, especially while living through a pandemic.
