Teens and Technology
There is no question that the generation of teenagers are thoroughly wired with nearly every possible form of technology. I never try to hide the fact that I am a member of this technology-addicted age group. I text constantly, check my Facebook more than I check in with friends in person, and I’m never found without my tablet. I, like most other teenagers, am using this technology for communication purposes. Some may believe that this is a social issue, or that teenagers are using technology as a source of communication, losing the ability to communicate effectively face-to-face. In some cases, parents become concerned that their children are too attached to technology. However, I would argue that the parents themselves are to blame, enabling their children to use technology at such an extent, and encouraging technology as part of their children’s education.
Christmas morning, I was elated to find a Kindle Fire HD under the tree wrapped in golden paper with my name on it. It wasn’t until a few hours later, when I discovered that my 5- and 7-year-old cousins received the same gifts from their parents, that I felt a bit low. It occurred to me that if these boys are getting exposed to a powerful form of technology at such a young, how reliant will they be on technology once they are my age? Yet their parents very willingly purchased such a “toy” for them, without considering the long-term consequences such a gift might have. How can parents complain about their children's reliance on Internet and mobile devices if they are not only supplying the children with the tools, but presenting the devices in such a positive manner and encouraging their children to use them?
My mother is a school teacher, and when the topic was brought up with her, she explained that technology is just as present in her kindergarten class. “So many of my kids come in with iPods and cell phones at 5-years-old” she said. According to her, parents buy their children these devices that just end up a nuisance in the classroom. “The parents’ requests are what brought iPads and whatnot into the classrooms. The parents wanted their kids using this kind of stuff. Sometimes it helps to get the kids interested, but sometimes it’s just a distraction.” Not only are parents giving their children technology, but they are pushing the educators to provide technology to their children as well. Obviously, children at this age are not using the technology for the same social purposes as most teens, but it is the introduction to the devices that starts the reliance on technology.
From preschool to high school, technology is ever present in today’s classrooms, and according to an article by US News, over 600 school districts are introducing students to devices like tablets and e-books. According to the article, the purchase of iPads for students helps to save on paper and textbook costs, help students keep up with their work if they miss class, and help to engage the students. Because of the nature of the devices however, they are obviously very distracting, having access to all social media and Internet sites (Koebler). Yet these are still seen as positive additions to the schools by both educators and parents, who are happy to allow the iPads into their homes after the bell rings.
If teens’ addiction to technology is an issue for parents, it is the parent’s responsibility to avoid putting such an emphasis on it. Stop buying children these devices. Stop encouraging educators to promote technology. Limit the children’s access to the technology. It is the parents’ responsibility to say, “Hey, put the phone down.” If the parents don’t monitor their child’s intake of technology, then they are absolutely responsible for the addiction to it.
Koebler, Jason. "More High Schools Implement IPad Programs." US News. U.S.News & World Report, 07 Sept. 2011. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. enabler