Parents are finding out that their children are paying more attention to their cell phones, the internet, music, and television. According to a new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation, ages eight to eighteen spend more than seven and a half hours a day on electronic devices. Within these hours, it does not include the time that kids spend texting throughout the day. According to the Nielson Company, on average, teenagers text 2,272 text messages a month.
http://http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/health/26teen.html?_r=1
Usually kids will find themselves doing multiple things at once, such as being on the internet and listening to music or listening to music and texting. According to the New York Times, an eighth grade boy said that his days would be boring without his cell phone. Times have changed with children getting cell phones as early as elementary school to be used for emergencies.
Being able to use electronic devices has brought negative problems such as grades falling and the behavior of kids are changing. In a study, 47% of the heaviest media users (consuming more than 16 hours a day) had grades that were a 'C' or lower. While teens who used media for 3 hours or less had better grades. Having cell phones in majority of schools are banned and can only be used before or after school. A student said that they pretend they have something in their backpacks so they can answer their text messages. Recently a mother said that the reason she bought her son a cell phone with internet was because their family computer was not working and she and her son had come to the conclusion that he would be able to use it for homework. She said overall, he probably used 2% for his homework and 98% for other 'stuff'.
The studies have also found that 7 in 10 youths have a television in their bedroom. A mother would play Baby Einstein for her son when he was a baby and he was able to learn how to read and do math at an earlier age. She gives credit to the television because she knows that her son was able to learn from it. Now that her son is nine years old, she says he is "crazy wild" for video games. He does not want to be involved in extracurricular activities and she feels that it will hurt his social life with being able to have friends later. Statistics show that the heaviest media users are between the ages of eleven and fourteen. Electronics have both pros and cons. To me, it depends on how parents will let their children use it and how people use it in general. Since I've been in college, I have used my computer and the internet more than I did in high school. It is an easy communication to talk to teachers and other students while being able to do online classes.
http://http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/education/20wired.html?ref=education
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I agree that technology is becoming very popular among teens and our society. I often see young kids walking through the mall talking and texting on cell phones. I just kinda find my self analyzing the situation in awe, noticing that they are most likely 8 or even younger. I think its good to have a phone for emergency situations, but I got my first cell phone when I got my license. I think computers also distract you in class. This semester none of my teachers allow us to have our computers out in class, so it is alot easier for me to concentrate and learn. Although last semester I did have a class I could use my computer in and found myself spending more time surfing the web than figuring out problems or listening to the teacher.
ReplyDeleteChildren simply do not need their own personal cell phones while they are in elementary school. This excuse that such phones be made available in case of 'emergencies' is ridiculous--any kid under the age of 13 (or in many cases up to high school ages) should either be around an adult(s), who has a phone available, or if need be should use their parents' cellphone. Besides, most kids end up using the phones for texting or playing games--it's similar to having a credit card for 'emergencies' and then going on a shopping spree.
ReplyDeleteAs far as educational television shows (such as Baby Einstein) and video games of the same effect go, I'm not sure where I stand. Maybe such programs are helpful in the beginning; however, they can become very addicting and do often affect social interactions between people.
I agree with TLK , kids in elementary school walking around with cell phones is just ridiculous, I can see parents wanting to be able to get a hold of their kid and using it just for emergencies, but that’s what a Jitterbug is for, those little low tech phones. I know if I was I kid, I wouldn’t anybody to see my Jitterbug and therefore I wouldn’t use it in class unless it was for an emergency.
ReplyDeleteThats a great discussion today in our economy. I think elementary kids do not need a cell phone. That is way to young for kids to be texting and talking on the phones all the time. If you give kids cell phones of course they are going to use them in school. They wil pay less attention to school work to.So parents shouldn't give them cell phones. When there that young they shouldn't be in any emergencies anyway.
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ReplyDeleteWith the advances in technology and how easily it is to access them, it does pose some pros and cons. Not only is it affecting the younger generation, I believe it is affecting my generation as well. For instance while in class I do notice many students playing games and on interactive web sites, not really paying attention in class. What will this turn out to be in the end? I remember I used to do this till I found myself cramming for exams, not knowing what the teacher said in class, and basically seeing my grades slip a little. So I decided to break the habit and try to keep the focus in class, on my teachers. I believe this helped me out a lot and for the first time in my life I got an accumilative GPA of 3.5. My mom does not believe it and I can hardly believe it. I guess the main thing about technology these days is there is a time and place for it, and you need to know when to use it.
ReplyDeleteBrook,
ReplyDeleteYour article caught my eye because I recently have been dealing with some problems with my "crackberry." I used twelve thousand texts last month and decided that all this blackberry use was taking a toll on my school, work, and life in general. I decided to change my phone number and move on. After doing so I have noticed a huge difference in the way I act around people who are closest to me and it is much easier for me to pay attention in class.
Your article was a great expample and provided good statistics about just how bad teenagers and their electronics have gotten!
When I see a very young kid using a cell phone I think who can they possibly be texting, and then I see more and more young kids with cell phones and now it seems like kids are getting cell phones younger and younger. I didn't get a cell phone untill I was a senior in high school and I made it just fine, but after having a cell phone I think I would feel lost without it. Lap tops are a very good thing to have for school work but they are also a really bad thing for school work I think I use my computer more to surf the web then to actually get my school work done.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your opinion. I think it is up to the parents. If the parents don't want there kids to play games or be exsposed, then they should take the games away. I understand that then they would just go to there friends house but at least you are getting rid of the problem in your house. Who ever said that them being so exsposed to media is bad. Almost everything we learn now is because of the media. If media didn't say it was important then it wouldn't be. I agree that there is pro and cons to all this technology we have. But the way this world is going, the kids will be more knowledgable than their parents soon.
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