Is technology bad for Teens? Does it have long term impact on the teen brain? How do I regulate the time my Teen spends on gadgets? Questions like this are asked virtually every time we take workshops or webinars on the topic of Technology and Teens.
Tweens and Teens are using technology in various ways today. It ranges from texting/whatsapping/snapchatting to tweeting, online gaming to pinning their stories, v-logging to youtubing and more.
According to a study conducted before the pandemic hit us, teenagers spent nearly nine hours a day absorbing media. Can you even imagine what it is like today when they are stuck at home with nothing but the internet to connect them?
Considering the neurobiological and hormonal changes in teen brains that elevate their desire to feel a sense of belonging, to be respected and admired, their inability to disconnect from the virtual world is understandable.
Robert Lustig, author of ‘The Hacking of the American Mind’, said “that kids are definitely addicted. It’s not a drug, but it might as well be. It works the same way… it has the same results.”
It is not that these behaviours, experiences, and events are all bad. They may be positive or negative, healthy or unhealthy, and normal or problematic, depending upon various circumstances. For example, the positive aspects of technology for Teens includes being able to speak more freely by finding one’s voice or like-minded community online, there are immense avenues for learning and knowledge gains, communication and engagement with people from around the globe, space to explore their creativity and more.
As a parent, it is natural to be worried about attention spans, the increased social interactions and the attention deficit.
The Insightful Parent’s module on Technology and Teens focuses on:
- The Effect of Technology on Teen Brain
- Ground rules to live by
- Steps to engage, assess and educate about dangers and pitfalls
- Tips on how to keep the Teens engaged
