Pediatric therapist Cris Rowan wrote an excellent piece last year called “10 Reasons Why Handheld Devices Should Be Banned for Children Under the Age of 12.” Referring to research finding by the American Academy of Pediatrics, he claims that a little use of an electronic hand-held gadget (cell phones, tablets, electronic games) is bad for children's social, physical, and psychological growth.
Even Pope Francis expressed his own concerns on this topic, urging young people recently to not waste time on the Internet, smartphones and television, but to spend their time on more productive activities. He said, "Maybe many young people waste too many hours on futile things... Our life is made up of time, and time is a gift from God, so it is important that it be used in good and fruitful actions... chatting on the Internet or with smartphones, watching TV soap operas, and (using) the products of technological progress, which should simplify and improve the quality of life, but distract attention away from what is really important."
The 77-year-old pope has described the Internet as a "gift from God"
but also cautioned that the fast and digital world of social media need to be used with discernment and reflection so the young generation will be "a network not of wires
but of people."
Minsan, pakiramdam ko ang mga kabataan ngayon ay parang nagiging manhid sa kagagamit ng mga gadgets at pagbababad sa internet...
ReplyDeleteYou're right about that Jep. It affects their attention span. They become sort of robots that only get stimulated with lights and touch screens.
DeleteI found your blog through your comment on mine.
ReplyDeleteSocial media and the TV can be "good" but I'm cautious with the amount of time I and my family spends utilizing it. It shouldn't replace one on one interaction and there's too much garbage available that pollutes our minds.
Thanks TC! It's so tempting to use these gadgets as electronic "babysitters."
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