University Essay: The Effects of Computers on Children's Lives

This essay examines the multifaceted effects of computer technology on children. It explores both the positive and negative impacts, considering factors like educational benefits, enhanced communication, and hand-eye coordination through games. The essay also delves into the potential drawbacks, including reduced physical activity, health risks associated with prolonged screen time, stunted social development, psychological side effects, and exposure to inappropriate content. It emphasizes the need for parental guidance to help children use technology responsibly and avoid its exploitation, advocating for a balanced approach where technology empowers children rather than controlling them. The essay draws on research from various academics and organizations, including the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, to support its claims.

Running head: ESSAY
The negative or positive effects that computers can have on children
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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It is common to hear that technology is power. However this power should be the
means to empower human race rather than impacting negatively. However in order to
understand the power of technology it is very necessary to define what exactly technology
incorporates. According to researchers and academicians all the knowledge, skills, techniques
and methods which are particularly employed in producing varied goods and services for
enhancing the lifestyle of individuals collectively come under the periphery of technology
(Stewart and Frances). One such blessing of technology is indeed the invention of computer
which came around the 19th century and soon became a widespread necessity in the day to
day lives of individuals. According to the psychological research conducted by American
Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) the most widespread impact of this
technological innovation has been on children as they are the ones who are growing up with
this technology (ROCK and MARY).
Today children at the age of 7 or 8 starts learning about computer, they get proper
computer training at schools and all is directed towards bringing in positive changes in their
life. It is meant to help with get familiar with all the latest technological advancements and
help them learn how to use and reap the benefits. Hence it cannot be completely denied that
the exposure of computer serves no good. With the advancement in internet accessibility the
benefit of widespread educational software and websites can be completely incorporated in
improving one’s child’s education standards. The content of these educational programmes
are extremely interactive, interesting, creative which altogether boosts children to think out of
box and enhance their creative spirits. It can be immensely helpful in increasing vocabulary
of the child to help him think logically and smart (Motamedi, Vahid, and Leila) Various
schools have their own e-learning programs which are specifically designed to enhance the
academic experience with interesting quiz and puzzles and are mostly used during the
school’s summer and winter vacations so that the children can use their time strategically

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rather than spending it ideally. This is all what technology specifically computer brings
along. Moreover it has helped children to play games which are no doubt entertaining as well
as quite interesting to help them develop their hand-eye coordination. Computer with such
easy internet access has also revolutionized the way children communicate today with their
peer groups using web applications like e-mails and Facebook and varied other social media
platforms. Yes this too has its own positive and negative impact but for now concentrating on
the brighter side of it, this definitely helps them making new friends, communicate on a
global platform learn the use of these applications and altogether become tech savvy which is
indeed a necessity for today’s kids (Arsić and Boško). Being actively engaged in these
platforms youngsters can use them in showcasing their talent to the world in just a go. For
instance a child who loves to sign can easily record a video with the help of his parents
upload it on social media for instance on YouTube and become a star overnight. Yes,
technology has made it this easy when it comes to accessing resources, information or
knowledge (Third, et al.).
However amidst all this positive impact, computer technology has brought in a bag
full of threats and negatives which can be quite dangerous to every child who is overexposed
to this technology. According to the research study of American Academy of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) it has significantly reduced the amount of physical activity
which one of the most essential elements in ensuring a healthy lifestyle in growing children.
Sitting in front of the computer screen all day has led to varied health risks and diseases
relating to obesity, high pressure and heart problems (Shackman, Jessica and Seth). Back in
the days when there are no such exposure of computer technology children where found
playing football and cricket in grounds but toady it is al digital, all virtual and children are all
day hooked to the computer screens. Moreover excessive and prolonged exposure to the
computer screen can act fatal to the eyesight of the younger generation as these devices

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reflect harmful UV rays which are not good for children. The next significant negative impact
which computer technology has brought along with it is that it often stunts the social
development skills of children. The child might be excellent in making friends virtually on
every possible social media platform but is completely unknown how to meet and greet
people as well as very poor in forming interpersonal relationship. This can play havoc with a
child’s psyche making him feel isolated in reality. Such behavioural issues are often ignore
by parents but should be addressed in the utmost urgent manner because it might be that the
child is facing problems in school or in his peer group and is using technology or specifically
computer as his escape mechanism to cut off from the real world problems (Lauricella et al.).
Researchers have also suggested that there are potential psychological side effects associated
with the advancement of computer technology. As already mentioned there are vast amount
of information easy available online, varied contents which the children gets exposed to with
bare minimum gate-keeping, there are a lot of times when children get to know something or
see images or videos which have inappropriate content, might be violent, visually disturbing,
obscene and do not feel the need to share it with their parents as they fear of either being
scolded or punished. As already mentioned children at a very young age today are exposed to
various social media platforms, use it unconsciously without any such proper knowledge
about what could be the potential threats, how to keep oneself safe and so on. Hence there are
times that children fall prey to cyber bullying, cyber crimes and suffer from depression,
loneliness or a confused sense of reality (Navarro, et al.).
Hence from the above presented discussion it is quite evident that computer
technology has its own pros and cons on children. However what needs to be considered is
proper parental guidance and support for the child to understand and differentiate between the
term usage and exploitation of technology (Kildare, Cory and Wendy). One must make the

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child understand that computer technology must be used to help the child rule the world
rather than letting the technology rue over his child and mar his childhood.

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References:
Arsić, Zvezdan, and Boško Milovanović. "Importance of computer technology in realization
of cultural and educational tasks of preschool institutions." International Journal of Cognitive
Research in Science, Engineering and Education 4.1 (2016): 9.
Kildare, Cory A., and Wendy Middlemiss. "Impact of parents mobile device use on parent-
child interaction: A literature review." Computers in Human Behavior 75 (2017): 579-593.
Lauricella, Alexis R., Ellen Wartella, and Victoria J. Rideout. "Young children's screen time:
The complex role of parent and child factors." Journal of Applied Developmental
Psychology 36 (2015): 11-17.
Motamedi, Vahid, and Leila Bakhtiary. "The impact of computer games on creativity and
academic achievement of students."
Navarro, Raúl, et al. "The impact of cyberbullying and social bullying on optimism, global
and school-related happiness and life satisfaction among 10-12-year-old
schoolchildren." Applied Research in Quality of Life 10.1 (2015): 15-36.
ROCK, MARY M. "Social Media and Behavioral Health: Normal and Abnormal
Behaviors." Behavioral Pediatric Healthcare for Nurse Practitioners: A Growth and
Developmental Approach to Intercepting Abnormal Behaviors (2018): 279.
Shackman, Jessica E., and Seth D. Pollak. "Impact of physical maltreatment on the regulation
of negative affect and aggression." Development and psychopathology 26.4pt1 (2014): 1021-
1033.
Stewart, Frances. Technology and underdevelopment. Springer, 2016.

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Third, Amanda, et al. Children's rights in the digital age: A download from children around
the world. 2014