#25: What Every Parent Needs to Know About the Negative Impact of Tech on Kids!

Hi,

We need to pay more attention to attention. And as parents, we need to know, where our kids’ attention goes. Today, I want to write about the impact of technology on our kids. I went through some stats to write this article.

These stats are terrifying and eye-opening.

Enjoy!

Single-tasking is a superpower.

The ability to focus on one goal for an extended time is the biggest productivity boost.

But we live in the 'attention economy'. Companies fight for our attention. Successfully. Our attention span drops. Focusing on one thing has become a virtue.

But I'm worried for another reason.

How will technology impact our kids?

I read this article and can't stop thinking about it. Then I saw the numbers from teachers' reports and parents' reports made in Australia back in 2020 and 2021.

And I'm here to bring the survey results that strongly concern me.

Let's begin with teachers.

• 84% of teachers believe that digital technologies are a growing distraction in the learning environment.

• Over 90% of educators think that the number of children with psychological, social, and behavioral challenges has increased in the last 3-5 years.

• 78% of teachers noted a decline in empathy

• 60% of teachers noted declining levels of physical activity in students.

• Almost all teachers noted increases in the prevalence of online harassment and bullying (81%).

• 59% of educators observed a decline in willingness to learn in the last 3-5 years.

Parents:

• More than four in five children own at least one screen-based device that belongs to them. The average is 3.3 devices owned by each child.

• Parents were significantly concerned about the negative impacts of digital media and technologies on their child’s physical activity levels (73%), attention span (62%), and interest in playing (62%).

• Over 90% of Australian parents felt that they themselves were negatively distracted by digital technologies. Three in four believed that this distraction is growing.

• Families believe that being on a screen displaces their child’s opportunity to do other activities, like being physically active or playing outside, being creative, or spending time with friends or family.

• 37% of children and young people have been anxious or depressed because of their time online or because they were not allowed to use their devices.

• Personal ownership of gadgets starts as young as four years old.

• 65% of parents felt that digital devices are the first choice to fight boredom.

Why am I worried?

The trends look pessimistic. Kids become:

• less active

• less creative

• less intelligent

• less empathetic

• easily distracted

• more depressed and anxious
  If this isn't concerning, I don't know what is...

Practical Tips For Parents.

• Teach children how to manage their attention and time. It should best serve their interests.

• Be a role model for them. Limit the usage of technologies.

• Use screens in moderation, age-appropriately, and with intent, not for pacification.

• Value mono-tasking and provide children with the opportunity for free play.

• Recognize and acknowledge that there are healthy levels of inattention in children, and it's all about balance.

• Ensure online screen-based activities are in balance with other important daily activities, including:

  1. a lot of physical activity,

  2. good quality and quantity of sleep,

  3. spending time with family and friends.

Final Thoughts.

Technology is amazing. But most of us pay for it with the most valuable currencies: time and attention.

And the negative impact is even stronger for kids. The human brain isn't fully developed until the mid-20s.

We still don't know the long-term effects of today's usage of technology. But it's time to raise awareness.

Thanks for reading. See you next week.

Keep your brain in mind.

Kris

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