The growing presence of technology in the lives of children and young people has raised debates about its impacts on cognitive and social development. Although the internet and social networks offer access to information and new forms of communication, its excessive use has been associated with impairments in the ability to concentrate, memory and critical thinking.
Recent studies have shown that excessive use of the internet can lead to superficiality in reading and analyzing information, as well as impairing the formation of long-term memories and the ability to establish creative connections. Fragmented attention and the constant search for immediate stimuli, characteristics of the online environment, can negatively affect the ability to concentrate and the depth of thought.
In addition, early and excessive exposure to screens and digital games can have negative consequences for the brain development of children and young people, especially in relation to the prefrontal cortex, responsible for executive functions such as planning, decision making and inhibitory control. Lack of face-to-face social interaction and immersion in virtual worlds can also compromise the development of empathy and social skills.
It is essential that parents, educators and health professionals are aware of the impacts of technology on the development of children and young people, promoting the balanced and conscious use of digital tools. Encouraging activities that stimulate creativity, critical thinking and social interaction is crucial to ensure healthy and complete development. (RODRIGUES, 2022)
Refereencia:
RODRIGUES, Fabiano de Abreu Agrela. How technology can harm children and young people. Ciencia Latina Multidisciplinary Scientific Journal, v. 6, no. 1, pp. 88-101, 2022.
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