The New York Times is featuring a new series of articles on the effects too much data can have on how people think and act. In a recent article the paper dove into how such technology is affecting children, and how it is alarming a number of child-development researchers.
Numerous studies already taking place are tackling the effects of internet, television and social media directly on the child, however researchers now see a new need to look into how parent’s use of such technologies could play a role on the development of their children, including speech and language.
Sherry Turkle, director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Initiative on Technology and Self, has been studying how parental use of technology affects children and young adults. After five years and 300 interviews, she has found that feelings of hurt, jealousy and competition are widespread. Her findings will be published in “Alone Together” early next year by Basic Books.
In her studies, Dr. Turkle said, “Over and over, kids raised the same three examples of feeling hurt and not wanting to show it when their mom or dad would be on their devices instead of paying attention to them: at meals, during pickup after either school or an extracurricular activity, and during sports events.”
Dr. Turkle said that she recognizes the pressure adults feel to make themselves constantly available for work, but added that she believes there is a greater force compelling them to keep checking the screen.
To read the entire article, or series “Your Brain on Computers” visit the New York Times website.