No doubt exists that the majority of social interactions happen online these days. This is especially true during the current pandemic situation when in-person schools, recreation areas, extracurricular classes, and events are less prominent than they have been in the past. Children of all ages text each other or post on social media to chat instead of calling or meeting face-to-face. All of this technology has a considerable social impact on young children that carries through the preteen, teen, and young adult years.
Positive Social Impact of Technology
The main advantages of Internet-specific and tech-based communication and interaction for children and teens stem from accessibility and exposure to a diverse range of people and social situations. Before the Internet became a household thing, kids would interact with their peers at school or in extracurricular activities and neighbors in their community. These days, kids can make friends with people all around the world from diverse geographic locations, cultures, races, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This exposure can boost the power of socialization in a variety of ways. It can teach tolerance and empathy and contribute to a wider understanding of the world and human behavior.
Technology also allows children who struggle with social interactions to make friends and experience many of the same things as their peers with a higher degree of comfort. This is also useful for those who may become the target of in-person bullying. That does not mean that cyberbullying is not a serious problem. The Internet and tech communication simply provide another avenue for positive experiences.
Negative Social Impact on Children
Cyberbullying is unfortunately quite commonplace and can cause a serious social impact to children and teens. Studies actually indicate that negative social habits get worse if children spend more time on mobile devices and the Internet. Screen time is also associated with feelings of loneliness or disconnection. The ability to connect with many different types of people can leave some feeling more left out than before.
According to a variety of studies, increased screen time and reliance on technology can lead to reduced attention spans, lower levels of privacy, which can lead to unrealistic expectations of closeness or friendship online, addictive behaviors that get in the way of schoolwork or other healthy pursuits, and general struggles to interact with people in person. As children get used to communicating in a virtually anonymous fashion with the screen as a buffer, they may become increasingly uncomfortable with direct conversation. It can also reduce their ability to understand non-verbal cues like body language and facial expressions.
Technology is here to stay, and it will continue to dominate the entertainment and socialization worlds of young people going forward. While the Internet and other tech options offer a lot of benefits, it is important to understand the social impact from a negative perspective, too. Understanding, balance, and offering other options are great ways to minimize any harmful effects that technology can bring.
