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Ruhi Patel
Professor Malcolm Campbell
UWRIT 1103
28 September 2016
Effects of Technology on Adolescent Development
Introduction
With the sudden rise in technology over the last decade, I would like to study the effect
this has on childhood psychological and behavioral development. I will specifically focus on
studies that looked at children 12 and under anytime within the last five years. Most of these
studies will have takentake place in Western civilization because we have more access to these
technological advancements. I became interested in this topic because I have a three-year-old
cousin who and I wassurprised me very surprised by how differently he is growing up from the
way I did. I noted that the differences in the environment and culture even within the last decade
may be a strong contributing factor to this observation. From what I have noticed, these children
develop the skills necessary to use technology at a younger age, but it comes at a price. Attention
deficiencies are at an all-time high while speech and motor development tends to be hindered. I
would like to see if these observations are true for the majority of this population and what
possible detrimental effects this may have on their futures.
My main inquiry question is how technology is impacting the development of children
from an early age. My topic will focus specifically on the short and long term effects caused by

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this increased exposure to technology by tracing the rise of certain disorders and problems that
we see in todays youth which may have resulted as a consequence.
While it may seem easier to give a crying child an iPhone as a means to pacify the child,
this may be causing unintentional harm long term harm. A recent study by the Kaiser Foundation
shows that children and teens average 7 hours and 38 minutes to using entertainment media
across a typical day. This means children are spending more time indoors and on their devices
than outside. A Huffington Post article proposes that this has affected the rise in childhood
obesity and diabetes as well as the motor development of a child. Attention deficiencies have
also been on the riseincreased in recent years as proven by studiesd conducted by the Center of
Disease Control (CDC) in 2014. Another CDC study from 2016 shows an increase in youth
violence as a result of social media. All of these studies only further prove that technology is
affecting children at a deeper level than many people choose to believe.
I looked at articles and publications from many sources the CDC, Pew Research Center,
and the Kaiser Foundation. I also read a scholarly journal published by the US National Library
of Medicine titled The Digital Revolution and Adolescent Brain Evolution written by Dr. Jay
N. Giedd. In addition to these sources, I found my overview information from a Huffington Post
article called The Impact of Technology on the Developing Child. I spoke with my mother,
who is a primary care physician, as well as my aunt, who has a three-year-old child. Many of my
peers who interact with children also had much to add to the conversation. I havent had the
chance to talk to a librarian about my topic, but I plan on doing so sometime during my inquiry

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process. I would also love to talk to a child psychologist or a pediatrician about the subject as
well.
Many people may argue that each generation grows up a little differently from the next
due to technological advancements and cultural differences. It is also argued that technology has
had a positive impact on certain areas of childhood development. Learning how to read and write
is more accessible now. A study conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA)
showed that children who used the Internet more showed greater gains in GPA and reading test
scores. Children that are exposed to technology early on and develop the skill to navigate
devices that they will be using for the rest of their lives. Also, exposure to technology is
inevitable. We are surrounded by it on a daily basis. We rely on it constantly and it is a necessary
tool in school and in the work force. It has made its way into society and shows no sign of
leaving, making so avoiding technology is notm possible.
Initial Inquiry Question(s)
Some of the questions I have related to this topic include: What effects does the increased
exposure to technology have on a childs ability to have patience? How does the constant influx
of stimuli affect creativity? Can technology cause ADHD or ADD to develop? Does visual
impairment occur at a younger age due to the constant exposure to technology? Can this result in
speech development occur at a later age? Are children less able to express their feelings and
connect with others socially as a result of social media? Can depression and social isolation also
be a potential result of exposure to technology? Do violent inclinations at a young age occur
because of violent video games and movies? Can children become desensitized to violence as a
result? How does parenting play a role into these issues?

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My Interest in this Topic

I am interested in this topic because I love learning about human psychology and health.
As a pre-health student, there are many diseases and problems that are a direct result of how my
generation lives, partially due to social and cultural influences. Also, this is a topic that pertains
to me because I did grow up around technology. Admittedly it was not the same as amount as
todays children are exposed to, but it has had a direct impact on me. I have also had many
firsthand accounts with young parents who complain about how their children dont listen to
them anymore and the only way they can get their kids to eat food or clean up their toys is the
reward of time on the iPad. All of this pushed me to wonder what the cause was and how to find
a possible solution to the problem.
I did not know much about the topic other than the fact that there have been studies that
have found long-term detrimental effects of technology at a young age. I know that attention
deficiencies, difficulty communicating, and depression have increased in the last decade and that
they are often correlated with this new lifestyle, but I dont know if it a direct cause. I hope to be
able to find the answer to this question. I also hope to find a solution. I believe that if a cause is
found, then a solution, or at least preventative measures and awareness, will be easier to find.
Next Steps
I will revisit the CDC and APA websites and look at the research conducted at a deeper
level. I intend to try to find studies or publications by the Pew Research Center and Kaiser
Foundation that will also help me find my answer. I will also use the library resources to find

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manuscripts and journals published by people who have established themselves as a reliable
source in the subject matter and use them to seek insight. In order to do this, I will speak with a
librarian or an assistant to guide me in my research. In addition to these, I will also try to find
professionals in child psychology or pediatrics who would be able to provide more information
and possibly firsthand accounts of what they have witnessed related to the topic. I plan to see if I
can find any TED talks or presentation that talk about this issue in hopes that they may have a
solution or at least guide me to come up with a hypothetical one. To make my argument about
this being a legitimate concern more persuasive, I will try to find articles from journalistic
sources such as The New York Times or Huffington Post to build rebuttals and solidify my stance.