What can technology do to the social behavior on a child?

Question

ages 1-8

Answer 1

Technology is a tool.  Like a knife can be used by a surgeon to heal and a murderer to kill, so computers and electronic devices are tools.

Focusing on just the social aspect.  Allowing kids to have unrestricted access to technology is like allowing them to drive a car without guidelines or training.  Endless hours gaming and interacting with machines alone tends to isolate them from traditional human contacts and prevents the typical development of social relationships and social skills.  In a similar manner, students with severe disabilities that have greatly limited contact with typical peers and tend to have small circles of support and aberrant behaviors.

On the other hand, developing typing, IM, email, posting, and editing skills can actually enhance communication and social interaction skills.  Of course, the face-to-face human context is lacking.  For students with nonverbal disorders or delayed learning, technology may actually be their only form of social communication.  

Specialized technologies, both hardware and software, such as voice output devices can be a crutch for social and language development, but are usually great assets when used properly.

Answer 2

technology and the excessive use of it can lower  attention spans, reduce social interaction and ability to problem-solve, and have measurable effects on brain funntion. musch like the research done on bad effects of tv viewing for kids, even so-called "educational" programs in many cases. so technology can hurt kids too. even the baby einstein type videos have been shown to be not so good for the kids......kids are now couch potatoes in greater numbers and would often rather play video games or watch tv, use computer, etc. than play outside working things out with their peers and getting exercise. sad.