Children and Technology: Why Technology is Important for our Children

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Student Theses College of Staten Island

Fall 12-4-2022

Children and Technology: Why Technology is Important for our Children and Technology: Why Technology is Important for our

Children Children

Jill MacTiernan

CUNY College of Staten Island

, [email protected].edu

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Children and Technology: Why Technology is Important for Our Children

Jill MacTiernan

Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

Master of Arts in Liberal Arts in Liberal Studies

College of Staten Island, CUNY

November 20, 2022

Thesis Abstract

Many people get scared when they hear about how much technology runs the

world today. They tend to get frightened when they go to a store and have to use a self-

checkout instead of a cashier. Parents are scared of the dangers of the internet and how it

will affect their children, so they tend to try to prevent/limit their children’s usage of the

internet and other technologies. However, that may not always be the right move.

Technology can not be avoided; it is a part of our everyday lives.

With proper guidance and teachings, children can learn how to safely use

technology and use it to succeed in many different aspects of life. It can be an

irreplaceable tool in their academic studies as well as developing social skills. My thesis

discusses its advantages and illustrates why it is so important for children to learn about

technology as they grow up.

Introduction

In modern day culture, technology runs the world. It is in our daily lives. Our

lives revolve around cell phones and computers. We are in constant communication with

each other by text message. People find out personal updates about each other from

updates on social media, not by direct communication anymore. In the supermarkets,

people can check out by a self-checkout machine, instead of a cashier. Bills are paid with

one click of the mouse to a computer or a touch of our fingers on a smartphone.

This is the world children are growing up in. Our children in today’s society and

of the future will never understand simple concepts such as people mailing handwritten

checks by a certain date or sitting near a wall talking on a landline phone that is

connected to a wall with rotary dials and if someone was using the phone, no other calls

could be received. The person calling would receive a busy signal. People would run

home to make and receive phone calls. These are only a couple of examples that used to

be a part of everyday life that have changed drastically due to technology.

Our lives have become much simpler due to these technological advances. We

save time on doing errands such as paying bills. We are able to be in constant

communication while living our daily lives. People can conduct major banking

transactions such as opening/closing accounts, applying for loans, etc., without ever

stepping into a bank. Items can be purchased on applications and prescriptions can be

ordered electronically through the internet. We can be at home taking care of a home and

children while shopping online for necessities, paying bills, banking, and communicating

with others, even on video if we want. We are now capable of multitasking like never

before.

It has been that way for a while now as technology started to really expand in this

1990s. Before that time when someone needed information, they went to a library and

read books. They would use books such as the encyclopedia, etc. When people would

search for jobs, they would buy a newspaper and look for employment in the classifieds

section. If a person wanted to find a store, they would look in the yellow pages and if

they wanted directions they would read a map. In the modern world, when we want to

know any of this type of information, we take out our smart phones. We find out the

information we need almost instantly through an internet search or vocally asking our

smart phones. It has been this way since smart phones were invented and became more

common. “The information and resources on the Internet are now integral features of

daily life for most Americans.” (Rideout, Katz, 3)

Understanding Technology is Crucial in Modern Society

People may worry that children growing up in a world that is dominated by

technology which is constantly advancing will negatively effect children, but I strongly

disagree with that. I think technology is a great thing for children to have access to and to

learn how to operate while growing up. It is important for children to understand how all

of the modern-day technology works in order to keep up with the modern-day world.

When a person is not good with technology, finding phone numbers, directions, and other

information are complicated. As technology advanced, people stopped reading maps and

the yellow pages. “Being connected to the Internet has become all the more essential as

helpful resources for accomplishing these tasks have migrated online.” (Rideout, Katz,

2016, p. 3) If a child does not properly understand how to use technology it can affect

their future. Understanding technology is crucial to working in modern society. It is a

necessity in life.

In modern society, it is very difficult to have a job if you do not know how to use

computers and smart phones fluently. Most jobs do not want to hire people who are not

fluent in basic and common computer programs such as Microsoft Office, etc. Most

aspects of daily life such as paying bills, making appointments, etc., are conducted by the

internet through a smart phone or a computer. For example, when you go into a bank to

open a new account, you are often told you need to open your new account by yourself

online. Many stores are online only. We need it to communicate with each other via

phone calls, text message, email. We also apply for jobs online. Many jobs conduct

interview online as well.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world significantly and greatly increased

the importance of technology. Many jobs became remote jobs. A personal example of

this is my own job. I have been a full time paralegal since 2014. I had always worked

extensive hours, five to six days a week. Technology was always a big part of my job. I

always worked on a computer using many different software programs and attended

meetings where the presentations used technology. However, we used paper files and

meetings were attended in person. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic started, my

work computer was brought to my house. My daily routine became: wake up to the alarm

from my cell phone and clock in on my computer. While working on my computer as I

would in the office, I would need to attend meetings online via Zoom app. I would speak

to coworkers on the Zoom app, email, and on the phone. Everything that I previously did

at the office with paper (assemble paper files and binders) now has to be done

electronically. This became a necessity to understand if you wanted to stay employed

because we were not allowed to go into the office due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Technology can be an escape for people. Typically people have their homes, their

families, and their work. However, as people we need an outlet, a space that we go to for

recreation purposes. If someone can not get out of the house often or see people often, it

can help them to feel connected to people and the world. People can join online support

groups who have similar problems so that they do not feel alone and can provide support

to each other. An example of how important this is, an alcoholic could need help to stop

himself/herself from drinking, but due to COVID-19 or just an average personal dilemma

they can not leave the house to attend an alcoholic anonymous; he or she can go online

and talk to others in the same situation for support. This can help save lives.

Positive Effects that Technology Have on Children

It is important for children to understand how all of the modern-day technology

works in order to keep up with the modern day world. When a person is not good with

technology, finding phone numbers, directions, and other information are complicated.

As technology advanced, people stopped reading maps and the yellow pages. As more

and more resources have converted from being on paper to being online, technology is

becoming more and more essential. As technology has advanced, the education system

has grown with it. “A teacher from the late nineteenth century entering a typical

classroom today would find most things quite familiar: chalk and talk, as well as desks

and texts, predominate now as they did then. Yet this nineteenth-century teacher would

be shocked by the demands of today’s curricula.” (Roschelle, Pea, at al, 2000, p.76). As

society advances in technology and in all aspects of life, more becomes expected of our

children to learn.

Children learning technology have many benefits – educational, technology literacy,

and entertainment/enjoyment. A study was conducted in March 2020 of 290 parents

whose children had access to a smartphone and/or tablet. The researchers asked the

parents their opinions of technology in regards to their children. 75.1% of these parents

felt the benefits were for the children and 24.9 % felt the benefits went to themselves.

66.9% felt technology gave their children educational benefits (exposure to knowledge,

support with school work); 16.2% felt it helped their children achieve technology literacy

(understanding how to use technology) – a parent said “She has to understand how such

things work in order to fit into society”. 16.2% felt it keeps their children entertained,

7.9% felt it was good for their children’s relaxation. 7.9% felt it was good for their

children’s development and focus. A parent said “Use of his tablet keeps him from

becoming bored and simply watching TV for extended periods of time.” 22.4% felt it

gave themselves (the parents) leisure time. A parent said “I appreciate having a little bit

of a break when he’s on the tablet. I can get some work done, or just have a few minutes

of silence.” 10.3% like it (technology) because it helps them keep in touch with their

children and track their location easier. A parent said “She is able to go to a friend’s

home or to the park and I can reach her when I need to.” 6.9% says it helps them get

homework support for their children. 0.7% said technology has no benefits and 2.8% had

no answer. (Berget, Koster, Krasnova, Turel, 2020)

Computers are a necessity for children. They need to learn to become fluent in them

in order to be able to use them as adults to keep up with society. If a child does not

properly understand how to use computers, it can affect their future. Understanding

technology is crucial to working in modern society. They also need computers to do

school work. They need the internet to conduct research. They need programs such as

Microsoft Word to type their homework and Microsoft Excel/PowerPoint to do school

projects. In today’s educational world, it is very common for students to submit their

school work online through the school’s websites (instead of printing it and submitting it

in person.)

Educators must also be properly trained when it comes to technology so that they

are capable of making sure children understand it. Children need to be taught how to use

the basic programs for school work and to do basic computer functions. An example of

this is attaching a document to an email. Children need to be taught how to do things like

this so that it is simple for them to do when they are older. Technology has been

expanding for quite some time now.

In 2018, Dr. Neetu Dabas wrote an article about how computers and technology

were becoming essential in education. “No doubt, computers have become essential for

everyone in every field. Teachers now started using technology like smart classes, LCD

projectors, EDUCOM, Laptops, memory sticks in their classroom to make effective

learning process. Haddad et al. [5] identify the five levels of technologies which are used

in education such as presentation, demonstration, drill and practice, interaction and

collaboration”. Many major state-wide tests such as SATs, GREs, etc., are also conducted

via computers, but at a testing site. If you are not fluent in using computers, it will be

very hard for you to take the exam. (Dabas, 2018)

What Dabas wrote about, has only become more relevant as time has gone on and

technology has become more advanced. Since 2018, more businesses have advanced to

being online mostly or only online. As technology has advanced, it has become more

relevant in the education system and in the world. Nearly everyone uses the internet on a

daily basis to conduct their everyday lives when it comes to running errands,

communicating with loved ones, friends, school, and work.

We have become very used to living like this; many times, we do not even realize

what exactly we are doing. When we are communicating with others through text

messages and emails, we are writing. When we post on social media, comment on other’s

social media, and post blogs online, we are writing. For an adult, it is second hand nature

as we have been writing our whole lives, but that is not the case for children. Technology

helps children practice reading and writing because they have more motivation to do so

as it is a big part of their social lives. They do not realize that they are practicing reading

and writing; they are just doing it for the social benefit.

In 2008, a study was conducted on how teenagers were communicating using

technology. In 2008, social media and smart phones existed, but landlines and phone calls

were still more common then. Teenagers who were interviewed said they did not consider

instant messaging online, text messaging, and using MySpace (the popular social media

website at that time) to be writing because it was not writing with a pen and paper, they

felt they were just having conversations. (Lenhart, Arafeh, Smith, 2008)

Writing on computers also helps students learn about grammar. When we type in

popular computer programs such as Microsoft Word, it underlines words that are spelled

wrong and underlines sentences that are grammatically incorrect. It does not

automatically make the corrections for you, it shows you what is wrong. “For many

teens, the ability easily to change, edit, and revise their texts on the fly is one of the

clearest advantages of writing on a computer. Nearly six in ten teens (57%) say they edit

and revise more when they write using a computer compared with when they write by

hand.” (Lenhart, Arafeh, Smith, 2008) While students learn how to write and about the

English language in school by teachers, practicing on the computer can help them a lot.

We tend to remember more by practicing and repeating things.

There are many apps in modern technology that are educational and can be

accessed on smart phones and tablets (no actual computers needed) for free. Google maps

is an app that people use daily for its GPS to give them directions as they drive. However,

it also has educational benefits for children. “The detail and accuracy of the app can also

help build upon children’s sense of place associated with their homes and expand it to

include surrounding areas.” Maps teach students about geography, the world, and water

bodies. Google Expeditions also teaches students about the world through virtual reality.

“Google Expeditions is a wild app that treats users to science learning through augmented

and virtual reality experiences.” These apps are educational, free, and can be used as

tools to teach children. (Pacheor-Guffrey, 2020)

Accessing different applications, games, computer programs, and all that

technology has to offer at a young age can be helpful to encourage children to do

different types of things. “As more children access digital technologies sooner, engage in

a greater variety of activities using such technologies and in different contexts the

perceived importance of understanding the effects of technology use grows and

guidelines designed to reduce harm and promote benefits proliferate.” (Vedechkina,

Borgonovi, 2021, p.2) It can help children get excited about learning and make it fun.

Computers/Technology are harder for children of low-income families because they

are expensive – How does this affect their school work?

School can be harder for children of families with low income. They usually live in

bad neighborhoods and attend schools that do not have many resources. “Because digital

devices and the Internet have become so essential, digital inequality can exacerbate and

economic inequality as well. Therefore, it is critical that we understand how low and

moderate income families in the U.S. are engaging digital technologies and how they

perceive the opportunities- and potential risks- that these innovations present for their

children.” (Rideout, Katz, 2000, p.4)

Children who have access to computers at home are less likely to be interested in

using them in school. “Interestingly, teachers in economically disadvantaged schools are

as likely to report that their students use computers on a weekly basis as are teachers in

more advantaged schools.” (Becker, 2000, p. 48) Children who grow up with privileges

such as access to the latest technology at home are less likely to understand how it is a

privilege to access technology at school for free. A child who lives in poverty is excited

to have this access at school because they will not have this at home. A child living in

poverty is more likely to understand that learning this technology is essential for their

future, wherein a child who is not may not be as interested.

They are also more likely to use it more for academics than their personal

interests. “Children from low – and moderate- income families use computers and the

internet for a variety of educational activities, but those without home access are less

likely to go online to pursue their interests.” (Rideout, Katz, 2016, p. 6) In 2016, Rideout

and Katz’s study show that 81% of 10 to 13 year olds use computers for homework.

The Effects of COVID-19 on Education

As I have previously mentioned, COVID-19 has had a major effect on the world

and technology. It has made technology even more relevant in modern society due to

places not being able to conduct in person business. People became scared to leave their

homes as COVID-19 was a brand-new disease that was causing the deaths of millions of

people worldwide. A majority of businesses closed down causing everyone to have to do

things through technology, even people who tried to resist technology. “The digital world

is also quickly replacing the physical world as the host site for many of our most

important daily activities.” (Culatta, 2021, p.3) This especially applies to schools. School

was a place for children to go everyday for a certain number of hours, which differed

depending on the school and age. “As the world grappled with the reality of the COVID-

19 pandemic, it also led us to reset our expectations for what types of activities we could

do as (or more) successfully in online spaces. We have now become a digital workforce,

with the majority of professionals reporting to work in the virtual world.” (Culatta, 2021,

p.3)

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was not safe for the students and staff to be

conducting school activities in person. Therefore, all classes had to quickly stop being

held in person to being held remotely through an application called Zoom. Zoom is a

video chat application. This was a very fast unexpected change for many families.

Having access to technology to access classes was essential for children and their

families.

For families that had access to technology such as smart phones, tablets, and

computers, this was an easy adjustment. Their children know how to use technology and

are used to using it independently. For families that are not well educated in technology

usage or have children with special needs – it was not an easy adjustment. The same goes

for adults whose jobs were quickly moved to being remote in response to the COVID-19

pandemic. It was and still is very important for parents to know how to operate

technology to help their children who are going through this transition. Adults in today’s

society did not grow up with technology like the children in today’s society. If all

children were properly taught technology before the pandemic, it would have been an

easier transition for some of the struggling parents. It is also important that educators

properly understand technology to teach it to students. If educators do not understand it, it

can not be expected that the children will.

Technology helped and continues to help children and parents with the anxiety of

COVID-19. In November 2020, a study was conducted by Michelle Drouin, Brandon T.

McDaniel, Jessica Pater, and Tammy Toscos that analyzed parents’ perceptions of their

own and their children’s use of social media and other types of communication

technology in the beginning stages of COVID-19 in the United States. “Social media is

not the only technological medium by which people connect during crisis. Many modern-

day interactions are conducted via phones and computers, such as video chats, phone

calls, and text messages. Thus, use of technology, generally, might also surge during

times of crisis, and people may consider their phones critically important for staying

connected.” (Drouin, McDaniel, Pater, Toscos, 2020)

There have been other disasters in the United States that have shown that having

updated technology to communicate with each other is very important such as the

shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida in 2006. A gay night club was attacked by

a shooter. Many people died and were injured. Survivors were able to call for help and let

loved ones know that they were ok with cell phones, using them in different ways to

communicate such as calling, texting, vide chatting, and messaging on various apps. “In

sum, social media is a powerful source of information and social support for those in

crisis. Considering the widespread popularity and increased use of social media (and

technology, generally) among both parents and children during the COVID-19 pandemic,

we assert that public health and disaster-relief campaigns that are thoughtfully designed

and targeted for specific age groups are promising routes for providing informational and

emotional support during crisis.” (Drouin, McDaniel, Pater, Toscos, 2020)

The COVID-19 pandemic was especially hard on children of lower income

families. Many of them did not have access to the technology needed to access Zoom.

“Maria is a student in the Coachella Valley Unified School District, where 90% of the

children are from low-income families. She didn’t have a computer, so she and her

mother tried using a cellphone to access her online class, but the connection kept

dropping, and they gave up after a week. She did worksheets until June, when she at last

received a computer, but struggled to understand the work. Now, as school starts again

online, she has told her mother she’s frustrated and worried.” (Esquivel) There are many

students like Maria out there.

There are schools that give out laptops to students in order for them to learn how

to use them and complete their school work on them. The Michael J. Petrides School in

Staten Island gives every student a laptop. Therefore, what technology the student has

access to at home is never an issue. They can learn how to fluently operate the laptops

and do all of their school work anywhere on their laptops. There are many other schools

like this, but not enough.

There are programs that help low income families get WIFI and computers. The

On It Foundation donates computers to low income families. “To date, the On It

Foundation has donated over 2000 free computers to low-income families with school-

age children in grades K-12. We have also provided over 7500 volunteer hours of

computer training to the recipients of our computers.” (theonitfoundation.org) The

Affordable Connectivity Program helps low income families get affordable WIFI for their

homes. “The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps

ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare,

and more.” (https://www.fcc.gov/acp) People who are members of households that are

below the Federal Poverty Guidelines are eligible for the program. There are many

programs that mirror these in order for households to be able to afford the internet.

How Technology Can Help Students with Disabilities

Life can be very hard for children with disabilities. There are many different

children with different types of disabilities around the world. There are physical

disabilities and mental disabilities. Children with physical disabilities may often feel

misplaced in the world. For example, if a child can not walk, they will not be able to

participate in many sports such as basketball, baseball, soccer, etc. Despite there being

activities available to them, children with physical disabilities miss out on many things

socially and physically. “Participation in activities is the context in which people form

friendships, develop skills and competencies, express creativity, achieve mental and

physical health, and determine meaning and purpose in life. Children with disabilities

tend to be more restricted in their participation than their peers: a gap that widens as

children become adults.” (Murphy, Carbone, Council, 2011, p.1)

However, technology can help children with physical disabilities. Some children

can not leave the house due to their disabilities for various reasons. Technology is helpful

to them. They can receive healthcare through telehealth and Mhealth. Telehealth is when

you attend all different types of doctor’s appointments virtually by the use of any

technology. Mhealth is when you use mobile devices such as smartphone and tablets to

access healthcare. These children who can be already uncomfortable in their own skin,

can access the healthcare that they need while being in the comfort of their own homes.

They can access social groups to receive support from other people like

themselves or use technology as an escape. If a child has a disability that prevents them

from doing anything, technology such as television, games, and social networking can

provide them with entertainment. They can access virtual reality and other games to keep

their mind busy.

Technology with medical equipment is always advancing just like technology that

we use in our average everyday lives. This type of technology is referred to as assistive

technology. Assistive technology allows disabled people perform functions that they

physically are not able to without the technology. There are stair climbing power chairs

that help people wheel chair bound get up and down stairs. There are also smart watches

that monitor people’s health and can be synced to cell phones so calls and texts can be

received through the smart watch. Sometimes children are born with hearing issues, they

can use hearing aids to hear. Technology has advanced and they can have surgery to

receive cochlear implants. Without that technology, a child born with hearing issues

would have never been able to hear. There are also many different computer software’s

that help children with disabilities in school.

Assistive technology can have a great impact on a disabled child’s quality of life.

Simple things in an average person’s daily life can be a struggle for them. Assistive

technology can make a huge difference. It can be very useful to teachers and children in

Special Education. “Technology could play an important and significant role, in many

cases, in helping students with disabilities overcome the academic difficulties that they

face and helping them to develop their academic skills as well.” (Alnahdi, 2014, p.3)

Using assistive technology while teaching students in special education, can prepare them

for their adult lives and how to live on their own while utilizing technology. Children

with disabilities need to be prepared to live fully functioning adult lives on their own to

the best of their ability. The more technology they are taught to utilize, the better chance

they have to achieve that goal.

For example, the famous scientist, Stephen Hawkings had Lou Gehrig’s disease.

He lost control of all of his muscles. Due to technology, he was able to get around in a

powered wheelchair and communicate through a speech synthesizer.

Counterarguments

Despite technology being such a vital part of our everyday lives, I do recognize

that it can be dangerous, especially to children. They can face all sorts of cyberbullying,

catfishing, and aggression. There are many different types of cyberbullying.

“Cyberbullying involves sending or posting harmful or cruel text or images using the

Internet (e.g, instant messaging, e-mails, chat rooms, and social networking sights) or

other digital communication devices, such as cell phones. It can involve stalking, threats,

harassment, impersonation, humiliation, trickery, and exclusion.” (Feinberg, Robey,

2009, p.S4H15-1) This can lead to a child becoming depressed. It could lead to them

harming themselves or even worse – committing suicide. Strangers can pose as children

and lure children into dangerous situations. It is also very scary at just how much

information can be accessed. Pornography and other inappropriate information are

available through the internet. Every type of information is accessible online. There are

many scams on the internet that lead to identity theft.

Technology can also be bad for our health. Spending too much time at a computer

or playing video games can lead to tendonitis and posture issues. It can lead to a child

becoming an unhealthy weight because they are sitting around all day playing on the

computer. “Screen time also takes them away from physical activity and that increases

the risk of them becoming overweight. This is a serious concern, because COVID-19

lockdowns, and other restrictions, have increased the proportion of children classified as

physically inactive.” (Korthonen, 2021)

Their social skills and relationships can be negatively affected as well. Over usage

of technology can prevent them from developing friendships in person and can possibly

cause them to be used to being alone. “Children might get used to being alone and lose

the desire to engage with their parents or even friends, outside the internet. Often the

virtual reality of their devices is more appealing and entertaining than the physical

reality.” (Nechtem Associates, 2021)

Arguments against Counterarguments

Despite all of these valid negative effects of technology, technology is present

everywhere in everything no matter what you do and what your lifestyle is. “Technology

is virtually in every home in one way or another: about 96% of Americans have a TV and

94% of children ages 3 to 18 have internet access either through a computer or

smartphone.” (Nechtem Associates, 2021) Despite there being so much dangerous

information available on the internet, there is even more useful information. “Therefore,

it’s important for parents to be mindful of how their children use technology and the

potential effects – both positive and negative.” (Nechtem Associates, 2021)

There are laws that help parents to protect children on the internet. In April 2000,

The Children’s Online Protection Act (COPPA) was passed. The rule applies to children

under 13 and its purpose is to place parents in control over what personal information

such as their name, address, phone number, social security number, pictures are collected

from their young children online. It applies to online services and commercial websites.

If a parent finds out that this has been violated, they can report it to the Federal Trade

Commissioner. This all must be included on the website’s personal privacy statement. If

it does not, they are in violation of COPPA. COPPA requires that parents can access user

records, profiles and login information of their children if they request it.

Britain is cracking down on internet security to protect children. They passed a

new regulation called Age-Appropriate Design Code. This regulation holds companies

accountable to protect children. It makes websites and apps turn on the highest possible

privacy settings by default for minors. It limits the amount of data companies can collect

from young users. It is still unknown how effective this is and how it will be monitored.

Due to this, Congress in America is discussing updating COPPA.

Senator Markey and Congresswomen Castor have introduced COPPA 2.0, The

Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act of 2021. In 2021, when this act was

proposed, it included: “Build on COPPA’s consent requirements by prohibiting internet

companies from collecting personal information from users who are 13 to 15 years old

without the user’s consent; Ban targeted advertising (as opposed to contextual

advertising) directed at children; Establish a “Digital Marketing Bill of Rights for Teens”

that limits the collection of personal information of teens; Revises COPPA’s “actual

knowledge” standard to a “constructive knowledge” standard so that websites that should

reasonably know that kids are on their websites need to get consent in order to collect

children’s data; Create an “Eraser Button” for parents and kids by requiring companies to

permit users to eliminate personal information from a child or teen when technologically

feasible; Establish a Youth Marketing and Privacy Division at the Federal Trade

Commission (FTC); Require online companies to explain the types of personal

information collected, how that information is used and disclosed, and the policies for

collection of personal information; Require that internet connected devices targeted

toward children meet robust cyber security standards; Require manufacturers of

connected devices targeted to children and minors to prominently display on their

packaging a privacy dashboard detailing how information is collected, transmitted,

retained, used, and protected; and Commission reports on the effectiveness of the COPPA

safe harbor program.” (https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-

markey-and-cassidy-propose-bipartisan-bill-to-update-childrens-online-privacy-rules)

The COPPA 2.0 proposal has been passed through the Senate and is continuing to

advance.

It is important that parents communicate with children regarding internet safety,

cyberbullying, and the effects technology can have on their health. Sometimes, children

just need guidance on making time for both technology and physical activities. Despite

the risk that a child socializing through technology can cause them to develop social

issues and difficulty making and maintaining friends in person, it can also lead them to

finding support online. There are many support groups online for people with different

issues to join to form a community. It can also help them find educational assistance.

Socializing online can always bring up the risk of being catfished (when someone

is pretending to be someone else online) and losing money or your identity stolen.

However, real friends and love can be found online. I went to high school with a girl who

began talking with a guy who claimed to be her age in the United Kingdom on a forum

for people who love the gothic lifestyle. They talked online and on the phone for four

years. After four years, they decided they wanted to meet in person. Their parents spoke

to each other on the phone and the guy came to the United States and met her along with

her family. They are now married with children. This would not have been possible

without technology. Her parents monitored her talking with him and vetted the situation.

Socializing online can also give children a way to keep in touch with friends and

family that live far away. “Also, kids can interact with others in their age group while

playing games online and learn to play as a team.” (Nechtem Associates, 2021) As long

as the necessary precautions are taken, socializing online can be a positive thing.

Helping the Children Properly Understand Technology

As scary as the dangers of technology are, technology is important because it can

not be avoided. Therefore, it is important that parents, educators, and caregivers do their

best to teach children about technology and help them learn the positives of it while

navigating through the negatives of it. “Our conversation needs to be broader than just

online safety and should focus on positive attributes that our kids can emulate and

practice and, in so doing, improve our communities and build healthy virtual

relationships.” (Culatta, 38, 2021) Richard Culatta wrote a book called “Digital for

Good; Raising Kids to Thrive in an Online World”. Culatta presents five attributes to use

when teaching children how to navigate the world of technology. They are balanced,

informed, inclusive, engaged, and alert. “The task of keeping up with all the potential

virtual spaces where our children may be involved can seem daunting. But like most of

our digital conversations, this gets easier as we apply these same five attributes to our

own digital habits and spend time understanding what our children are experiencing.”

(Culatta, 39, 2021) If you understand technology and understand the popular apps that

children use etc., it will be easier to understand how to help your child use them

positively and filter out the negatives.

The first attribute Culatta discusses is balance. “Balance digital citizens

participate in a variety of online activities and make informed decisions about how to

prioritize their time in virtual and physical spaces.” (Culatta, 38) Balance is important

with everything in life, especially technology. We need to spend time in the technology

world, but we also need to do other things in the real world as well. This applies to

everything, as too much of anything can be unhealthy. Many parents choose to limit

children’s time of how much technology they can use per day.

However, something to keep in mind is, there are many different forms of

technology. For example, a teenager could need to use a computer to do research and

type his homework on. On the same day, he could need his cellphone to call a long

distance family member and use an app on his cell phone to order food if his parents are

coming home late from work. After a good day’s work, the teen may want to play a video

game or watch a television show. This may add up to a lot of hours using technology, but

it is a balance of useful technology.

Culatta suggests it is good to introduce children to new technology and apps to

help them maintain a good balance with their technology use. Besides helping maintain a

good balance, it also helps keep their technology use safe as you are introducing them to

safe apps instead of them getting bored and discovering more dangerous apps/websites.

“If we don’t ever recommend new apps for our children to try, then we can’t really be too

frustrated if we don’t like the digital media they choose on their own. (Culatta, 48) Every

child is different with different interests so it is important to keep that in mind when

choosing safe technology to introduce them to.

It is also important to encourage children to take breaks, especially on days where

they are using a lot of technology. It can be easy for anyone to get wrapped in it. Culatta

recommends instead of taking away the device that the child is using and forcing them to

take a break, to suggest a break and making sure that they know they are not in trouble.

He also suggests creating a schedule of activities such a device-free meals. It is where no

one can bring devices to the dinner table (or whatever meal you are choosing to do). It

also important to remain positive and allow the child to have a say in these plans.

The next attribute Culatta discusses is informed. “Informed digital citizens

evaluate the accuracy, perspective, and validity of digital media and have developed

critical skills of curating information from the digital world.” (Culatta, 38) This increases

the importance of why parents, caregivers, and educators need to be up to date on how to

use technology. If we do not know how to use it, we can not teach it. Culatta discusses

three things we can do to help children understand technology; they are asking good

questions, choosing the best source, and evaluating the usefulness.

When we do research, the most common way to do it, is to use the website

Google. There are other search engines, but Google is the most common. There are

different ways to use search engines, the questions and keywords have to be formed in

particular orders. They also have options for advanced searches. “When I was searching

with my son to learn more about the brown marmorated stink bug, I explained that a good

question might be ‘How many species of bugs are there in the world?’ because if I

searched for just ‘how many bugs,’ Google might have thought I was talking about the

total number of bugs in the world.” (Culatta, 73)

When searching the internet for research, there will be millions of sources.

However, not all of them will be credible. Anyone can post anything on a website; we

have to teach children to make sure that the information is legitimate. For example, a

very common source is Wikipedia. Anyone can post anything on Wikipedia; it is not

dependable and legitimate. However, academic sources are dependable. Teaching this, is

an important part of teaching children how to navigate technology because it will be

useful in their academic studies. We also must evaluate the usefulness of the sources.

You may search for something and find a source, but once you read it, you may realize it

does not make sense or that it contradicts other dependable sources. Sometimes, it could

be a scam. If a source asks you for money and/or personal information, there is a big

chance it isn’t legitimate. “Digital media that are trying to sell something might be highly

valuable if we’re looking to make a purchase, but less so if we’re looking for unbiased

facts.” (Culatta, 74)

Another attribute Culatta mentions is inclusive. “Inclusive digital citizens are

open to hearing and recognizing multiple viewpoints and engaging with others online

with respect and empathy.” (Culatta, 38) Earlier, I discuss cyberbullying/dangers of

strangers and peers online . However, there are other challenges besides cyberbullying

that come with communicating with others online. People have different opinions.

Sometimes your child may post something online and people may disagree or even have

evidence it is wrong. People can be disrespectful. We can teach children not to participate

in behavior like that and to stand up for others, instead of ignoring it. “Being inclusive

online requires taking actions to make sure others feel safe and respected in virtual spaces

as well. All the responsibility should not be on the potential victim to stop intolerance.

Alert digital citizens how to switch from being bystanders to upstanders.” (Culatta, 98)

The next attribute is engaged. “Engaged digital citizens use technology and digital

channels to solve problems and be a force for good in their physical and virtual

communities.” (Culatta, 38) There are different ways to be engaged. You are being

engaged in the online community as long as you are doing something to help others using

technology. You can let others know about crimes through the internet. For example,

many neighborhoods have social media pages and various online groups that are for

people in the same neighborhoods. Let’s say, something happens to someone such as a

gang slashes their tires. You can use technology to help spread the word by posting about

this on social media pages and you can do it anonymously. It helps to warn others and

prevent it from continuing.

You can also use technology to spread the word about charities and people in

need. For example, I know a family whose three year old daughter is being treated for

cancer. People are collecting money for them due to this hardship. The collection is

posted online and the money is being collected online. This is typically done on the

website gofundme.com and it can be shared on social media websites. Spreading good

and bad updates about people and family members help strengthen relationships and

keeps people engaged within the virtual community.

The next attribute is alert. “Alert digital citizens are aware of their digital actions

and know how to be safe and create space for others online.” (Culatta, 39) As I discussed

earlier, there are scams on the internet. It is important that we remain alert and cautious

while browsing the internet. We must teach children and others while teaching about

technology in order to prevent others from theft of their personal information and viruses

in their devices. There is software that can be purchased which helps to protect people

from these dangers. “When it comes to online safety, the most fundamental technical

problem is a web-filtering service. A web filter service is software that identifies

dangerous and inappropriate websites and blocks from being accessed by computers and

mobile devices on the network.” (Culatta, 127) Some examples of web filtering software

are Nortons and McAfee.

When teaching children technology, it can be very overwhelming to both of you

at first. It is a lot of responsibility and so much to discover for the child. It is scary for the

caregiver as well because of all the risks that come with the benefits. A big way to keep

this under control is using parental blocks. Most technology has it – smartphones,

computers, televisions, etc. With this, caregivers can block children from accessing

dangerous technology such as websites, movies, etc.

Conclusion

It is of the upmost importance that children are taught how to use all types of

technology for school and everyday living. Technology is always changing and

advancing, it is important that children are learning how to use it as it is advancing. If

they do this, they will always be up to date on it to use for school, future jobs, and daily

living. If they do not, it will be harder for them as adults as technology is in our everyday

lives.

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