User:Meredith Mendoza/sandbox

Article Evaluation The information included in the article all relates to the topic of the article due to how it relates to sociologist's perspective on the use of technology. The article has no distractions and provides information that relates to each heading, making sure to not go out of topic. The article is neutral due to how it only contains facts and it avoids siding with either stopping the use of technology overall or continuing with supporting the use of technology. There is no apparent section in the article that appears biased due to how each paragraph is cited based off of the editors finding information that was reliable and making sure that they did not insert any of their own opinions when editing the article. There are no viewpoints that are over presented throughout the article, but there are some points that appear underrepresented. The viewpoint that seems underrepresented is the one concerning sociologist's perspective of the introduction of technology and at what age it is being introduced into the lives of people. The sociologist's perspective on the effects of the introduction of technology should be elaborated on more and what concerns the introduction of technology is causing should as well be discussed in further detail. The links input into the article for citation purposes work well and lead to the page in which the editor found the information at, which helps others out when they want to find the information themselves. The sources cited match the claim due to how the information found on the page it takes one to, relates to what was inserted into the article. The facts referenced through the article have an appropriate reliable source along with it that is not biased due to how the sources are scholarly sources and it does not have sources that have information that is all opinion based. If the sources used were opinion based, then the article would be considered an argumentative piece and not an article with only fact based information. The sources included are neutral in order to assure a perspective is not being selected over another and to make sure that only facts are being included and that any forms of opinions are being avoided. The information included in the article is not out of date and is related to technology based on when it was beginning to grow popular until today. Information that could be added to the article could be when sociologists first saw an increase in technology use and specifically who they viewed as using technology the most during that time. Other information that can be added is some explanation as to what the consequences of using technology are, when used for so long and if there is anything people need to avoid in order to not get consumed by technology. Overall, the article is presented in an organized form that has sections that contain information that are not opinion based and that is instead factually based in which it includes reliable sources that are correctly cited.

The Impact on Children
Research has been conducted concerning the use of technology by children and how it can be used excessively, where it can cause medical health and psychological issues. The use of technological devices by children can cause them to become addicted to it and can lead them to experience negative effects such as depression, attention problems, loneliness, anxiety, aggression and solitude. Children constantly playing video games or taking part in internet activities can lead to having negative thoughts. Studies conducted on the use of television by children, have as well shown the negative affects it has on them, such as causing them to have an unhealthier sleeping quality or for them to have a decrease in their ability to pay attention. There are educational shows children can watch, but the ones that stand out the most to them are the ones that contain inappropriate actions or words and that is where children begin to develop behavioral issues if they decide to mimic what they see or hear. Violent elements are present in video games, which cause children to partake in aggressive actions if they imitate what they see. Technology has changed over the years and it not only includes the use of televisions, but it now comprises the use of iPad’s and cell phones due to modernization occurring worldwide. Obesity is another leading result from the use of technology by children due to how children rather use their technological device and not take part in doing any form of physical activity. Parents can take control and implement restrictions to the use of technological devices by their children, which will decrease the negative results technology can have if it is prioritized as well as help put a limit to it being used excessively.

Technology can be used by children to enhance their learning skills, such as using online programs to improve the way they are able to learn how to read or do math. The resources technology provides for children not only enhances their skills, but children should as well be cautious of what they get themselves into due to how cyber bullying may occur. Cyber bullying can cause academic and psychological affects due to how children are suppressed by people who are bullying them through the internet. When technology is introduced to children they are not forced to accept it, but instead children are permitted to have an input on what they feel about either deciding to use their technological device or not. Social exclusion in the classroom occurs to children who associate themselves more with using computers, which causes them to exclude themselves from the classroom’s everyday context due to how they grow more attached to the device. Children who are socially popular are the ones who try and get away from using any form of technological skills they can possibly develop due to how they believe technological devices, such as a computer can be a threat to their social identities. The routines of children have changed due to their use of the technological device they have been introduced to, but “while the children’s health and quality of life benefited from the technology, the time demands of the care routines and lack of compatibility with other social and institutional timeframes had some negative implications.” Children prioritizing their technological device has put a limit on their capabilities to take part in employment, school and in having a social life overall.

Technology can have negative impacts on the lives of children and can be an essential learning tool that can encourage cognitive, linguistic and social development in the lives of children. Children that use technological devices have had greater gains in problem solving, intelligence, language skills and structural knowledge in comparison to those children who have not incorporated the use of technology in their learning. In research conducted, “studies did find improvements in student scores on tests closely related to material covered in computer-assisted instructional packages,” which demonstrates how technology can have positive influences in a child’s life by improving their learning capabilities. Problems have ascended between a child and their parents as well due to how parents are putting limits to what a child can use their technological devices for, specifically what they can and cannot watch on their devices, making children frustrated. Studies have found that “the average child in this country spends over 6 hours each day with some form of mediated communication,” meaning that children spend more time with their technological device rather than spending that time with their family or friends. The introduction of technology to children has the positive outcome of increasing a child’s learning capabilities, but can have the negative outcome of affecting a child’s behavior in acting more isolated from the rest of society.