It allows you to communicate, learn and have all kinds of content available. It is obvious that they have a significant impact on how to socialize and interact with the world. Although it is positive to see how platforms and applications facilitate access to information and communication, as well as help to be more interactive and collaborativealso entails risks to which all users are exposed. Unfortunately, children and young people under the age of 25 are the most affected, due to their early exposure to technology.
A globally interconnected world
In Spain, UNICEF prepared a report on the opinions of more than 50,000 adolescents aged 11 to 18. The objective is to know the real impact of the Internet and new technologies on adolescence. They analyze how they connect and use the Internet and social networks. In the area of connectivity, 90% of teenagers have a digital device with an Internet and Wi-Fi connection, where they can connect daily.
Of these, 98% have a Wi-Fi connection at home and 94.8% access the Internet from their mobile phone, moreover, 90.8% connect every day or at least 5 days a week. These are consumption habits that influence the social, psychological and emotional aspect because it has become a habit to have fun, pass the time and socialize from a distance.
Basically, 49.6% connect for more than 5 hours and 58.4% sleep with their mobile or tablet next to the bed due to the need to maintain close online contact with other users, use social networks, play video games, among other activities.
Technology as an educational tool
The use of mobile devices with Internet access has spread in recent years to 59% of students. They are used daily in educational institutions, but they are not as common as a teaching tool. Only a minority use cell phones for educational purposes.
The emergence of e-commerce
The evolution and development of new technologies as well as the Internet means an acceleration of electronic commerce. These resources foster new habits of social consumption, where users have greater choice and bargaining power. There is now a process for evaluating brands, products and services to save time, better prices and offers, and a variety of options before making an online purchase.
Internet as problematic use
In technology news It is common to appreciate how children and young people are the most vulnerable on the Internet. UNICEF data reveals that in Spain, 1 in 3 adolescents uses the Internet in a problematic way. Excessive use of technology creates problems on physical, mental and emotional well-being. When can it be considered excessive? GOOD, if it comes to interrupt other emotional, physical and/or psychological activities or processes, which would imply dependence and addiction.
In addition, cohabitation with the social, educational and family environment is affected by the unconscious use of the Internet. They spend a high or excessive number of hours on social networks, video games, videos, among others, which interferes with education, interpersonal relationships and personal and academic development.
Cyber harassment, sexting And grooming?
Internet-related risks, such as cyberbullying, are much more common among young people. The UNICEF report establishes that 2 out of 10 teenagers could be victims of harassment, although 2.2% believe they have been victims of this type of harassment. Generally, it is produced by physical appearance or sexual orientation.
As for sexting, is practiced by both sexes, being the girls who suffer the most pressure and harassment to send erotic / sexual photos or videos. It is a crime when this practice leads to grooming, which is a form of Internet pedophilia; the (unknown) adult pretends to be a minor via chat platforms or social networks to have sexts and sexual contact with another minor.
Too much technology in young children
Today, children are getting acquainted with mobile phones and tablets. Many of them have a habit of using them every day as a method of entertainment that keeps them busy and calm for long hours. It is the adults who promote this practice since the children are about one year old.despite the fact that the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Pediatric Society state that babies 0-2 years old should not have contact with digital devices.
The problems that children can generate in the short, medium and long term in society are related to brain development and cognitive abilities. It is estimated that the contact of children under 2 years old with technology could affect the attention deficit, distractions during studies, increased temper tantrums due to overstimulation and dependence on these teams.
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