TITLE

What Parents Need to Know About Technology Addiction

DESCRIPTION

Is there such a thing as an addiction to technology?  This brief article points to facts such as there is no agreement on what “technology addiction” is and further that there are large gaps in research.  Some data from surveys of parents and teens are presented indicating that for some use of devices for phone, texting, playing games watching videos and so on can be a source of issues such as causing friction in families, problems in focusing/concentration due to multitasking, and the increased possibility of internet addiction.  The author states:  “By taking a balanced approach to media and technology — setting screen limits, establishing device-free zones, and reducing multitasking — you can help your whole family develop healthy media habits.”

SOURCE

Common Sense Media, May 2, 2016, by Michael Robb

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/what-parents-need-to-know-about-technology-addiction#

(Tiny URL)  http://tinyurl.com/j8xwuzo

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•First:  do a brief informal survey of the class asking if they believe that there is such a problem as “technology addiction.”
•Ask them to try to define it.
•Depending on the professor’s comfort level ask:  who believes they have it and why?
•Critical thinking question:  what type of research would have to be done to answer the question as to whether there is “technology addiction” in teens?