T‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍echnology is a part of our everyday lives. Many of us rely

T‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍echnology is a part of our everyday lives. Many of us rely on technology for work, school, or to communicate with family or friends that may live far away from us. However, some individuals have a difficult time establishing healthy boundaries with computers and smartphones. For this discussion post, please address the following questions: Do you see technology and/or smartphones as a hindrance or a tool in our daily lives? Can we responsibly use technology and smartphones? In what way? In what environment is it appropriate? Should education incorporate more technology? If so, what age is it inappropriate? Your initial post should be a logical and thoughtful response to questions posted and typically should be at least 250 words and respond to two posts made by your classmates Student Response 1 I think it depends on the time the person spends online and what they are doing. There are many ways technology can be used as a tool. While there are also ways it can become a hindrance to daily life. If the user is constantly playing games or is on social media and does nothing else, that is an escalating problem. As the effects of extensive screen time on the developing brain are well documented. For example, in infants 6 to 12 months, increases in screen time were tied to weaker language development (Small et al., 2020). In 8-to-12-year olds, increased screen time is associated with decreased brain connectivity between regions crucial to word recognition and language and cognitive control. On a structural level, the more time spent online linked to more insults to white-matter pathways needed to read and write (Small et al., 2020). These few examples show how prolonged screen time impacts the developing brain. Yet, I also think it speaks to the relationship a child has with their parents. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents severely restrict screen time before their child is 2. A study that looked at the contrary found that children using their phone under 2 for an hour were using it twice as much by the time they turned 3 (Small et al., 2020). This points to the issue of parents letting their kids use devices much younger now without setting limits. While it also suggests they don’t prompt any repercussions to their kids. In turn, they get hooked earlier, their brain structure and function change, and they have a h‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍arder time acquiring new skills. As technology continues to advance, more will show up in the schools. I think if a child is to use a device at school, the school has to supply it first. Meaning, the school has to be the one to set restrictions. Kids shouldn’t be allowed to scroll aimlessly or play games they play at home in class. I don’t think they should have their phones in class either since it would take away from the purpose. Reference Small, G. W., Lee, J., Kaufman, A., Jalil, J., Siddarth, P., Gaddipati, H., Moody, T. D., & Bookheimer, S. Y. (2020). Brain health consequences of digital technology use. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 22(2), 179–187. Student Response 2 Smartphones have become such a major part of life that to be without one is to in effect be ostracized from society because you are unable to “plugin”. Just the thought of telling people that you don’t have a phone would probably elicit responses that would question one’s mental sanity. Technology as a whole has infected humanity so badly that socialization has suffered tremendously. People are so infatuated with their online presence that their real presence has become greatly diminished. Nothing in life can be at its best without practice and refinement. Refinement is so important because it does no good to practice incorrect things. Because socialization and intimate relationships are necessary to proper growth and development this lack of it has caused humanity to devolve to a degree. Smartphones and technology can be utilized responsibly if they are used in moderation. As it stands there is a clear plan to replace humans in certain functions within society and this is where I feel it goes too far. Technology should be useful only insofar as it makes life easier for humans because it should serve as a tool to enhance the lives of humans rather than replace them. From the age of Kindergarten, children should be introduced to technology in a controlled and responsible way, because it is important to be acclimated to technology in today’s society. However, children shouldn’t be allowed to have smartphones until they are of an age to have demonstrated a degree of responsibility. Personally, I do not feel it is necessary until children start to attend events independently of the‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍ir parents.