Social websites harm children's brains

[Inward Visionary]

Link (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1153583/Social-websites-harm-childrens-brains-Chilling-warning-parents-neuroscientist.html)


Psychologists have also argued that digital technology is changing the way we think. They point out that students no longer need to plan essays before starting to write - thanks to word processors they can edit as they go along. Satellite navigation systems have negated the need to decipher maps.

A study by the Broadcaster Audience Research Board found teenagers now spend seven-and-a-half hours a day in front of a screen.

Educational psychologist Jane Healy believes children should be kept away from computer games until they are seven. Most games only trigger the 'flight or fight' region of the brain, rather than the vital areas responsible for reasoning.

Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood, said: 'We are seeing children's brain development damaged because they don't engage in the activity they have engaged in for millennia.

Interesting except their are plenty of computer programs and video games that have helped early education and that help preserve logic and reason throughout life as well as spark creativity. I would agree that there is too much technological garbage. Moderation is key.

[Xander67]

notice they say PSYCHOLOGISTS, they are not DR's
nonetheless, sure, pay someone x amount of dollars and they will say whatever you want them to say...

That's the biggest load of crap I ever read.

[orangeconey]

For what it's worth-I never planned essays or any written assignments. I hate taking notes and doing outlines.(showing work of any sort, division, blahblahblah)
For me, it was a huge waste of time and major source of resentment. Goes to show that everyone is different, and not because of word processing.
My essay grades were in the mid to high 90's.
However, I usually failed my notebook grading......:awwman:

I do totally agree that people have to learn how to function in "real life"-like not relying on calculators, reading maps, face-to-face interactions, manners, writing with a phsical instrument, speaking in actual words, and plenty of other fun stuff. :toofless:

[spiral]

notice they say PSYCHOLOGISTS, they are not DR's
nonetheless, sure, pay someone x amount of dollars and they will say whatever you want them to say...

That's the biggest load of crap I ever read.

She has a PhD, so she is actually Dr. Jane Healy.

There is a body of research suggesting a link between spending huge amounts of time playing computer games and various negative psychological outcomes... not saying I would not let my kids ever play games, but I can see why some people are concerned.

[Nox_Mortus]

notice they say PSYCHOLOGISTS, they are not DR's


actually, psychologists are doctors, just not MDs.

I have to say I can somewhat see their point here, but then again they've been saying the same thing about television since the 60s.

[Kraheera]

It's called PARENTING. Set time limits, people... and make sure your kids aren't being idiots on the internet.

Also, make sure they CAN'T text message on their phones. Problems solved involving possible jail time, what with how schools and police try to charge teens with child porn when they flash their boobs at a phone. *rolls eyes*

[Xander67]

I think if we all remember a few simple common courtesy things we are taught to be as propper, and polite..
No cellphones at the dinner table
no texting or talking on the cell phone when you are paying at the grocery store, no texting or putting your makeup on in the car? :wtf:

The reason for all these is because not all children are brought up with these values..

But if you look at the three examples, they all share a common element. Common Courtesy. But when it gets to the point where you are driving down the road.. NOT texting and get rear ended by the jerk off lawyer in the car behind you was looking down at his IPONE; Then it is time for all of us to address this issue. I believe one way of adressing it might be a law, but that would not help if parents did not discuss these things with their kids.
At the dinner table at night. For those of us who are able to that is.

(shit, this is turning into a blog so it might be crossposted later)
ok where was I

Not everyone gets to sit at the dinnertable with our families every night these days..This also includes us 41 year old computer geeks who is JUST discovering the joys of web 2:0

Web 2.0 is the new internet. the next generation. Where you can have a videophone conversation with a friend in another country right from your IPHONE.

We may not all share the same political values, but I am sure most of us will agree on a few basic common Common courtesies.
If you want to multitask, don't do it where there is a danger to yourself or others.. meaning operating a machine, Train, car, bus, whatever..
texting while driving is multitasking..

If things are that bad where a law needs to be passed about multitasking. We need to change things. Will more laws change things? maybe, but lately they have not exactly been the most constitutional either.

GM started installing IPHONE docs in their cars. And with bluetooth technology you can have a videophone conversation hands free using an earpeice and a mounted Iphone. This solves the problem and reduces the dangers involved.
This is a practical solution and statistics can be used to show that it is not that big of a problem.

Sure all cars are built to meet safety specifications, and I think it's kinda cool to drive and have a videophone conversation while I am driving, and not have to worry about being harassed. And so I would support a safety requirement that all cars come with a free Ipone, which you can mount on your dashboard. No better yet, I think a law should be passed that all cars come with an Iphone, and a free ear piece. Id support that one.

Sometimes Laws are passed based on pig shit on a website.

Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood, said: 'We are seeing children's brain development damaged because they don't engage in the activity they have engaged in for millennia.
What kinda crap is that? The President just spent BILLIONS to invest in the nation's universities, and huge grants to foundations for the arts and sciences..
believed in investing in our children. He didn't cut the school's budgets, he raised them. For that he is accused of wasteful spending. PORK it was called.

What is happening is we are now in the second generation world wide web. The technology coming out is fully compatible with web 2.0

The man who is Obama's National Securiy Advisor, General Jones, worked on a secret project with Boeing. Antigravity stuff reall fringe technology. The same technology that was just given Billions from the president. Wasteful Spending?
Nicoli Tesla is Smileing at us all now. Not only is his work encouraged in technology companies, It is Federally funded now. Research into Fringe technology is now federally funded. In fact it is now mandated by law. This includes comercial development of antigravity air craft and antigravity cars.

we will start seeing them within the next few years here in the US.

Toxic Children? no, I think we will be just fine.
Sue Palmer= Fail Children FTW

[Xander67]

She has a PhD, so she is actually Dr. Jane Healy.

There is a body of research suggesting a link between spending huge amounts of time playing computer games and various negative psychological outcomes... not saying I would not let my kids ever play games, but I can see why some people are concerned.

I was trying to illustrate how the government uses information to justify intrusive and unconstitutional laws. The research is based teens, we have laws now being aimed at them when they get their first car.

Yes, for a kid to be spending 7 hours a day on his Wii ? Of course that would have an effect because his grades would show, and his behaviour at school might change. So that brings me back to the parent, where is the parent for 7 hours.. Again, that study is based on how many kids? The rich kids? or the ones in the major cities...

What we see on a game will affect the subconscious and could possibly manifest as a psycholigical problem..

So it is important to figure it out, before they ban the video games.

[Xander67]

It's called PARENTING. Set time limits, people... and make sure your kids aren't being idiots on the internet.

Also, make sure they CAN'T text message on their phones. Problems solved involving possible jail time, what with how schools and police try to charge teens with child porn when they flash their boobs at a phone. *rolls eyes*

Sadly, we have a huge element in our society who from being improperly raised, are not doing so hot as a parent themselves.
They can change their parenting skills, there are orgainzations and support groups for single parents, and couples.

Plenty of good reliable sites with good advice.

[bellamandu]

its interesting, and i see their point.

although, and i must argue this; certain information on the web is nothing more than what i would consider "reference material", meaning that it is nothing more than words and maybe the occasional pretty picture. how is this any different than reading a book?

if anything, i would think the interactiveness of this material would stimulate the brain even more, compared to book study.

[Raxeph]

I'm not really convinced about the harmfulness of it. The internet and all damn well saved my life pretty much, I was able to find people that actually gave a real damn about me and let me be myself, and helped me stop hating myself and thinking I was an ugly, pathetic, weak soul, which is what those outside of it made me think and feel. I could read out a whole list of the things that harmed me, but none of them were technology.

No, what harms children is them being spoilt rotten, which fosters arrogance and self-absorbed natures. You can spoil a child with technology, but it's not the technology that's the problem; it's the spoiling. They never learn to really care about other people, never learn common courtesy.

It's true that you don't have to care about other people... but I think it's what separates being human from being a person. Just as long as you don't overdo it and sacrifice who you are for others, you'll be fine. If a person never learns to care, like these spoilt, disconnected brats, then what are they, really? Only half the person they could be... :(

[Glowingsun]

I find it spo peculiar that these so called professionals constantly do these damn surveys and tests to see the effects long periods of time fiddling with any technology has on kids, then turn around and say that technology is just plain bad.
Any type of technology, computers, video games even T.V and movies are somewhat good. They make successful careers and always in demand. The kids that get into technology become technical savvy later on in life. This doesn't mean that they will all become hackers and web sammers and internet bullies. I think that is what is driving these scientists to do these tests in the first place. Kids these days are becomming smarter with computers at an earlier age than we used to be and the elders are scared about it.
Anyways, I'm just tired of hearing this BS. A year down the road they'll be saying that computer time and social sites are good for kids. Parents just need to learn the tricks and be more nosey, I hate to say it. But I just hear too many parents admit that they have no clue what their kids are doing on those social sites and haven't even seen their kids facebook and/or myspace page. This is what happens when kids are allowed their own computers placed in their bedrooms with the door alwasy closed. I wasn't even allowed to have a T.V in my room.

[Kraheera]

I was too poor to have my own computer or tv until well into my teen years.

Then, when we did get a computer upstairs for us kids, we weren't even allowed to have internet hooked up to it. For internet, we had to go downstairs to my parents computers.

I thought their use of controls on my account was idiotic, since I was the one that taught them how to use the computer in the first place. They massively invaded my privacy even after I moved out... they had reports going on my email, my internet account, everything.

OOoo, did I have it out for them after that. LOL. On the other hand, at least they were paying attention.

[Glowingsun]

I was too poor to have my own computer or tv until well into my teen years.

Then, when we did get a computer upstairs for us kids, we weren't even allowed to have internet hooked up to it. For internet, we had to go downstairs to my parents computers.

I thought their use of controls on my account was idiotic, since I was the one that taught them how to use the computer in the first place. They massively invaded my privacy even after I moved out... they had reports going on my email, my internet account, everything.

OOoo, did I have it out for them after that. LOL. On the other hand, at least they were paying attention.

My mom and her now ex refused to get internet at all. Claiming it was too expensive even though they were well off enough for it. I think it was just an excuse instead of saying "We don't trust you enough to hook it up."
But it did hurt me in the end because I was in Junior high and pretty much everone else knew what to do for years, whereas I had no clue where to start. I must have seemed like an idiot. Even my computer teacher was impatient with me for having to explain it.

[Windigo]

At this point, I just want my kids to do their homework, I hardly care how.

[Against The Tide]

I think there may be a grain of truth to this, but there are so many uncontrolled variables- diet, parenting styles, changing teaching methods, pollution, cell phone antennas, stress at younger ages - It's hard to say what is affecting development and what isn't. Low attention span, seeking instant gratification - kids have been like that long before social networking sites came out... really.