Technology: The dangers of technology to teenagers

Today’s technology is rapidly advancing and it comes as a relief given the ever increasing problems that the world is facing. However, with the growing technology there are mounting challenges that parents are facing in dealing with the behavior of their teenage children. This is more especially with mobile and computer technology. Cell phones are considered a must have accessory for today’s teenagers. While the convenience of cell phones is apparent the dangers can be overlooked. Many of today’s cell phones have both a camera and video features which increases the likelihood of your child in engaging in inappropriate pictures of themselves or others in provocative positions wearing little or no clothing. While cheating on tests in school has always been apparent, today’s teens are utilizing technology to practice cheating. Students will take out their phones and while taking a test, they will enter the answers in their phones and text to friends. This might prove very dangerous for the development of the country if it takes root here. We need a competent work force that would lead us to our famous 2020 vision. Not one that would cheat their way through school. Computer technology also comes with some challenges. This is more so for the internet which can be fun and educational. We often come across web sites that contain pornography. Chat rooms on the Internet let members meet online. They are easy to get into. Children can end up in adult chat rooms that talk about everything from spirituality to cyber sex. And adult predators can pretend to be children in chat rooms for kids. The news is filled with stories about children who were abused by an adult they met online. Pornography leads to immoral behaviour amongst teens which can lead to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore there is the need for parents to take precaution measures by talking to their children about their online habits and by not putting computers in the child’s bedroom. They should rather be in an open place where you can see what is going on. Parents should also use privacy settings to restrict access to the computer. Parents in today’s technology should take precautionary and punitive steps to monitor their children’s behaviour. This can be done through checking both the photo album and video storage on the phone periodically for inappropriate content and checking the sites that your children visit. Overall, providing teens with expectations to appropriate cell and computer use is a must for parents. Today’s technological devices have features that can be used inappropriately and do more harm than good. Be open with teens about the proper use of cell phones and computers. Teens need boundaries even with cell phone use. Always outline appropriate and inappropriate uses of cell phones and internet. dedentos2002@yahoo.com