Running head: IMPACT OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN

The Impact of Mobile Technology on Children's Behavior and Skills

Tyler Deal
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

IMPACT OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN

Abstract
The risks and benefits that popular technological innovations have on children have been
debated upon for years. The arguments over how these innovations affect children span the
cognitive, social, health-related, and behavioral aspects of their lives. Limitations on screen time
with television and computers have been highly suggested when raising children. With these
screens gaining mobility in forms such as tablet computers and smartphones, technology has
been made more available and accessible to the current generation of children than those of the
past. This mobility heightens the chances of today's children being impacted by the effects of
technologies of the past as well as showing all new promise and posing threats of its own.
Keywords: mobile technology, smartphone, tablet, effects on children, cognitive, social,
health, behavior

IMPACT OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN

"The increased level of interactivity now possible with computer games and with the
communication features of the Internet has heightened both the promise of greatly enriched
learning and the concerns related to increased risk of harm" (Wartella & Jennings, 2000, p. 31).
While this quote from an article titled "New Technology, Old Concerns" is from the year 2000, it
is still applicable to today's computer usage. As the title infers, the concerns related to children's
computer usage recur with each technological advancement made. Mobile technology has
allowed for computers to travel with children or be present wherever they go, amplifying the
benefits and risks involved with typical computer usage. The use of mobile technology is seen as
having favorable effects in constructing children's cognitive skills. However, many people think
that becoming engrossed in technology has harmful effects on a child's social skills, health, and
behavior. These same benefits and concerns have been debated over as far back as the invention
of the motion picture.
According to Wartella, "with the introduction of each new wave of innovation in mass
media throughout the twentieth century - film, radio, television - debates on the effects of new
technology have recurred, especially with regard to the effect on young people" (2000, p. 32).
Starting with motion pictures, proponents argued that they were educational and entertaining
while opponents found motion pictures to be immoral due to sexual content and feared they
caused misconduct in children since criminal acts are a popular topic in films. Similarly, radio
was found to be entertaining and educational but also feared to make children misbehave because
of the content. Another negative view that radio introduced was that the time spent huddled
around the radio could have been better spent on a more beneficial activity. Arguments over
television included all of the aforementioned as well as the argument that it would vulgarize the
American culture by interrupting patterns of family living (Wartella, 2000, p. 32). Television

IMPACT OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN

would also replace time spent listening to the radio, reading books, and holding conversations,
therefore decreasing physical activity, social interaction, and educational hobbies. Computers
were introduced with largely the same arguments but they also had viability in businesses and
communication that innovations before them did not. With mobile technology in the form of
laptops, smartphones, and tablet computers becoming everyday items in our lives, access to all of
the previous innovations, their benefits and risks of harm included, are able to be carried with us
wherever we go. With this mobility, the chances of harmful social, behavioral, and health effects,
as well as the opportunity for enriched learning, have been increased.
For the most part, mobile technology's impact on children's cognitive abilities and
academic performance is found to be positive. Parents believe that computers are an important
educational resource and consider a child without one to be at a disadvantage (Subrahmanyam,
2000, p. 124). In addition to this, researchers have found that mobile computers typically
motivate and engage children more than a deskbound PC; they call this mobile learning (Druin,
2009, p. 4). Though dependent on how the mobile device is used, mobile technology has the
potential to accelerate child's learning of language, numbers, problem solving skills, spatial
skills, image representation skills, visual attention skills, and responsive behaviors. Recreational
use of a technology is also beneficial to a student's academics. A study referenced by
Subrahmanyam states that students who use computers "for activities unrelated to the class also
reported better overall grades, better grades in math and English, and did better on a test of
scientific knowledge" (2000, p. 129). Modern computer literacy is also taught through mobile
learning which Druin finds to be "a key element of a child's economic and educational future. If
a child leaves school without a fluency in the use of technology, that child has been put in a
significant disadvantage for later life" (2009, p. 89).

IMPACT OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN

Another opportunity provided by mobile technology's interactive learning is the ability

for a child to monitor his or her own comprehension and embark on his or her own personal
goals, allowing for self-directed learning; for example, through interactive application games that
track high scores. According to Subrahmanyam, "playing computer games can be an important
building block to computer literacy because it enhances children's ability to read and visualize
images in a three-dimensional space and track multiple images simultaneously" (2000, p. 123).
Subrahmanyam then provides examples of three studies conducted that show that children
progressively get better at interactive applications that make use of certain skill sets the more
they play them. The sharpening of their problem solving skills, spatial skills, and any other skills
that get exercised through each use of the application indicates that the children are actually
learning.
In addition to improving cognitive skills, some video games benefit children socially by
promoting togetherness and a sense of community with multiplayer functionality. The use of
technology has also been seen to increase the self-esteem of children and even their social status
among peers. Older children will find that mobile technology also allows for quick and easy
communication through e-mail, instant messaging, video chat, and social networks; such as,
Twitter and Instagram. Mobile devices are also becoming more commonly used for schooling as
the ease of communication and increased engagement help to encourage collaborative work
among students. Another social change brought on by mobile technology finds the child
assuming the role of an instructor as they often teach their parents and older relatives how to use
current day devices.
However, not all of the impacts mobile technology has on children are positive. The way
that the mobile technology impacts children on a social level is dependent upon how it is used

IMPACT OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN

and where. Subrahmanyam states that "recent survey data show that increased use of the Internet
may be linked to increases in loneliness and depression" (2000, p. 123). If a child takes a mobile
device to their bedroom to use in solitude, the chances of them becoming more independent and
introverted are heightened because they are removing themselves from socially interactive
settings. There is no reason for concern if the usage is moderate as Subrahmanyam also states
"little evidence indicates that the moderate use of computers has a negative impact on children's
friendships and family relationships" (2000, p. 123).
As aforementioned, the chances of acquiring depression increase with extended use of the
Internet. This is just one of many possible impacts extended use of mobile devices may have on a
child's health. Prolonged usage of mobile devices means staring at their small screens for lengthy
periods of time. This dries out your eyes, can blur your vision, and give you headaches. Extended
usage of mobile computers is also believed to be a cause of obesity in children. Subrahmanyam
states that "access to computers increase the total amount of time children spend in front of a
television or computer screen at the expense of other activities, thereby putting them at risk for
obesity" (2000, p. 123). Other negative health effects mobile devices may have on a child is an
increase in heart rate and strain on body parts. There is an increased risk of epileptic seizures
when using certain applications and programs with flashing graphics on these devices. Lastly,
frequent usage of mobile devices may blur a child's perception of reality, which may lead to
behavioral problems.
Due to the blurred perception of reality, children may begin to behave aggressively as
well as participate in other acts of delinquency, unaware of his or her wrongdoings. Recent
findings show that "playing violent video games may increase aggressiveness and desensitize a
child to suffering, and that use of computers may blur a child's ability to distinguish real life

IMPACT OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN

from simulation" (Subrahmanyam, 2000, p. 123). Researchers have also found that their statistics
support a correlation between violent behavior and viewing violence on television (Johnson,
2002, p. 2469). Violence in video games and television is worth noting as mobile devices
currently give access to both, as well as other material inappropriate for children. Exposure to
inappropriate material can be moderated on these devices through parental controls. Taking
advantage of this feature when it is offered is an efficient way of safeguarding children from
material they should not encounter when using their mobile devices. Another behavioral effect
that mobile technology may have on children is a decrease in motivation to do anything
unrelated to the mobile device. This leads to increased usage of the devices and the risks that
come with using them.
All in all, mobile technology provides the opportunity to enrich a child's learning
experience and social skills at the risk of damaging his or her health, behavioral patterns, and
relationships. However, there is no need for parents to be concerned over their children using
these devices so long as the usage is moderate, especially as moderate usage is encouraged to
thrive in today's technological society. Also, while these effects are not new to laptops, tablets,
smartphones and other mobile devices, specialists agree that more research needs to be done in
regards to these effects as there are too many variables to control when analyzing one child's life
from another. For now, researchers are certain that mobile technology does play a part in these
areas of a child's life; the next step is to pinpoint exactly how big of a part that is.

IMPACT OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN

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IMPACT OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN

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