Technology and technological advancements have been an instrumental part of human development and evolution. Since the invention of the wheel, and even before that, man developed rudimental technologies that made his life easier. Therefore, since time immemorial technology has been part and parcel of man. Technological advancements in the last century has sky rocketed to extremely high levels. People are coming up with new and effective inventions and innovations at very high rate than at any single time in history. This phenomenon has been characterized by several benefits and challenges in equal measure. This paper will canvas the significant challenges presented by technology to the young people. The paper will grapple with the objective of determining whether technology has contributed immensely in increase of violence by young people. It is extremely crucial to interrogate the role played by various technologies that have been embraced by youngster and whether they help commit violence. The paper will discuss technologies in a general nature. This means that discussion will not center on a particular technology. However, the discussion will be synchronized in order to illustrate the causes, course and effects adopted by youngster. It is vital to acknowledge, from the onset, that it is imperative to talk about technology in any meaningful social, political or economic discussion involving young people of the 21st century. This is because it has become a part of the daily life ranging from smartphones, video games, television sets to fancy cars. While these technologies do not cause violence by virtue of the inherent nature, they provide incentives on how to commit violence and escape liability. The possibility of escaping punishments for violence and the way it is presented as being cool provides a convincing incentive to engage in violent behavior.
There has been an on-going debate as to whether violence in video games, television and films has contributed to the violence that is being witnessed in the society. This is a weighty matter that needs critical scientific research to come up with scientific inferences. This means that such results should be replicated by subsequent researchers. However, it is vital to be alive to the fact that this complex observable phenomenon that may not be able to undergo comprehensive experimentation. Therefore, the existing theory indicates that youngsters who are who are significantly influenced by these technologies have adopted violent behavior. While most people use television sets for educational and entertainment purposes, this is not the same for most youngsters. Television has become a source of inspiration, entertainment and life’s pace setter. Most of the actors, presenters and media personalities have become role models and the way they behave is significantly influential to young people. It is upon this background that many scholars have argued violence portrayed by the mass media is influencing young people to become more aggressive and more inclined to commit violence that during previous generation when these technologies were absent.
Edwin Sutherland, a professor of criminology, argues that exposure to a lot of definitions that are to a larger extend favorable to criminal behavior more than exposure to the definitions favorable to anti-criminal behavior shapes a juveniles mind to develop a criminal mind. Therefore, exposure to violent behavior day in day out from video games, television programs, movies and theatre can be attributed as the significant cause of increased violent behavior in young people. He argues, however, that how much a personal adopts the learned behavior as his or personal philosophy depends on intensity, duration, personality and the presence of mitigating factors. It is, therefore, plausible to argue that one of the significant ways that technology contribute to causing violence by young people is by providing an avenue where they can have an unlimited access to learn the behavior.
The internet has also become another conundrum with regard to contributing to the violent nature of youngsters. The internet provides unlimited access to almost any content available on the world. From watching videos from websites, such YouTube, to a having chatting experience with friends, families and even strangers these youngsters have access to contents that can really have detrimental effects. When one synchronizes the curiosity and cheekiness that usually characterizes the life of a teenager and the content available online from violent crimes and pornography, it becomes obvious to infer the linkage influencing the rise of the rate of violence amongst youngster. It is critical to appreciate that it is human and inherent among man to be thrilled by violence. That is why many single and series movies that depict human violence have rose to become box office blockbusters. People are excited when bad guys are shot in these movies. There are usually super heroes in these movies that are cast as the main stars. They develop an identity that young people can relate to and in the end justify their violent activities. While watching these movies people applaud at the end. This sends strong signals to youngsters that such behavior is accepted as long as it can be justified. That is why movies like ‘Friday the 13th’ are so popular among the youngsters.
Apart from providing avenue for youngsters to learn violent behavior, technology has also contributed immensely to helping youngsters execute violent behavior. This is because of the available cheap yet lethal equipment that can be accessed in various stores. This has made it easier for a person who has intentions of assaulting another person to execute his plans with being detected. For example, thanks to technology, it is now possible to track an individual using his cell phone, car or any other technology that he or she may be using. Attaching tracking devices on such items will enable a criminal juvenile follow the person to an area that he or she deems he will be able to commit the violence against that person without interference. Therefore, the ease with which violent behavior can be executed has been made possible by technology.
Technological advancements especially have been used to depict violence especially in the media. What appear in the media has a lot of influence in the youth. If this was not the case corporations would not be spending millions of dollars in advertisements in an attempt to influence clients in buying their products. Companies such as Pepsi, Nike and the Coca Cola have invested millions in trying to say the youth to buy their products. Such tactics have worked so far with these companies registering impressive profits year in year out. It is also a fact, that violence occurs in all most every television programs. It has become fashionable to create cartoon movies that engage in violence. When a youngster attains the age of twelve, such a child has watched thousands of movies and cartoons that portray violence as a cool thing to do. Such behavior can also be learnt from video games, which is a highly popular thing among youngsters. It is vital to realize that these gaming activities essentially involve acts of violence that can be extremely damaging to the psychology of the child. What transpires in most of these games is that players look for fellow players and engage in a continuous warfare. There are various levels that illustrate continuous progress of the player. The more a player kills the more games he or she unlocks and the more challenging the games become than the previous level. In essence, this is actual warfare happening in a psychological space. Scientists have proved that the brain receptors can be manipulated to think that artificial scenes are real. Therefore, in most cases, the player’s brains cells develop a killer mentality and one that is inclined towards a violent nature. The proliferations of gaming activities and pornography on the internet and social media, which are target youngsters, have significant influences on the nature and character of such a youngster. Engaging in such games at first seems cool and enjoyable; however, the player will not be able to realize that soon he or she will have a high affinity for crimes against women and acts of violence.
In order to fully realize the impact of video games that involve shooting, it is vital to acknowledge that they form p-art of the teaching programs at the U.S Marine Corps. The Law enforcements agencies and the U.S army use video games to train new recruits how to shoot using video games. Therefore, this is one of the most effective ways of learning how to commit a crime and get away with it. For example, in the Kentucky school shooting, the 14-year-old child, who shoot 8 children in total had never held or shoot a gun. However, he was a perfect video game player. The skills learnt in these games enabled the kid to shoot fives clean shoots on five victims without freaking out. Furthermore, the kids also shoot three other victims on the torso simply because he wanted. This clearly indicates the immense contribution of these technological devices have ensured proliferation of violent behavior among youngsters.
The ease access to computers, smartphones and the internet has also lead to a significant number of cases that indicate abuse and harassment. This is known as cyber-bullying. This observable phenomenon has been on rampant increase in recent times especially in high schools. The link between cyber-bullying and violence is a close one. Bullies will always have a criminal record and cyber-bullying is merely an extension of their activities. It is also where bullies develop their tricks and intimidating character. They develop an aggressive approach and subsequently use it to attack physical or otherwise venerable victims.
Technologies have also brought a violent culture into the picture. The modern world has been witnessing thousands of invention all in the name of fighting or protection oneself or ones country from the enemy. The Korean crisis, the war in Iraq, Syria and the Arab Spring has been made possible by technological advances in the military. Such devices are recreated as toys for young children. It is a common thing to see children playing around with pistols and toys war tankers. They practice and perfect what they see on television with the toys they have. This paper argues that there is a direct correlation and link between the way the large society views and handles violence with how youngster learn and deal with it.
Technologies will continue to be developed and advance. On the other hand, a young generation will always be present as long as the human race is in existence. However, in order to ensure that it lives in harmony, it is essential that measures that the young generation is protected from immoral, illegal and illicit acts that will prevent it from learning the virtues, values and the essence of humanity. Technology is extremely vital and man cannot survive without it. However, it is critical that it be put to prudent use that which advances the interest of the large society. From internet gaming, surfing, video games, programs, movies and other devices, it is essential that they be designed with a particular clientele in mind. It is cardinal for parents to understand the significance of the internet on their child. They should, therefore, put up measure that will seek to advance the values upon which desire to have. Teachers and parents should work jointly to diminish the significance advanced technology and the internet to young children until they are mature enough to make responsible decisions. It is also critical for parents to ensure control the nature of video games that children play. Psychologists have confirmed that video games play a crucial role in the life and psychology of a teenager. Therefore, a parent should review all video games before allowing the child to play it. The same should be applicable to the television programs and movies. It is advisable that youngsters should be denied the luxury of having uncontrolled television sets a in their bedrooms. It will be prudent for the parent to all monitor and police the intensity and duration the child has towards violent movies and films.
There are several acceptable practices that a parent can employ in order to ensure that a youngster develops into a responsible and dependable young parson, who is not inclined towards violent behavior. This is a challenging task give the interconnectivity and ease access that the world has become. While a technology is only one of the contributors of deviant behavior for juveniles, it is vital that the society at large joins hand to ensure that they are used prudently. The numerous cases of spree shooting in schools and on the street have been committed by persons that have never used any of these technologies. It is, therefore, vital that the government steps in to ensure that some of the information being disseminated freely to everyone be on a need to know basis. For example, there is no logical reason of why a video that teaches people to make bombs should be broadcast freely on the internet without any forms of censure. This will not only assist the society keep youngsters non-violent, but also ensure that it becomes a mush safe and secure place.
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