Introduction
Technology has been developed and increased significantly in the recent times and it is has blended strongly in all areas including the scientific and practical sectors. People perceive modern technology, such as smart phone, iPads, and laptops to be like the air we breathe, hence human beings cannot live without, especially among the young generation. However, the big puzzle remains whether or not technological advancements are good or bad to people’s lives. This paper will classify the answer based on the opinion of scientists, the young generation like youth, and personal sentiments. According to the studies carried out by scientists Barreto, Steven, and Sue K. Adams, they emphasized that technology is important for school-aged children in the development of skills for learning and coping in the real-world (3). In addition, it acts as a very useful tool for children to learn faster, build and encourage their memory in an entertaining experience while growing up.
However, the issue is the manner in which those children can trust the uncontrolled information published, whether it is correct or not. These researchers define this issue as a negative effect of technology. The youth believe that digital technology is one of the greatest inventions because it draws them to new experiences and acquaints them with different cultures, cum providing them with new ideas and appointed dealings within society. However, it is succinct that the growth of technology has negatively influenced the social interactions of today's youth by causing them to isolate themselves from reality through impeding communication. On the contrary, it also has strong positive effects in the youth’s life and education such as the development of social skills, curiosity and building learning interest, empowering students, and accessing information easily.
It is often that people relate the youth’s technological experiences with a lot of negative terms such as cyber-bullying, privacy invasion, videogames addiction and sexual predation. A lot of literature points out to the various risk factors that include depression, historical abuse, poor home environment and negative technological uses. Delving deeper into the matter will enable many to notice that the positive technological effects overshadow the negatives by all means. This paper is an attempt to foster and identify an alternative to the deficit discourse concerning youth and their technological experiences. Researchers such as Barreto and Adams have also taken a very positive approach in deciphering children’s use of technology. In addition, there are some scientific researchers that have complemented this work by building on this research scientifically. The research entails the evaluation of thriving individuals’ pathways over a period of time such as a decade or so (Barreto and Adams 5).
The underlying assumption is that the youth are already utilizing technology and if assisted they can utilize them in even better ways. They should receive support through the presentation of educational opportunities in order to construct their identity sense as having agency towards the promotion of changes within them and in the society too. Since the early time of the 1960s, the flourishing educational technological field has established assessment tools in order to evaluate and examine how learning using computers happens basing on the constructs of technological fluency and computer literacy. From an outsider’s viewpoint, both constructs are equivalent to each other and they address the issue on what it means to use technology successfully in learning and teaching. Computer literacy entails the development of instrumental skills in order to improve performance, productivity and learning by the mastery of certain software applications for various tasks like e-mail and word processing. On the other hand, technological fluency involves instrumental skills but concentrates on enabling people to express themselves in a creative manner with the help of technology (Schurgin, Gwenn and Clarke-Pearson 801).
The technological fluency concept defines fluency as the ability to apply and utilize technology as smoothly and effortlessly as individuals use language in their daily lives. In addition, recent research suggests that students’ attitudes towards technology especially computers may influence their experience and use of technology-meditated learning. Technology use appears as a multifaceted dimension due to the changing digital media and the surrounding environment of technology-richness in the current generation. The ability of using technology meaningfully with the aim of learning does not depend wholly on skills but also on various emotional and psychosocial factors. With the multitude of purposes and contexts for which the youth use computers in learning, people’s comprehension of their technology related demeanor must expound beyond computational fluency and literacy (Sardone 103). While cognitive factors are essential, the moral, civic, cultural, social and emotional technological use dimensions should be acknowledged too.
The youth use computers in the library, at home and in other various after-school settings. For instance, technology has flourished the development of online education. Online education creates a huge impact on the life of a youth or rather student. It contributes greatly to the gain of self-discipline because a student sets personal educational goals that they strive to achieve. These goals are better attained through online learning since the student is self-independent and they operate solely on how they will manage their educational time. The youth then become more computer savvy through the perpetual use of technology in carrying out research, completing assignments, and using projects through the utilization of certain software. In addition, some online programs provide fast-track programs that enable prospective graduates in fast completion of degree programs. Currently, the majority of North American high school students have access to internet within their class setting. Students get extra succor through the OLE or online learning environments offered by schools. OLE offers students with fast and easy access to course material and resources. Most OLE environments are available virtually from any location that has internet and a computer. The resources often include online lectures, books, peer-to-peer support, multimedia activities, and comprehensive reviews. Students that failed to attend a certain class session can use extra succor through the OLE in order to attain the required credits (University of Illinois).
However, technology serves as a boon to human beings and in particular to the youth because it provides them with full exposure of the outside world. It results in an exchange of views and sentiments on various subjects of a wide array of people from all across the globe. Therefore, it leads to a global exchange of knowledge and useful information. Technology has offered the youth with a platform of voicing their sentimental opinions on a various political and social issues and further share information with other individuals. It has enabled the emergence of easier and accessible communication means whereby people can reach other all over the world. Technological development has allowed people to acquire platforms that enable them to present themselves to the rest of the world. On the contrary, it is true to state that technology has also presented its negative impacts particularly towards the youth but it is undoubtedly that it has proved to be a source of bliss.
Technologies such as the internet increase the overall awareness of various masses. They enhance the youth’s general knowledge by offering people with information from every corner of the world. For instance, news broadcast through various forms of technologies, thus enabling the society to be informed concerning the daily world issues. They revolve social issues information in the society and raise the social awareness among the youth, hence developing their concern towards society. From another perspective, the media technology serves as a job search tool. As much as the unemployment rates in most country parts are increasing among the youth, the media technology is lessening the struggle of finding jobs. The youth search for any kinds of jobs through the numerous job search engines available in the internet such as Job Bank and Workopolis. In addition, such search engines assist one in filling out job applications, creating an attractive resume and even the ways of preparing for job interviews. It is easier to apply for jobs online because it is time-saving and energy-saving too. Jobs enable the youth feel independent and confident about themselves, thus helping them in the exploration of potential career paths.
Apart from technology serving as an informatory update regarding international issues, it also contributes to enhancing the youth’s vocabulary and advancing their language. A general public platform is provided through digital technology especially through the print media. Through online documentaries, articles and e-journals the youth are able to advance their reading habits positively. They expand their reading capacity and develop a reading culture that allows them to exchange their sentiments regarding vital societal issues and share their views on a larger scale.
Technology is also attributable to the contribution of the social and cultural values transformation within the masses. It has the ability of bringing change in the attitude and beliefs of the common man. The persuasive characteristic of its original and well-researched content presented through various means is enough to influence the behavior and thoughts of the general public and the youth in particular. Technology creates a direct impact on a society’s lifestyle and the youth learn about their culture through it, thus appreciating it more than before. Social interaction has also been affected in various ways but in a positive manner. Technology has enabled tasks to utilize less effort, thus allowing people in engaging in non-task activities. This leads to an increment of leisure time and allowing the youth to be more flexible in the utilization of their free time. In turn, it permits personal life control, thus increasing social interaction. The watching of television has been viewed as a social activity whereby, a family or even friends can gather together and enjoy a movie or show. In addition, television viewing promotes various conversations in a wide array of topics. This is a means of how friends and family members can establish social interaction and positive communication among themselves.
In terms of the construction of an integrated community, the positive effects of technology indeed overshadow the negative alterations. Technology has seen the emergence of recent advents such as blogging and practices such as citizen journalism and public polls. Such advents have resulted into the attainment of a social control among communities. These concepts have fortified the relationship between the common youth and technology (Wartella and Jennings 36). They have magnetized the general masses closer towards their respective communities. Youth have had some advanced changes in their way of thinking through technology. This is because it has provided them with a platform whereby they can contribute individually to the changing world scenario. Technology has also made the world seem like a smaller place to live in through the various connections.
There are many social sources of entertainment when the media technology issue is in critical evaluation. Some of the major leisure activities that have become a part of the youth’s life is listening to music and playing video games. It is essential to note that these activities also have some positive impacts attaches to them. In the case of music, it allows one to establish a connection with others. It serves also as a source of creative inspiration, builds confidence and further offers cognitive advancement among the youth. When youth listen to music they absorb the words like a sponge. Some may internalize the message carried behind the rthymical tunes while others may not. Through this one can get inspired and change their way of living but it all depends on the genre of music.
Conclusion
On the other hand, while video gaming may be deemed a waste of time it carries a number of benefits in accompaniment. Research attests to the fact that youth that have the habit of playing video games and other sports, develop the highest reflexes. It also develops flexible and strong joints and fingers. As much as that may not seem to be very vital, they develop a higher processing brain and advanced hand and eye coordination (Granic and Lobel 66). Evidently, this is a great impact emerging from something like video gaming. However, teachers especially in the music department are making use of such benefits to teach their students how to play certain instruments through games.
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