The effect on Taiwanese youths caused by mobile and computer games - Essay Example

Technology has diametrically altered the human life with its impact evidenced in the in which human live, interact, communicate, travel and work among many others, firmly etching itself into the fiber of our society. Cell phones have evolved and many can do the work of computers, virtually every gadget in the market is being computerized from, cars to waste disposal systems. There is no denying that technology has revolutionized the world; however, technology is also responsible for many of the world’s greatest problems, due to manufacturing technology for instance, the environment has been irreparably damaged and the continued dependence of vehicles and other technological gadgets emitting harmful gases has made this problem impossible to mitigate (Chin-Sheng and Wen-Bin 179). Millions have been laid off to make room for machines, Social skills have deteriorated thanks to addiction to social network especially among the youths and parents cannot be sure their children are safe from cyber stalkers. New crimes have emerged, given way by technology, and old ones have improved as criminals use technology to commit them and avoid detention. This paper will contest that technology despite the many advantages poses a host of problems both overt and covert to an individual, society family and even children who are too young to manage its vast capabilities. There is no denying that technology through communication and mass media information can move around the world in real time, and one learns the news in a different country at the same time as the residents. Cooking has never been easier with microwaves and electric cookers and travelling never aster more effect or comfortable because of developments in the transport. The internet has revolutionized and enhanced nearly every aspect of communication, which is vital in shaping human destiny (McFarlane 2). Nonetheless, technology has a negative side to it, in a modern day family, time spent by the members interacting with each other has reduced considerably over the years; this is because almost every member is likely to have a device such as a phone of laptop on which they spend time alone with at the expense of family time. Even very young ones at times will be more interested in Television than in their parents, some preferring the sitting to watch TV rather than interact with other family members. The institution of family dinner has been responsible for strengthening the family, and research has proven that youths who frequently sat through one are less likely to be inclined towards decadent behavior such as violence and drug abuse. Today, these times have been relegated in of importance and family diners are hurried affairs with members in a rush to go back to their digital world. The bonds uniting family have been considerably weekend since people seem to prefer to spend times online than with their families (Small). Technology poses a myriad of ill effects for children; the list is extensive from childhood obesity, computer addiction to stunted social skills. Many parents use the TV to baby sit young children, while others buy their teens, pre-teen children laptops, and smart phones, with virtually unlimited access to the worldwide web, failing to consider the risks. Spending too much time watching TV can and has turned many children into couch potatoes, as a result, they hardly leave the house to play ergo get no exercise. Inevitably, obesity and other complications and this may scar the child for life not to mention making them venerable to conditions like diabetes; this is in addition to poor academic performance (Jussof 152). Teens engage in social networking and some of them become fully addicted to their mobile phones, and laptops this is often detrimental to their social skill and ability to interact face to face. Having computers in their rooms allows them easy access to normally restricted material such as extreme violence or pornographic content, this motivates children to attempt what they see, accordingly research shows that around 10 percent of violence among youths can be attributed to Media (Jussof 152. Exposure to either can have long lasting and negative psychological effects on them especially if they begin to do it unsupervised and at an early age. All factors considered it would appear the environment is part of the collateral damage in technologies progress to dominate the world. Today, the levels of pollution are very high and the world is tottering at the brink of devastating climate change because of the havoc wrecked on the ozone layer. However, little can be done to fix this in the short term, short of halting its factories and institutions on which the lives and live holds of many depend; thus, technology has put humanity of a sure path to self-destruction. This forced world leaders to come up with measures which such as the Kyoto protocol in which the pledged to reduce their emissions (Hayashi, et al 88). Technology has been used by nations and individuals to wage war in the past and present often with calamitous results, biological, and atomic weapons are some of the weapon are said to be capable of destroying everything on the planet. Indeed, if the Hiroshima is anything to go by, technological advancement clearly portend unfathomable doom for most of the world. Ultimately, it is evident that, despite its achievements, technology’s negative impacts are far reaching and threaten to rip the fibers that hold humanity together apart; this is in the fact that it has proven detrimental to family bonds. It can also be a danger to children, who are tomorrows generation and if the grow up with warped family values and poor social skills; the future is bleak indeed. With the modern warfare, technology is even scarier especially considering that the powerful new weapons have the capacity to destroy humanity in seconds. In view of the facts considered, it is clear that for the world to make use of technology, it must be used carefully and this calls for the collective responsibly everyone with access to technology, that they may use it to improve their lives, yes, but not jeopardize the future for the sake of instant gratification or quick rewards. Annotation Chin-Sheng, Wan, and Wen-Bin Chiou. "The Motivations of Adolescents Who are Addicted to Online Games: A Cognitive Perspective." Adolescence 42.165 (2007): 179-97. The paper is focused on the trends in addiction among Taiwanese youths to mobile and computer games. It further examines their motivation for this and hence it will be useful in explaining the addictiveness of technology gadgets and the internet in the rest of the world. Donovan A. McFarlane. “Social Communication in a Technology-Driven Society: A Philosophical Exploration of Factor-Impacts and Consequences” American Communication Journal Winter 2010. Web. 27 November 2012. This paper will be useful in the discussion on effects of technology since its primary focus in the examination of the construct of the communication crisis brought about by modern technology. Gary Small, M.D. “Exercising your most important organ: Is Technology Fracturing Your Family?” Pschology.com . 19, June 2009. Web 27 November 2012. This essay if focused on the effects of technology on the human brain with the view of proving that too much dependence on technology denies the brain a the benefits it gets from a social interaction especially with family. Hayashi, Ayami, et al. "Evaluation of Global Warming Impacts for Different Levels of Stabilization as a Step Toward Determination of the Long-Term Stabilization Target." Climatic Change 98.1-2 (2010): 87-112.  In this article, the writer discusses the negative impacts of global warming from a retrospective and futuristic perspective. He also mentions the various action attempted by world leader to mitigate it. As such, the essay serves to demonstrate the severity on the environmental damage resulting from technology. Jussof, Kamaruzaman. “Television and Literacy in Young Children: Issues and Effects In Early Childhood.” International Education Studies. 2010. Web 27 November 2012. This essay discusses the negative effects of too much expose to TV on children; it supplies pertinent information to support the primary assertions of the research since TV is presented as a major negative effect of technology to developing children as well as adults. Works Cited Chin-Sheng, Wan, and Wen-Bin Chiou. "The Motivations of Adolescents Who are Addicted to Online Games: A Cognitive Perspective." Adolescence 42.165 (2007): 179-97. McFarlane, Donovan A. “Social Communication in a Technology-Driven Society: A Philosophical Exploration of Factor-Impacts and Consequences” American Communication Journal Winter 2010. Web. 27 November 2012. Small, Gary. “Exercising your most important organ: Is Technology Fracturing Your Family?” Pschology.com . 19, June 2009. Web. 27 November 2012. Hayashi, Ayami, et al. "Evaluation of Global Warming Impacts for Different Levels of Stabilization as a Step Toward Determination of the Long-Term Stabilization Target." Climatic Change 98.1-2 (2010): 87-112.  Jussof, Kamaruzaman. “Television and Literacy in Young Children: Issues and Effects In Early Childhood.” International Education Studies. 2010 . Read More