Has tech hurt this generation’s development?

Posted: May 15, 2024

Experts, teachers consider tech’s impact on child development

Does the technology that fills modern life impact the way kids learn to think?

“The key thing that I would want all parents to know is that screens aren’t all good or all bad. A lot of this depends on how you use screens,” Nusheen Ameenuddin, a Mayo Clinic pediatrician, said in a February 2024 Mayo Clinic informational video.

Tech isn’t just influencing young people academically.

“One interesting thing that kids struggle with these days is that they cannot sit and watch a movie,” said Minnehaha Academy fourth-grade teacher Angie Magnuson. “I wonder if it is because they are used to watching shorter shows, and the ability to watch what they want is always at their fingertips.”

Generation Alpha, children born after 2010, has been online since birth. They are still children, growing up with Millennial parents, who are extensive users of social media. They don’t know what it’s like to live unplugged. Gen Z, born between about 1997 and 2010 — including current high-school students — experienced a few early years before smartphones and social media became common.

“I think that apps like Tik-Tok and Instagram have impacted what kids know and find important, which results in changing the way elementary students act. So socially I see a significant change in students,” said Magnuson. “Teaching fourth grade, I can see that kids are very aware of trends and styles. I can imagine that can cause insecurity. I would honestly guess that this is the way it always was. When I was in school I was always aware of the cool shoes, jeans and general style. Kids still face these demands today, and it will always create insecurity.”

You may also like…

Guthrie Theater Play Review: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Under moonlit mischief and a pulsing musical heartbeat, Shakespeare’s classic comedy soars. Where laughter, live music, and theatrical chaos combine to create an unforgettable Midsummer night. Renowned for its romance, pranks, and magical mayhem, Shakespeare’s A...

1-on-1 with Izzy Daniel

The Toronto Sceptres rookie reflects on her 2nd game in her home state Izzy Daniel, a Minnesota native and 2019 Ms. Hockey finalist, played her second game back in her home state while playing for Toronto this season. With Toronto picking up their first win this...

The Hidden Dangers of Overdosing

Increasing OD risk, RN talks about the effects of accidental teenage overdoses and how they impact everyone. A Local Nurse’s Perspective on the Teen Epidemic  At Fairview Hospital in Minnesota, Sarah Curry, a registered nurse (RN), has witnessed firsthand the...

Running for gold

Spanish teacher's life filled with adventure, resilience You are running through the Amazon, gold in hand, scared of who and what lies ahead. You think you hear voices, where will you go? What will you do? Your life may be in danger. This is how Spanish teacher Julio...

Slideshow: SMB Football Wolfpack’s Section Quarterfinal Heartbreak Captured by Ezra Victor

Wolfpack won’t go down without a fight The SMB Wolfpack football team—a co-op of Minnehaha Academy, the Blake School, St. Paul Academy, and Hope Academy—faced DeLaSalle in the Class 4A, Section 5 quarterfinal on October 22 at Blake. Both teams showed great skill and...