IndexAbstractThe health effects of technology on children and their long-term effectsWhat are the physical effects of technology on children?How are children affected mentally, emotionally and socially by technology ?What are the long-term consequences of some of these effects? What should be done to avoid these negative effects and the long-term consequences of the technology? Conclusion Abstract Technology has many positive benefits in adults and children. However, there are numerous negative consequences, which may outweigh the positive ones, such as obesity, access to sexual material, low self-esteem, and attention deficit disorder. Parents need to be aware of this to improve the quality of life of their children. This research paper examines the effects that technology has on children, the long-term consequences of these effects and provides solutions on how to avoid them. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThe health effects of technology on children and their long-term effectsAccording to Pew Research (2014), 78% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 own a cell phone, 80% own a computer, 94 % have a Facebook profile and 95% have access to the Internet (“Teen Fact Sheet”). This means that large numbers of children have access to and are influenced by technology. While technology can be beneficial to both children and adults, it has more than its fair share of harmful effects. This article examines the wide range of negative health effects caused by technology by asking the following questions: What are the physical effects of technology on children? How are children affected mentally, emotionally and socially by technology? What are the long-term consequences of the technology? some of these effects? What can be done to avoid these effects and the long-term consequences of technology? Understanding the negative effects of technology on children's mental and physical health can better prepare and inform parents on how to protect their children. What are the physical effects of technology on children? While technology has some positive physical effects, especially in fitness, when combined with inactivity, technology is quite harmful. An example of this is television. According to a study conducted by the Division of Nutrition and Health of the National Institute of Public Health of Mexico, “the risk of obesity decreased by 10% for each hour per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity, and increased by 12% for every hour per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity. hour per day of television viewing” (Ebbeling, Pawlak, & Ludwig, 2002, p. 475). There is a strong correlation between heavy television viewing and health problems that include: hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and a higher prevalence of asthma (Strasburger, Jordan, & Donnerstein, 2010, pp. 761-762). The rise in obesity can also be attributed to the number of unhealthy food commercials featured on television. According to Strasburger et al. (2010), “Children and adolescents see 4,400-7,600 junk food and fast food advertisements per year on television alone” (p.761). This equates to between 12 and 20 ads per day. Such advertisements have been shown to influence children's preferences and encourage them to believe that junk food is a normal, everyday thing. (Robinson, Borzekowski, Matheson, & Kraemer, 2007, Results section, para. 3). Excessive use of technology is also associated with vision problems. Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), is described by the American Optometric Association (nd) as a “group of problemsrelated to the eyes and vision resulting from prolonged computer use" (para. 1). CVS is found in both adults and children and is not limited to computer use alone. It can also be the result of excessive use of video games, television and cell phones. Symptoms of CVS include blurred distance vision, eye strain and dry eyes. With neglect, the symptoms can worsen and become more of a nuisance still have some positive physical impacts. When it comes to child safety, Campbell (2005) argues that “the mobile phone therefore means both allowing the child to call their parents if they are in difficulty, but also providing the ability to monitor the parents who call. to young people” (p. 6). Parents are able to know where their children are at all times, send urgent messages and have the comfort of knowing that if their child is safe and should they find themselves in trouble, they will be able to ask for help. In an emergency, children can contact their parents in seconds and organize meeting places more quickly and reliably. However, technology can also be harmful in terms of children's safety and privacy. According to Madden et al. (2013), 91% of teens who use social media post a photo of themselves, something that could make them a target for a predator. A lot of contact information is also posted publicly. 71% of teens who use social media post the name of their school, 71% post the city they live in, 53% post their email address, and 20% post their cell phone number. Most of this published information is publicly accessible, meaning anyone, even a child predator, can see this information by looking at a teen's social media profile. There are also some fitness apps for smartphones and tablets, which include: NFL Play 60, Kids Fitness, and Fantastic Eating. These applications are directed at physical activity or healthy eating. However, according to Google Play (2014), of these applications, each has only 1,000 to 5,000 downloads, while the most popular apps among children, such as Facebook, used by 94% of teenagers (“Teen Fact Sheet”), have more of 1 download. at 5 billion downloads and the popular Nike fitness app has over 10 million downloads. The technology also allows children to view age-inappropriate content. In a study introduced by Strasburg et al. (2010), nearly half of a group of 1500 children aged 10 to 17 had been exposed to online pornography in the past year. Television programs aimed at children contain more sexual content than those aimed at adults (760). These are things that parents should not want their children to see, or at least they should have a conversation about these things with their children. According to Strasbourg et al. (2010), the portrayal of sexual relationships on television gives adolescents the idea that sex is normative and risk-free and that things like contraceptives are not important. Access to technology also leaves the possibility of sending sexually explicit images. According to a national survey of youth ages 13 to 19, 20% have sent and 48% have received sexual messages (Strasburg et al. 2010, p. 761). How are children affected mentally, emotionally and socially by technology? Early childhood is a crucial and rapid time for brain development. Many of your early life experiences will influence your responses throughout life (Kolb, 2009, para. 2). What happens then when achild is exposed to too much media at an early age? According to Strasburger et al. (2010), studies have shown that there is a “possibility of language delays among children exposed to excessive amounts of television or videos” (p. 761). Another correlation is found, where watching more than two hours of television per day “in early childhood has been linked to attention deficit disorder (ADD) during the early school years” (p. 761). Technology isn't all bad for early development. According to Taylor (2012), video games and other screen media improve visuospatial skills and reaction times. Even through the media, children and adolescents can learn tolerance towards people of other races and ethnicities. Important public messages can also be incorporated into television programs, conveying educational messages in such a way that children will pay attention to them (Strasburger et al. 2010, p. 762). On a social and emotional level, technology helps in communication with peers (Campbell 2005, p. 4), allowing adolescents to communicate and interact with each other, at any time of the day, as well as assisting them in organizing their plans. It also allows adolescents to express what their interests are, such as music, art, and magazines (Hutchby & Moran-Ellis, 2013, ch. 2). Children and adolescents are able to communicate with their peers at any time of the day. However, there are downsides to this 24/7 communication skill, especially when it comes to bullying. By changing the way children can communicate with each other, bullying is now present in a new environment. Cyberbullying, defined as repeated online harassment over time (Lenhart 2010). Between 10% and 33% of teens are victims of online bullying, and 26% report being bullied via text or phone calls. With the ability to remain anonymous during bullying via text, phone calls, or the Internet, a child may never know who is tormenting them. Technology has indirect effects on the emotional health of children and adolescents. According to Must and Strauss (1999), childhood obesity can have lasting effects on self-esteem and body image (p. 3), and according to the Harvard School of Public Health (n.d.), obese people are more likely to have depression compared to people of normal weight. Since technology is a major factor in childhood obesity, it can be partly blamed on it. Adolescents who are victims of bullying have higher levels of substance abuse, depression, school avoidance and may become bullies themselves (Lenhart, 2010), thus ruining their future. What are the long-term consequences of some of these effects? Childhood obesity is a life-long health risk. Obesity has serious effects on a person's quality of life and well-being. According to the Harvard School of Public Health (n.d.), obese men have a seven-fold greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and women have a 12-fold greater risk, when compared to those of the same sex who were at normal weight align. Obesity also affects the economy, costing the United States $190 billion each year. There are studies that explore the negative effects that attention deficit disorders (ADD) have on children. According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, ADD can cause children to be slow at processing information, disorganized, have trouble completing homework, and have trouble following instructions. All of these symptoms can lead to difficulties in school. While there are medications to treat ADD, they still have their share of side effects, including: anxiety, stomach pain, loss of.