Anyone who grew up without technology in their hands from day one belittles it and complains about it at some point in their life, because it is not what they are used to. Others who were introduced to modern and portable tech, like smart phones and tablets, late in elementary school or middle school, see it very differently. It is not something they are afraid of or hate using, but the sight of a three-year old with a tablet glued to them, still rises disgust.  Almost every generation old enough to produce intelligent and original thought can agree, there has to be a line drawn.  

But what exactly does technology exposure at such a young age harm? Psychologically, children’s brains are still developing, and are impressionable. Their attention span is one thing research has focused on, when they grow up with a device that can do all the thinking for them, a situation that requires imagination, critical thinking, etc. becomes that much more difficult. Not only will growing up attached to an iPad trouble them mentally, but undeniably any time spent on a tablet restricts time spent being active outside, as well as time spent building social skills. 

 Arguably, technology introduced to young children through schooling is positive, but it needs to be regulated. Using a tablet to do school work is convenient but may build bad habits. An extreme yet plausible example is the prediction that one day all pencil and paper work will be replaced with keyboards and LED screens. Recess could be replaced with time in the computer lab, field day could lose its flare, and then the dystopian novels on our middle school reading list become reality.  

So, where does that drawn line lay? Currently that’s up to the parent, but as generations grow up and have their own children, the problem of passing on those bad habits will only increase. The least that can be done to save future generations is keep tech under control in schools, before it’s too late.