This post is from Helena Mitchell.
For children and teens all over the globe, technology is the primary medium through which they interact socially and recreationally. Until recently, however, no research existed to indicate whether or not the exposure (or perhaps overexposure) to technology has been a benefit or detriment to young minds. In the last five years researchers have found evidence suggesting that today's children are developing an entirely different set of skills than their parents due to the brain's ability to adapt. Video games have had a particularly notable effect on visual perception, though some scientists worry that the increase in visual stimuli results in stunted emotional development and other behavioral issues. Correlations have also been found between video gaming and increased IQ scores. Messaging technology research is still in its infancy, as scientists try to catalogue the various behaviors associated with the technology. What seems evident at this point is that the perceived relationship between avid technology use and loneliness may be overstated. Messaging also appears to improve social interaction, build confidence and increase the ability to multitask.
SOURCE: Newsweek; AUTHOR: Fred Guterl http://www.msnbc.com/news/953368.asp
