Assistant Professor

Deptt. of Psychology

S N Sen B V PG College

 Kanpur, U.P., India 

Technology has become an integral part of the majority of people in their daily lives. As  we become increasingly more reliant and absorbed in technology, it is no surprise that  today's children have become avid users as well. They are exposed to an endless amount of information and content found on the internet has a number of educational  benefits however the access of anything turns out to be harmful. The excessive use of  technology devices in children can develop physical stress in the form of muscle pain  and also psychological stress by interacting on social media with toxic people or getting  stress because of some information.

What is technology?

From young toddlers to teans, children appear to be able to navigate the world of  technology, using a range of gadgets for enjoyment, social connection, education,  communication, and convenience. Technology is the vehicle through which children are  taken on missions, who fantastical virtual landscapes, into characters and to their  friends and provides children with much reward and enjoyment. Classrooms are now  filled with technology from computers to interactive white boards. Parents are also  inviting technology to their homes. Technology and children's scene this kind for each  other; both are young fast paced , and ever changing. The past two decades are  witnessed a virtual explosion in new technology, including cell phones, iPods, MP3s,  DVDs and PDAs ie., personal digit assistants. This new technology has been eagerly  embraced by children and does led to an expanded vocabulary, including instant  messaging, blogging and text messaging. New technology has many social and  educational benefits, but care give us an educators have expressed concern about the  dangers young people can be exposed to through these technologies.

What is digital stress?

Digital stress is stress caused by unhealthy interactions in social media, texts ,chat  rooms or forums. Nowadays children need to use internet for progressing academically  there are many content on youtube videos available for children with which they  understand their subjects more easily but at the same time they are exposed to avoid  variety of digital stress. Sometimes it can be because of cyber bullying or anxiety  caused due to someone stalking them. Many a times parents do not have time to  monitor the content that children are accessing and hence children are exposed to  digital content that is not suitable for the age. Some signs of digital stress is falling  grades, anxiety, anger, depression, rebellion or stomach aches or headaches which  cannot be explained by a medical condition. The main trigger the children face is the  rejection level specially when they see people are posting about parties or events to  which they haven't been invited . The children also feel a pressure to post something

positive and amazing content about themselves. They also feel pressure to get  comments and likes on their posts. 

Review of Literature 

According to UNICEF data, December children spend an average close to 5 hours a  day with technology. A figure which has likely increased with the proliferation of smart  phones and other electronic devices. It was also reported by Rowan, 2010 that nearly a  third of all 5 to 14 year old children had their mobile phone with the increase sedentary  time children are spending with technology reduces there time of playing outdoors. This  delays the children's achievement of sensory and motor milestones. According to  Gentile,2012 there is a reduced academic performance of children. The types of  interactions children are having with technology is also of concern . Exposure to violent  content during gaming has been correlated to aggression and desensitization to  violence(Gentile, 2012) which is of particular concern, given the evidence that gaming  can be very addictive. Combat- focused games are of particular interest of children.  Electronic aggression is becoming more common these days. In 2000, 6% of internet  users aged 10 to 17 years said that they had been the victim of online harassment  which ,defines as threats and other offensive behaviour said online to someone or  posted online . By 2005 , this percentage has increased by 50% . Acording to Kowalski  et. al ,2007 stated that as technology becomes more affordable and sophisticated, rates  of electronic aggression are likely to continue to increase. Electronic technology allows  to hide their identity either by sending or posting messages anonymously, by using a  false name or by using someone else's on- screen identity.. between 13% and 46% of  young people who were victims of electronic aggression, report that they were not  knowing their harassers identity. Similarly 22% of young people who propetrate  electronic aggression report they do not know the identity of their victim (Wolak et al  ,2007).It is proposed that when in a school premise a student is bullied then they try to  get help from teacher or from a peer,but in the electronic world a victim is open left  alone when responding to aggressive email or text messages.

Tips to Avoid Digital Stress

Parents should find time to discuss with children the risks of posting pictures and  comments online. Parents should also limit the time of internet usage of children.  Children should be encouraged to go out to spend their leisure hours to play some  outdoor games and their interaction with their pear group. Parents should set their own  limits of using internet and become a role model for them. Parents should set time for  their children to read story books.

Most websites and online activities are beneficial .They help young people learn new  information , interact with and learn about people from diverse backgrounds and  express themselves to others who may have similar thoughts and experiences. We  cannot erase technology from our lives so it cannot be completely eradicated we have  to live with it and not use it in excess as then there are risks involved. Technology has  to be used in a way to maximize it's benefits, parents and children parents teachers  and children can work up together and find a way to decrease its and maximize its  benefits. The stress children face due to internet cannot be overlooked, if any signs

or unusual behaviour is seen in children then parents should immediately take action.If  they can solve it then it's okay otherwise they can also consult a psychological  counselor.

References:

1. Farber,B., Shafron, G., Hamadani,J., Wald, E. & Nitzburg, G.(2012). Children,  Technology, Problems,and Preferences.Journal of Clinical Psychology,68 (11),1225- 1229.

2. Gallagher,B.(2005). New Technology: Helping or harming children? Child Abuse  Review 14, 367-373.

3. King,D .,Delfabbro,P., Griffiths,M. & Gradisar,M.(2012). Cognitive - Behavioural  Approachesto outpatient Treatment Of Internet Addiction in Children and  Adolescents.Journal of Clinical Psychology,68(11),1185-1195.

4. Kolwaski R M ,Limber SP.(2007). Electronic bullying among middle school  students.Journal of Adolescent Health 41 (6 suppl 1):S22-S30.4.

5. Rowan,C.(2010).Unplug- Don't Drug:A Critical Look at the influence of Technology on  Child Behaviour With an alternative way of responding Other Than Evaluation and  Drugging.Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry,12(1),60-68.

6. Stevenson,O. (2011). From public policy to family practices:researching the everyday  realities of families ' technology use at home.Journal of Computer Assisted  Learning,27,336-346

7. Wolak J.Mitchell K j,Finhelkor D.(2007).Does online harassment constitute bullying?An  exploration of online harassment by known peers and on-line only contacts.Journal of  Adolescent Health 2007;41(6 Suppl 1):S51-8.