Con: Accessibility of Information is Detrimental to Children and Adolescents

Digital Grassroots by Donovan Russell

The world we currently inhabit is a world in crisis. Economic institutions around the world continue to crash, despite valiant efforts governments and individuals alike continue to ignore global warming and wars continue to be fought based on flawed, narrow minded ideologies. What these, and so many of society’s ills, have in common is that they are caused and fueled primarily by ignorance. To insure a better tomorrow it seems fundamentally important that we better inform and educate the population. Only by instilling a better understanding of other people, the places they live and what they believe in can we become a collective world. This goes beyond the knowledge of others, we in this age are more capable than ever of comprehending the complexities of nature and science. Furthermore, this knowledge is no longer limited to a select few but is open to the masses. The momentum of the digital revolution is still strong; is still going and as parents, teachers, caregivers and role models we can not vainly attempt to shield our children from the endless opportunities available to them. In education our role must become that of facilitators, and as parents that of guide. A wealth of information is only detrimental if it is not channeled, developed and used correctly, and thus if we can teach the youth of today how best to access and use this information the chances for them to affect positive social change becomes endless.

Many would argue that sheer volume of information does little to ensure it’s quality and that for every useful piece of information there is a vast amount of negative and even harmful material to counter act its usefulness. This is by no means untrue, and is a very real concern. However in saying this, the solution lies not in trying to contain or limit access but rather in education on how to decode knowledge. With the invention of things like the iPhone and Youtube children are able to connect with infinite ideas and opinions anywhere any time. The Internet is in their schools, their libraries and in the homes of their friends. It is one of the greatest educational tools ever invented as well as being a place of social and emotional development. In short it’s here and it’s staying.

One has only to look at programs like One Laptop per Child to realize that the technological age is spreading beyond the first world and has positive implications for the entire planet. Computers have become cost effective, portable classrooms and have the ability to make quality education accessible to people in remote or underdeveloped parts of the world. Hundreds of countries suffer from a shortage of qualified, well trained teachers and while training and developing resources can be expensive and time consuming, cheap computer-based education, utilized in the correct way, offers learners amazing opportunities.

To learn more about One Laptop per Child watch:



Or this is an excellent lecture by Nicholas Negroponte:



The problem is not having too much information but rather accepting information without criticism. This has been the hallmark of our educational system for centuries. Students are expected to swallow, remember and regurgitate facts, figures, dates, opinions, etc. Now when they are faced with dubious facts, figures, dates and opinions via technology they do as they have been taught and assimilate it without question. What is needed is more education on how to criticize and evaluate data. With progress in speed and availability the focus is placed on the analysis and because of the ease at which information can be found cross-referencing and comparing in turn become easier.

For an in depth discussion on the topic of suitability watch this video by computer expert Chris Pirillo:



What about material that isn’t suitable for children? Think of it like this; would you prohibit your child from going to the library because it had a copy of Mein Kampf in it? Technology and the media get blamed for a vast majority of society's social ills, often the inactions and failures of parents and teachers are overlooked. Adult material is meant for adults and if you can make sure your children don’t play with guns or drain cleaner why can’t you supervise their access to the cyber world. If one takes the time it is possible to monitor how your child engages with technology. There are systems to check and limit what Internet sites are accessed or how often your children use their cell phones. Problems arise when young ones know more than adults do about technology and when caregivers fail to have enough time to be a part of their children’s lives. So what is needed again is better education but this time of parents, caregivers and teachers.

So while we ourselves may struggle to keep up with technological growth we can’t assume that the world will stop and wait for us. The emphasis in the 21st century has shifted from retaining knowledge to evaluating it. If our children are to have a fighting chance at development and advancement they need to be taught to access, utilize and interpret technology. Technology in the end is just a tool, and like all tools individuals need to be instructed on how to use what they are given. Adults need to facilitate and guide; allow access but monitor that access and finally be aware that the most important skill children learn today is how to find and deconstruct data and not the data itself.

(Read the opposing argument)