10/25/2020 How Is Modern Technology Affecting Human Development?

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How Is Modern Technology Affecting

Human Development?
The internet and digital technology may be impacting our
physical and psychological development to a larger
degree than we expected.

In the last few decades, technology has progressed at a staggering rate. Smartphones, the
internet, cloud computing, and hundreds of other inventions are changing every facet of our
lives. Communication, business, government, travel, fundraising, and even agriculture have
been affected. But how about our brains? Is all this new technology changing us on the
inside? Many think so, including psychology professionals.

As Psychology Today says, “There is … little doubt that all of the new technologies, led by
the Internet and digital technology, are shaping the way we think in ways obvious and
subtle, deliberate and unintentional, and advantageous and detrimental.”* While research
into this eld is still in its infancy and there are no scienti cally agreed-upon conclusions,
there are several areas where modern digital technology is certainly affecting the way we
interact with the world and the way our children’s brains develop. These areas include:

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Attention

Evidence suggests that reliance on the internet and mobile technology is shortening our
attention spans. One recent study found that our average attention span has decreased by
4 seconds, down from 12 to 8, which is shorter than that of a gold sh.† One possible
reason for this decrease is the signi cant increase in options for distraction. When we all
have computers in our pockets that allow us to play games, listen to music, and connect
with friends whenever we want, why should we tolerate boredom? Of course, this
shortened attention span likely comes with consequences. How many times do we miss
important conversations or moments happening around us because we’re mesmerized by
our electronic devices?

Decision-Making

You need to buy a new car. What’s the rst thing you do? If you’re like millions of others, you
go online to do research. In fact, no matter what kind of a decision you need to make—
whether you’re trying to gure out where Skiptotohave
Content
dinner or the best way to start a new
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career—you can turn to the internet for advice This means that we as a species no longer
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10/25/2020 How Is Modern Technology Affecting Human Development? | Walden University
career—you can turn to the internet for advice. This means that we, as a species, no longer
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Relationship Building

By 2020, 2.9 billion people are expected to be on social media.‡ Couple that with person-to-
person messages sent with both traditional SMS texting and messaging apps and we’re
radically changing the way we can build and maintain relationships. But is this a good or
bad thing? If we’re at dinner with friends and are simultaneously texting a family member in
California and Tweeting with acquaintances about an event in Japan, are we fully engaged
in any of those relationships? Then again, doesn’t being able to stay connected with friends
and family around the world keep relationships alive that might otherwise wither? Nearly
70% of Americans think the internet is good for our relationships,§ but it remains to be seen
if children who are growing up with smartphones develop the kinds of interpersonal and
relationship-building skills they need to form deep and meaningful relationships, or if our
species will become isolated from—and uncomfortable with—close, personal contact.

Memory

The internet gives us access to a huge amount of information; plus, our personal computers
can store every shopping list and stray thought we have, letting us access the information
when we need it later. A new study nds that this “pervasive access to information has not
only changed what we remember; it has changed how we remember.”** Our reliance on the
internet has decreased our ability to easily retain facts. However, we appear to be
improving our ability to remember where and how to locate information. For instance, we
are now more likely to remember what folder we stored information in than we are to
remember the information itself. Likewise, when faced with a question of fact, we are more
likely to remember search terms that have helped us uncover answers to similar questions
than we are to remember the fact itself.**

How Can You Learn More About Technology’s Impact on Psychological Development?

If you’re fascinated by how technology may be changing our brains, you should consider
earning an online degree in psychology, speci cally an MS in Developmental Psychology.
Numerous online universities offer psychology degrees, making it convenient for you to earn
your degree while continuing to work in your current job.

An online graduate degree in psychology can be particularly useful if you want to take your
career in psychology to the next level. MS in Developmental Psychology career options are
quite numerous, as you can use the degree in public, private, and nonpro t settings. You can
also use your master’s in psychology as a springboard toward earning a doctoral degree in
developmental psychology.
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When
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10/25/2020 How Is Modern Technology Affecting Human Development? | Walden University
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*J. Taylor, How Technology is Changing the Way Children Think and Focus, Psychology Today, on the internet at
www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-prime/201212/how-technology-is-changing-the-way-children-think-
and-focus.

†K. McSpadden, You Now Have a Shorter Attention Span Than a Gold sh, Time Health, on the internet at
http://time.com/3858309/attention-spans-gold sh.

‡Statista, Statistics and Facts About Social Media Usage, on the internet at www.statista.com/topics/1164/social-
networks.

§T. Risen, Is the Internet Bad for Society and Relationships?, U.S. News & World Report, on the internet at
www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2014/02/27/is-the-internet-bad-for-society-and-relationships.

**J. Milfred, Is Google Ruining Your Memory? The Science of Memory in the Digital Age, Yale Scienti c, on the
internet at www.yalescienti c.org/2013/05/is-google-ruining-your-memory-the-science-of-memory-in-the-digital-
age.

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