In today’s onlife world where technology is ubiquitous, the use of technology by youth has become a topic of concern. While it is crucial to acknowledge the potential risks associated with an unbalanced, unsupervised, free-range, and non-age-appropriate use of technology, it is equally important for parents and caregivers to avoid falling into the trap of a “Nirvana Fallacy” when it comes to delaying a youth’s access to technology.
A Nirvana Fallacy suggests that if a perfect solution to a problem is not attainable, we should discard any available imperfect solutions. It is our opinion that applying this fallacy specific to the delayed use of technology by youth until a certain age can lead to unintended consequences, and therefore hinder a youth’s overall digital literacy development, especially when it comes to providing them with agency specific to their use of technology.
Prohibiting the use of technology until a certain age does not allow a youth to develop resiliency when it comes to dealing with the undesirable risks associated with technology, both inside and outside of the home, that they will certainly experience no matter how well parents and caregivers may insulate their child from technology. Even if you delay the use of technology in your home until a certain age, what happens when your child leaves the home and interacts with their peers who are using technology, they themselves are using a “burner device” that you are unaware of, or maybe even head to a library where they can access the internet for free because mom and dad will not allow them access at home? – anecdotally, all things we have heard from youth firsthand. We would suggest that such a “delay” approach would place a youth at greater risk in these situations.
The Benefits To A Balanced and Age-Appropriate Use Of Technology
Technology has undeniably brought about significant advancements and transformed various aspects of our lives. It has facilitated access to information, enhanced communication, and opened up avenues for creativity and innovation. Prohibiting the use of technology by youth overlooks the numerous benefits that can be derived from a parent/caregiver-guided, responsible, and age-appropriate balanced use of technology. (1)
Technology has revolutionized the educational landscape, offering new opportunities for learning and skill development. Online resources, interactive applications, and educational software can enhance the learning experience, engage students, and cater to diverse learning styles. By embracing technology, youth can access a wealth of knowledge and develop digital literacy skills that are essential for their future success.(2)
In today’s onlife world, technology enables youth to connect with their peers and build relationships. Social media platforms and online communities provide avenues for sharing ideas, collaborating on projects, and developing important social skills – especially for marginalized youth. We would argue that given today’s onlife world, prohibiting technology use may isolate youth from their social networks and hinder their ability to navigate technology responsibly.
As well, what about the fact that with technology becoming integral to various industries, digital literacy, and technical skills are increasingly in demand? (3) Prohibiting technology use can deny youth the opportunity to acquire these skills and limit their access to future part-time or full-time career opportunities. By embracing technology, youth can gain valuable experience which prepares them for a technology-driven job market.
Instead of imposing blanket prohibitions, good evidence-based research shows us that a more effective approach is to focus on educating youth about responsible age-appropriate technology use and digital literacy. Teaching them about online safety, critical thinking, and digital literacy empowers them to make informed decisions to help them navigate the onlife world responsibly.(4) By embracing technology while promoting balance and healthy habits we can increase resiliency, mitigate potential risks, and foster a safer onlife environment.
Obviously, acknowledging the potential risks associated with technology use by youth is essential. Issues such as cyberbullying, excessive screen time, and exposure to inappropriate content such as pornography, hate, and inappropriate language require attention from parents and caregivers.(5) We need to be our child’s best parent when it comes to these challenges. However, completely prohibiting technology use until a certain age to avoid these challenges oversimplifies the complex nature of the issue. Instead, a balanced approach that combines guidance, education, and parental involvement is more likely to yield resiliency and positive outcomes specific to their onlife world, and the negative challenges mentioned above.
Prohibiting the use of technology by youth based on a Nirvana Fallacy, or even creating legislation that prohibits the use of technology and social media until a certain age can hinder their personal growth, education, future prospects, and even place them in legal jeopardy when it comes to some of the legislation we are seeing signed into law in some countries.(6)(7) Again, our belief is that delaying the introduction of age-appropriate technology within households until a specific age exposes youth to heightened risks, considering their certain inevitable exposure to technology beyond the confines of their homes
While concerns regarding excessive use and potential risks are valid and something that we need to be alive to as parents and caregivers, a more nuanced approach that embraces technology’s benefits while promoting responsible, balanced, and age-appropriate use is more desirable in our opinion and experience. By providing guidance, fostering digital literacy, and encouraging a healthy balance, we can empower youth to harness the potential benefits of technology while mitigating its risks.
Let’s not fall into the trap of a Nirvana Fallacy, but instead, strive for a well-informed and balanced perspective on the use of technology that is age appropriate. We believe the key lies in adopting a “pave the way” digital literacy approach at the juncture of youth and technology that is parent lead. It’s not about “NO tech”, it’s all about “KNOW tech” when it comes to keeping our kiddos safer in today’s onlife world(8)
The use of technology by youth requires a balanced and well-informed perspective. While it is important to acknowledge the potential risks associated with uncontrolled and unsupervised technology use, completely prohibiting its use until a certain age is not a realistic or reasonable solution in our opinion.
Embracing technology with a responsible, age-appropriate approach that is parent lead offers numerous benefits for youth. It provides access to valuable educational resources, fosters social connections, and equips them with essential digital literacy skills for the future. By focusing on education, guidance, and promoting healthy habits, we can empower youth to navigate the onlife world in a safer and more responsible way.
Rather than falling into the trap of a Nirvana Fallacy, let’s strive for a nuanced approach that embraces the benefits of technology while mitigating its risks. It is not about prohibiting the use of technology until a certain age in today’s onlife world, rather it’s all about understanding and harnessing its potential to create a safer and more informed environment for youth that is balanced, age-appropriate, and parent lead. This is what we strive for here at the White Hatter in all our digital literacy and Internet safety programs.
Digital Food For Thought
References:
4/https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/a-transformational-approach-to-parenting-in-todays-onlife-world/
