The Disappearance of the Childhood
is one of the most controversial topics within our society. Today, I would like to discuss wether the internet has a positive or negative influence on the childhood and if it has affected its development into adulthood.
Is a child still regarded as a child? Do children still have manners or are they slowly disintegrating within our community? Is the internet helping them to develop intellectually or are traditional means of education such as books more effective? How are they exposed to inappropriate information and does it effect their social behavior and interactions? With the widespread use of the internet, these are questions that are crucial within our society and thus, they should be discussed, debated and not ignored.
Looking back through history, it is true that the concept of the chid did not exist. Children lived in the same sphere as adults and were exposed to the same secrets. This is demonstrated in the famous paintings by Bruegel, which shows a clear disinterest in such age groups. During the Renaissance period, there was an educational reform which created the concept its primitive concept. Thus, artists ceased painting children as miniature adults.
As the notion of childhood developed, society believed that they should not be exposed to certain "taboos" and "secrets" such as sex, violence and death. However, it was really after the industrial revolution that the concept became an immanent part of society.
The idea of the childhood continues to develop nowadays. According to Postman, TV broke the difference between a child and an adult. Many people believe this to be a serious problem as 'certain inappropriate' topics are now easily exposed to young individuals. Moreover, parents no longer have control over their child's exposure over 'secret' material such as pornography. The idea of the Childhood is dying out because children are becoming more and more like adults. Without secrets, there is no childhood. In opposition to books, which develop the imagination, the TV does not develop any skills because of its linearity.
Some idealists, may argue that parents and schools should simply not expose their 'loved ones' to the internet or the TV. However, one has to be realistic and understand the world in which we live. We are constantly exposed to the rapid growth of technology and therefore it is impossible ignore such mediums. This is a clear evolution of in society which we cannot surpass . The danger we are experiencing lies in the fact that many of us are not aware of this phenomenon.
The result of the technological developments, has been drastic in the development of the child. Although there has been some positive aspects, I believe the results to be more negative. Many scholars and psychologists have come to the empirical conclusion that aggression, fear, desensitization, low self esteem and anti social behavior is a result of the exposure to inappropriate information created by these means. I believe that our duty as a society is to bring back the child within the child in order to preserve its meaningful existence.
Is a child still regarded as a child? Do children still have manners or are they slowly disintegrating within our community? Is the internet helping them to develop intellectually or are traditional means of education such as books more effective? How are they exposed to inappropriate information and does it effect their social behavior and interactions? With the widespread use of the internet, these are questions that are crucial within our society and thus, they should be discussed, debated and not ignored.
Looking back through history, it is true that the concept of the chid did not exist. Children lived in the same sphere as adults and were exposed to the same secrets. This is demonstrated in the famous paintings by Bruegel, which shows a clear disinterest in such age groups. During the Renaissance period, there was an educational reform which created the concept its primitive concept. Thus, artists ceased painting children as miniature adults.
As the notion of childhood developed, society believed that they should not be exposed to certain "taboos" and "secrets" such as sex, violence and death. However, it was really after the industrial revolution that the concept became an immanent part of society.
The idea of the childhood continues to develop nowadays. According to Postman, TV broke the difference between a child and an adult. Many people believe this to be a serious problem as 'certain inappropriate' topics are now easily exposed to young individuals. Moreover, parents no longer have control over their child's exposure over 'secret' material such as pornography. The idea of the Childhood is dying out because children are becoming more and more like adults. Without secrets, there is no childhood. In opposition to books, which develop the imagination, the TV does not develop any skills because of its linearity.
Some idealists, may argue that parents and schools should simply not expose their 'loved ones' to the internet or the TV. However, one has to be realistic and understand the world in which we live. We are constantly exposed to the rapid growth of technology and therefore it is impossible ignore such mediums. This is a clear evolution of in society which we cannot surpass . The danger we are experiencing lies in the fact that many of us are not aware of this phenomenon.
The result of the technological developments, has been drastic in the development of the child. Although there has been some positive aspects, I believe the results to be more negative. Many scholars and psychologists have come to the empirical conclusion that aggression, fear, desensitization, low self esteem and anti social behavior is a result of the exposure to inappropriate information created by these means. I believe that our duty as a society is to bring back the child within the child in order to preserve its meaningful existence.
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