Internet use during childhood and the ecological techno-subsystem

Abstract

Research findings suggest both positive and negative developmental consequences of Internet use during childhood (e.g., playing video games have been associated with enhanced visual skills as well as increased aggression). Several studies have concluded that environmental factors mediate the developmental impact of childhood online behaviour. From an ecological perspective, we propose the techno-subsystem, a dimension of the microsystem (i.e., immediate environments). The techno-subsystem includes child interaction with both living (e.g., peers) and nonliving (e.g., hardware) elements of communication, information, and recreation technologies in direct environments. By emphasizing the role of technology in child development, the ecological techno-subsystem encourages holistic exploration of the developmental consequences of Internet use (and future technological advances) during childhood. L’usage d’Internet chez les enfants et le sous-système Techno écologique Résumé : Les résultats de recherche semblent indiquer que l’usage d’Internet chez les enfants aurait des conséquences développementales qui soit à la fois positives et négatives (ex. : l’usage des jeux vidéo auraient été associés à un accroissement des habileté visuelles ainsi qu’à un accroissement de l’agressivité). Plusieurs études ont aussi conclue que l’impact du comportement des enfants quand il sont en ligne sur leur développement serait affecté par des facteurs environnementaux. Dans une perspective écologique, nous proposons le sous-système Techno, une dimension du microsystème (ex :. les environnements immédiats). Le sous-système Techno comprend l’interaction de l’enfant avec des éléments vivants (e. : les paires) et non vivants (ex; les ordinateurs) de communication, d’information et de technologie de jeux dans des environnements directes.

Informal Use of Information and Communication Technology: Adjunct to Traditional Face-to-Face Social Work Practice

“…ESF has been adapted to keep pace with ICT's expanding influence. A techno-subsystem has been proposed as a component of the individual-level microsystem (Johnson 2010; Johnson and Puplampu 2008). Others have added ICTs as an encompassing ring (Martin 2013;Martin and Alaggia 2013;Martin and Stuart 2008).…”

“I cannot live without my [tablet]”: Children's experiences of using tablet technology within the home

“…Specifically, at a microsystem level, the theory explores the relationships between a child and a specific setting where they "engage in particular activities", such as their home (Bronfenbrenner, 1977, p514). In response to the Internet revolution, an additional dimension to the microsystem has been proposed -the ecological technosubsystem (Johnson & Puplampu, 2008). This subsystem focuses on the interaction between a child and different technologies within their environment (Johnson, 2010) which permits consideration of how technologies are being used within different contexts (Edwards, Henderson, Gronn, Scott, & Mirkhil, 2017).…”

Supportive communication with parents moderates the negative effects of electronic media use on life satisfaction during adolescence

“…EM use can positively influence social aspects of adolescent lives such as easiness to communicate with peers and number of friends (Valkenburg and Peter 2009;Kuntsche et al 2009), as well as have a positive impact on spatial skills (Uttal et al 2013), cognitive development, like reading skills (Johnson 2010) and even contribute to the development of resilience (Sweetser and Wyeth 2005). There is also strong evidence, however, that EM use may be related to a variety of problem behaviors in adolescence, such as internet addiction (Adiele and Olatokun 2014), shortened sleep duration, poorer diet quality, lower physical activity levels, weight gain (Jackson et al 2011;Chahal et al 2013), poor school performance (Mößle et al 2010), loneliness (Deniz 2010), depression and social anxiety symptoms (Becker et al 2013), and increased likelihood of physical complaints (Torsheim et al 2010).…”