Investigation of Evils Associated with Technology-Use by Children: A Case of Greater Accra-Tema Region, Ghana (Published)
Research to investigate evils associated with technology-use by children and the need for parental guidance. Technology is a versatile tool loaded with many activities for entertainment and simultaneously, learning for development. Most of these activities are adult materials and children are too young to be exposed to these matured items without the guidance of parents. Survey design methodology was used to collect primary data from the Greater Accra-Tema Region, Ghana and analysed into frequencies for interpretation. The conclusive statistics are: i. 97% of respondents supported children’s need for technology-use and with only 3% not in favour. ii. 92% of respondents supported there are evils with technology-use by children with only 8% against. iii. 85% of respondents do have ideas on how to protect children from viewing evil sites, whilst 15% are ignorant. Therefore, the study concluded that technology is a versatile tool which should be introduced to children, but must be controlled and monitored when in use, as the tendency to veer into watching adult programmes is possible. Finally, to address the protection of children from the evils of technology-use, two important points for parents, caregivers and instructors are: i. search for children’s sites, including National Geographic Kids, PBS Kids, Coco Melon, Byjus.com, Children learning and Kid’s health and make them available for the younger generation.ii. use sites with parental controls and are Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) compliant.
Keywords: Infant, Newborn, Vulnerability, and technology, evils, middle childhood, pre-schooler, teen/adolescent, toddler