Subject : SOCSCI 1 Name of the Student: ALEMANIA, GIMSON S.

Date Submitted : December 3, 2013

The Efficient Use of Information and Communication Technology for Children

INTRODUCTION In our todays time, the use of Information and communication technology (ICT) has effectively changed our life. Our world moves fast and changed rapidly into digital media and information. In this paper, a related literature review was showed the efficient use of ICT for children and how the ICT can improve and support children's intellectual growth and development. The purpose of study is to bring up the findings and important thoughts and philosophies to understand not only the beneficial effect of ICT for children but also to be aware of the negative impact of ICT that can be harmful and destructive for young adults. Apparently children today have their own ways to explore and use ICT, to play in computer games, to communicate other people, post pictures to social networking sites and to get countless information on the internet. Most young adults are exploring this technology and the risk to expose them in pornography and website bullying is possible. The objectives of the research is to examine and analyze the importance of studying social structure, socialization and personality, deviant behavior, social stratification and social change connected to identify the effective way of providing and allowing our children to use ICT.

RESEARCH FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS The Significance of Studying Social Structure about the Efficient Use of ICT for Children Social Structure defines as a social organization based on established patterns of social interaction between different relationships (such as those between parents and children, teachers and students, employers and employees), regulated through accepted norms and shared values.1

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SOCSCI1 Foundations of Behavioral Science University of the Philippines Open University Second Term AY 2013-2014

Based on the definition given, social structure is about social interaction between two or more people, and about being who we are as a part of a society. Every individual shows their own status and role as being part of such relationship. The parents have an obligation to guide their children in many ways as well as to how their children will use ICT effectively, same with the teachers, they also have their own responsibility to explain the efficient use of ICT to their students and there are roles being set to a students or children to obey their parents and listen well to their teachers. But once the students mostly those young adults, sit on their computers and browse their internet, there is another world that they will meet another people, another group of people and be part of the so called online community. We must observe our children as parents or teachers and it should be an obligation to explain and inform the young individual about their restriction and rules on surfing the net. According to G. Valentine and Dr. J. Marsh pupils, parents and teachers reported that using ICT raised pupils confidence and had motivational effects. ICT was motivational because it contributed both to making school work more enjoyable and also to pupils perception of achievement. Specifically, ICT was regarded as making homework less boring because children regarded using computers as cool, interactive and multimodal texts were more interesting than books, ICT save time (e.g. it is easier to write and revise documents on a computer than by hand) and enhanced the presentation of childrens work, the internet was a good source of information (range and depth) and educational materials (such as revision websites); ICT enabled multi-tasking and was perceived by children to improve grades (just under 50% of children thought that using computer improved their marks). 2 The Effect of ICT in Childrens Socialization and Personality Utilization of information and communication technologies (ICT) raises questions from the aspect of socialization and its impact on children development which is still not explored enough. Parents are often wondering how to pose themselves towards the children's utilization of computer and Internet, since they consider themselves as not competent enough. However, the educative role of parents can't stop just because children are better at utilization of computers. Parents are obliged to set the rules for the usage of computers, Internet and game consoles of their children, with a demand to obey that rules, because the judgment capabilities and maturity of children are well below the children's competences of ICT utilization. Parents are responsible for the behaviour of children while using the computer or the Internet, just as they are responsible for their behaviour at school, on the street or somewhere else.3 Information and Communication technology today use as one of the tools and resources to improve and expound childrens advance learning and innovative growth, it is also todays trend

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SOCSCI1 Foundations of Behavioral Science University of the Philippines Open University Second Term AY 2013-2014

in terms of interactions, communications and socialization. ICT change our life fast, aside from computers many other devices our now accessible to explore the new information and communication technology today, such as mobile devices, iPhone, iPod and tablets where internet, streaming media and more can be used by young adults and children anytime anywhere. These technologies affecting the young children on how they interact with the world and to other people, the online interaction and socialization thru social networking sites can change how our children socialize to others and how our children can develop a new personality. Socialization occurs through human interaction to family, teachers, friends and also the Internet. Socialization links different people and cultures to one another, it helps us to gain personal identity and learn what other people in the surrounding culture believe and how they anticipate one to act. People thinks that social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook are harmful and risky, a door open to the virtual world that lets outsiders into homes, but the advantages of online socialization may far outweigh the possibilities. SNS sites provide us the opportunities to develop social and communication skills and to connect cultural and traditional divides. Anyone can learn a lot by socializing online because of the educational experience of meeting people from different cultures and walks of life. Although Facebook, Twitter and MySpace are probably the most well-known social networking groups, there are new websites going up regularly that are dedicated to allow people be connected to interact via the Internet. Through online socializing, it gives us the opportunities to make new friends, meet old friends and do business connections. In todays socialization its makes people as well as our young adults to find friends online, exchange news and get updated on friends and families. You can find and interact with those who share your interest. Because you are connecting digitally instead of attending meetings physically, you have the opportunities to join many groups and communities. You can converge with your friends anytime anywhere, as long as you have an Internet connection and whenever you find them online. Through online socialization, everyone as well as our children can get a sense of what is going on in the world just by watching trending issues from many of these sites. This has directed to the improvement of a rapid news cycle as millions of social networking modernizes news and information. However despite of those beneficial effects of ICT to young adults, it is recommended that we provide our children proper information and knowledge in terms of efficient use in todays technology and digital media as valuable tools intended for enhancement at innovative growth development.

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SOCSCI1 Foundations of Behavioral Science University of the Philippines Open University Second Term AY 2013-2014

Deviant Behaviour and Social Control in ICT for Children The impact of the Internet on the pornography industry alone is staggering. Quinn and Forsyth (2005, p. 192) cite that in a given year, Internet pornography is a $3 billion industry, with about 4.5 million Web sites containing pornographic content, encompassing 25% of total search engine requests, and with more than 75 million people accessing pornographic sites. A recent experiment yielded the conclusion that many casual Web surfers are easily tempted by hardcore pornography. Specifically, Demetriou and Silke (2003) developed a dummy Web site which was advertised on other sites as having free software downloads. The goal was to see how many visitors tried to access the illegal or deviant materials linked on the Web site (which did not work). In an 88- day period, more than half of the Web sites visitors (457 of the 803) tried to access the hardcore pornographic images, although they originally entered the Web site for other reasons.4 There are many people who still dont realize how dangerous social networks can be when it comes to sexual issues thats affects our youth in their physical and psychological behaviour. Use of social networks can expose anyone to harassment or strange contact from others. Unless parents are diligent to monitor and assess the Internet content to which their families are exposed, children could be exposed to pornography or other inappropriate content. Online bullying is everywhere and the effects on our children can be serious. Social networks can also have a negative impact on our childrens education. Our kids are having internet, they get online during their free time instead of doing homework, spending all of their time on social networks can lead to a lack of motivation. Internet pornographic materials pollute children minds, giving them the mentality that sex is just a game. Young adults who have experienced porn might imitate the doings in the videos with their partner or even friends. Proper sexual education is still needed for the children. Pornography harms society in several ways. We, as a society, are becoming insensitive to what is proper due to the various forms of media that assault our minds. Because of inconsiderate manner, we are setting our society up to be malicious to someone who do not look or act proper way. It also increases crime rates where the pornography prevails. We are training our children to behave and think in ways that are only going to assist in the decline of our societys morals. Because online socialization is trending in the Digital era, whether or not social networking is destructive or harmful to our children, it is a good idea to make sure that you know what you are getting into, understand the issues about security and privacy, it is better to err on the side of caution and information. Be responsible enough to guide our children for their own safety and integrity and never join something just because it is trendy or all your friends are doing it.

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SOCSCI1 Foundations of Behavioral Science University of the Philippines Open University Second Term AY 2013-2014

INSIGHTS Information and Communication Technology (ICT) affect our children and young adults in todays innovative world. Our parents and adult members of the society must consider the possible consequences of todays children behaviors on the computer and the internet. The purpose of ICT to our youth is for their upbringing and education, as well as to let our children engage themselves and enjoy the technology we have today, and we as parents let us motivate our children in a way how they should act thoughtful, respectful and responsible, so that our young individual outcome will be successful and well-mannered behaviour. For that reasons this research confirmed that every member of the society, regardless of classes, statuses and races have their own role and responsibility to use ICT efficiently. But as an elder member of the society, (parents, teachers, state leaders, church leaders and more) must be matured enough to do something to make our innocent children be safe and protected to whatever harmful impact that the ICT could bring.

REFERENCES
1

BusinessDictionary (nd). Social Structure Definition., file retrieved from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/social-structure.html#ixzz2m7BRAoSf

2

Prof. Gill Valentine, Dr. Jackie Marsh and Prof. Charles Pattie (2005). University of Leeds: Children and Young Peoples Home Use of ICT for Educational Purposes: The Impact of Attainment at Key Stages 1-4., file retrieved from
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130401151715/https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingD ownload/RR672.pdf
3

Kurelovic, E.K. (2012). Upbringing children for responsible utilization of information and communication technologies., file retrieved from http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=6240826&url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplo re.ieee.org%2Fiel5%2F6231996%2F6240598%2F06240826.pdf%3Farnumber%3D6240826
4

Hope Smiley McDonald, Nicole Horstmann, Kevin J. Strom and Mark W. Pope (Nov. 2009). Institute for Homeland Security Solutions: The Impact of the Internet on Deviant Behavior and Deviant Communities. File retrieved from http://sites.duke.edu/ihss/files/2011/12/IRW-Literature-Reviews-Deviance-and-the-Internet.pdf

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