The technology revolution continues to thrive in America. Advances in technology are at a record pace. Services, products, and information are more avaible than ever before. Technology is at the heart of change for adolescents. These advances are creating dangers of: increase in addiction, poor impulse control, increased secretive behaviors, poorer academic and work performance, and decreasing the quality of relationships.Addiction and poor impulse control is increasing in adolescents. The new diagnosic and statistical manual for psychology is adding new psychtriac diagnosises for addiction in areas of technology. Addiction is created when there are impairments in one's life in legal, work, family, relationships,medical and academic areas.The need to be wanted and liked is the motivation for youths to act in self-destructive acts . Due to the brain not being fully matured until the age of 24-25 years for individuals, the potential for poor impulsive controls and decisons increase. The book, Driven to Destraction by Ratey and Hallowell, is a book that highlights the difficulties that adolescents face and the increase in ADHD. Parents must monitor online activities and possible impairments in their child's life from a legal, work, famly,relationship,medical, and academic areas. Technology has produced more secretive behaviors in adolescents. There has been a increase of "mask wearing" in this age group. Mask wearing is presented in many ways and some examples are :the good girl, the macot, the lost child, and the perfect child. Masks are worn when addiction is present. Technology allows someone to be anyone they want to be and so are potential predators. Individuals who have grown up in a home that has addiction present are even further at risk. Parents need to talk to children, their friends and their parents, teachers, and anyone who has contact with their child in order to protect adolescents. Work performance and academic performance have decreased due to technology. Individuals are looking for short cuts and ways to be the best at work or school. There is enoromous levels of peer pressure and adolescents have a high level of external locus of control in their lives. There has been increase in plagerism, oppositional defiant diagnois, and punitive measures. It is important that parents are positive role models for their children. Parents need to model the behavior that they want in the children. Parents need to use positive reinforcement when their child acts in a mature manor . Relationships are suffering due to technology. The need to have open communication without technology present is needed for a healhy relationship. Healthy relationships are based on communication. Iphones, computers, i-pads all destract from the message of the messenger. The reciever must be able to responsd to requests attentively or this will impact the quality of relationships. Technology is advancing faster than ever. Adolescents are the target population for these advances. Technology advances are not always positive. It is important for parents to understand the advances and the dangers that are present. Counseling is an excellent intervention that can change conflict in families and help them overcome difficulites.
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