Parenting Digital Natives: Cognitive, Emotional, and Social Developmental Challenges

Abstract

The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) such as Internet and Gadgets has expanded and are impacting digital natives’ development. Even though ICT has brought great benefits to current society, there are also indications that the manner in which children and adolescent use of ICT has undermined their development in some aspects. This paper reports on literature review on how ICT use in this digital era, has the potential to negatively impact the digital natives cognition, emotion, and social development. Education can be a means of helping the digital natives use technology in a positive way, minimizing its negative potential. Parents must be proactive in guiding and nurturing digital natives to use ICT wisely and to use technology in a way that their development is supported and not seriously disturbed by digital devices.