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Research shows that our brains are changeable, over our entire lifetime. Without going into the neurological explanations, we can make the leap to the implications of this fact and safely assume that what we do, has an effect on our brains. And, in turn, what we do A LOT, can have a profound effect on our brains.

So when you compare a child that grows up with no exposure to the Internet to a child who grows up using the Internet 4-5 hours per day over a period of several years, chances are you are going to find differences. Whether the differences can be evaluated as being good or bad is another matter, but first, it is important that parents and educators and policy makers understand that repetitive exposure to activities, types of content, etc. will make an impact. What that impact may be, we don’t yet know since we are still so early in the Internet era and it changes so quickly. Just a few years ago, you could not have safely assumed that almost anyone you met has a Facebook account and you would not have thought that so much of our social interactions would shift to the Facebook platform, for example.

The digital revolution we are undergoing is causing our brains to change faster than was ever imagined and our children are the most susceptible to this. Scientists are conducting studies to begin to better understand what the effect is and to better evaluate it. No doubt, they will find benefits and problems. In a one study, it was found that the brains of people who regularly use the Internet showed twice as much signaling in brain regions responsible for decision making and complex reasoning than those with little Internet exposure. But in addition, they found that the neural circuits that control traditional learning methods — those that help to engage memory in the learning process, and address tasks in a linear method, one step  at a time — are neglected and gradually disappear.

So all those fights you are having with your children about doing homework in a quiet setting and developing the same study skills you developed at their age? The Internet’s impact on their young brain could be the reason they seem a lot more rebellious. As hip and cool as we want to think we are, the Internet has exploded the generation gap with today’s kids into an abyss.

Should You Be Concerned?

I’d say yes. That does not mean panic. And that does not mean change is bad. Man has been through many technology revolutions and survived them well in tact. I do think there is something qualitatively different about the digital revolution and much more to be concerned about. Exposure to pornography, gambling, the stress cause by being wired 24/7, the shift in the way people interact and many other elements that have been introduced to our lives and our childrens’ lives may have very detrimental effects some of which that can be seen already.

What to Do Now?

Now? Be aware of what your children do online. Recognize that it is your responsibility to limit the amount of time they spend on the Internet and to know what they are doing. Too much of anything, is not good. Balance should always be a part of their lives.

Consider installing a web filter to easily control their time and activities online.