Today’s multitasking teens
1 On more than one occasion, I entered my 14-year-old
son’s room to see if he was doing his homework, only to find
him surrounded by gadgets. He’s listening to his iPod, working
4 on his computer, texting on his phone, chatting with friends on
his Facebook page, and using Skype with another friend.
Somewhere among the gadgets is his homework.
7 As a parent, I wonder how much is done when he is
working on so many different things, but this is the new state of
normal for today’s teens. They’re professional media users,
10 switching frequently back and forth among cell phones, iPods,
television, video games, and computers.
On average, young people today spend more than
13 seven hours a day with some kind of technology or media,
according to research. This is up from six-plus hours ∈2005.
Besides, 58% of teens aged 13 through 18 say that they
16 multitask “most of the time” with at least one type of media —
and they’re generally doing it while working on their
homework.
19 The effect of multitasking on adolescent cognitive
brain development is still a mystery because research is
inconclusive. But, like any parent, I wonder what all this
22 technological multitasking is doing to my own son’s brain,
especially since all kids are different. Some students can
multitask and do homework successfully, while others need
25 quiet and fewer technological interruptions. Some may be able
to multitask while doing language or arts homework, while
others know they need to “unplug” when it comes to math or
28 physics homework. Because teen brains are still developing —
and will continue to develop until age 25 — I feel sure that all
this multitasking must make a difference.
Internet: <www.schoolfamily.com> (adapted).
“Besides” (R.15) indicates that the information that follows
