The Digital World And Face-To-Face Emotions

In a world that is vastly dominated by technology, what are the impacts? Often, people look at the benefits of technology, which are numerous, but we do not always consider the problems and costs associated with its daily use. A recent UCLA study found one such problem with kids who interact through technology: they struggle to read nonverbal cues and emotions and have weaker face-to-face social skills. Specifically, they could not read emotions as well.

The study focused on two groups of sixth graders. One group of 51 students had no technology (smartphone, television, or digital screen) for five days while the second group of 54 students continued to spend hours each day looking at their electronic devices. In fact, the second group spent an average of four and a half hours a day texting, watching television, playing video games, or using the internet. (Some studies show that students spend even higher amounts of time on electronic devices.)