Life is simple back then when I was a child in the 70’s. Transistor radio or playing folk games are the source of entertainment for kids of modest income families during that time. Cellphones, i-pods, laptop computers and the  likes are never heard on those days. It’s never been the same again ‘til the 90’s decade and the new millennium approached.

            Today, even in a remote village on a faraway island in the country, burst of technology can be felt. Almost anybody owns a cellphone. According to a national survey last two years,there are more cellphone gadgets being used than the entire  Philippine population of 2014. Friends, relatives, business partners or even lovers can connect via SMS or in the seconds. Children age 5 and above know the cellphone as well as the computer so well. They use it whether to play or research assignments/ projects in school. These gadgets really help in their school in a such a short time.

            However, there’s alarming effect when these gadgets are improperly or overly used. During classes, some students can’t concentrate on their lessons simply because they’re too busy texting, playing cellphone games or simply listening to downloaded music. It’s a fact that some students resort to cutting classes so they can go to a nearest internet cafe’. Some students show incorrect grammar when they are writing compositions. This is due to the effect of misspelled words on the SMS. It’s a known fad among teenagers known as “JEJEMON”. Because of this, some students unconsciously retain in their minds the misspelled words and eventually use it in writing sentences, paragraph or compositions.

            These new gadgets change the lifestyle of people specially of students a lot. It can’t also be denied that cellphone and computers are also used by some students as a medium for cyber bullying. In the United States, there are some suicide reports among teenagers due to cyber bullying. Not to spare is the “SEX” in the internet. There are so many sex scandals, nude photos, adult sex movies and sex for sale which also involves minor.

            Technology particularly is now the way of the world and of the future. But people spcially parents should realized that these new gadgets must only be used for educational, social and for wholesome purposes. Thre must be limitations so that children will develop into human beings who are equipped with sound moral,intellectual, and reasonable in their upbringing.

By: MRS. JUDITH E.TANAEL | MT I | ARSENAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | LIMAY.BATAAN