The article titled “The Effectiveness of YouTube as an Online Learning Media” supports the argument that media is helpful to children, using the example of one of the famous media platforms, YouTube, for children. The article highlights the effectiveness of media programs in managing children’s aggression during their childhood, which can be maintained through YouTube videos to foster the well-being of young children. The article sheds light on how media can be used to convey essential knowledge that can help children deal with childhood aggression. The authors emphasize that while media has several risks to both children and adults, it can also play a positive and significant role in the development of children during their early years of growth when used appropriately (Rahmatika et al., 2021).
Furthermore, the article selected to refute the argument that media is helpful to children is titled “Children’s Screen and Problematic Media Use in the United States Before and During the COVID‐19 Pandemic”, as the research found a significant increase in problematic screen use by children that has affected them and their parents during the pandemic. The article refutes the notion that media in any form is broadly beneficial to children of any age, especially for the age group of 2 to 13 years old. The authors highlight the negative consequences of reduced physical activity, increased screen time, and potential mental issues like aggression and depression (Eales et al., 2021). This suggests that reliance on media as a form of entertainment for children may lead to a negative impact on children’s physical and mental health, which outweighs any potential benefits of media.
In my opinion, children should not have direct access to any media platform until their parents guide them. Building on the article titled “Children’s Screen and Problematic Media Use in the United States Before and During the COVID‐19 Pandemic,” I agree with the authors that increased media usage is problematic for children who are already at a developmental age. Moreover, I have realized that media has displaced various other beneficial activities like book reading, outdoor playtime, and family interactions, emphasising the idea that media is not equal to activities crucial for a child’s development.
References
Eales, L., Gillespie, S., Alstat, R. A., Ferguson, G. M., & Carlson, S. M. (2021). Children’s screen and problematic media use in the United States before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Child Development, 92(5), e866–e882.
Rahmatika, R., Yusuf, M., & Agung, L. (2021). The effectiveness of YouTube as an online learning media. Journal of Education Technology, 5(1), 152–158.
Cite This Work
To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below:
