The Psychology of Technology: Understanding the Always- On Generation

Dr. Erica Pelavin and Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet discuss My Digital Tat2. The company, started in 2012, promotes kindness, respect, and ethics online. My Digital Tat2 is focused on helping children learn the power and challenge of living in a technologically advanced world while still teaching caution and awareness when it comes to cyberbullying and self-esteem issues.
Dr. Pelavin discusses the psychology of technology when she describes a child’s brain development, “code switching,” and ethical decisions that can be made while in the online world. Mostokowitz-Sweet examines the difficulties that come with an online stage, even though the psychology behind growing up has not changed.
Dr. Pelavin then talks about the issue that children have regarding their frontal lobe. The frontal lobe does not fully develop until the late 20’s, which makes it difficult for children to make ethical decisions while online. Many experience “code switch”, which is changing the way one behaves according to which site they are on.
Gloria discusses the difficulties that children face these days. She says that the psychology behind it has not changed, the stage is just simply bigger due to social media. Brains are hardwired to seek information and we develop a fear of missing out if we cannot stay connected all the time.