Educate in the use of new technologies: why it is necessary

Every few centuries, humanity takes a giant step in its cultural development based on the discovery and proliferation of a new revolutionary resource. It happened with fire, it happened in the industrial revolution, and now it's happening with what, for the moment, we call technological revolution.

And it is a fact that new technologies are causing a paradigm shift in our society. Being able to keep contact channels open indefinitely through social networks or being one click away from the latest news anywhere in the world, involves cultural and commercial changes that, whether we like it or not, they are there. And like all great changes, this involves a gradual process of adaptation and learning, especially in the case of the younger generations, highly exposed to these resources.

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Why educate in the use of new technologies?

We must maximize the advantages that these resources offer our society, while preventing as much as possible the risks associated with them. In this sense, there is an increasingly deep-rooted awareness of the importance of

train the new generations who have known the world with all this technology that are growing up in full technological revolution.

The objective is that they know how to make good use of these new resources. They may technically move like a fish to water in their use as users, but that does not mean that they are able to integrate them into their life in a healthy way.

And it is that a bad conception of social networks is not necessary to fall into any of its dangers, sometimes a spontaneous and natural use is enough guided by the principle of immediate gratification offered by the Internet connection and access to all kinds of content and interactions virtual. That is why it is vital to guide and train people in its proper use.

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The danger of technology addiction

One of the most prominent dangers is that these new technologies are potentially addictive. Video games, applications, social networks or simple navigation imply some intrinsic mechanisms that can lead us to suffer from addiction by obtaining an immediate reward (or, rather, reinforcer).

Let's give an example. When I carry out the behavior of writing a message via chat, the response message obtained works as a reinforcement or prize. Reinforcements are defined as those consequences of a behavior that increase the probability of repeating it in the future. Under this framework, it is easy to understand that the more I write and the more people answer me… the more likely I am to write again. If you've become familiar with any instant messaging application, you'll be beginning to understand the magnitude of this risk.

Video games base their entire operation on this mechanism.. I carry out the behavior of playing and, eventually, the video game itself gives me a reinforcement, such as an achievement, a skill, unlocking a new level... every time As soon as we activate one of these reinforcers, our gambling behavior is perpetuated more and more and, if we pay attention, we will notice how the game initially offers us the prizes by making the tasks easier but, as we progress in the game, we will obtain them more time and after performing feats that involve greater effort or ability.

This is due to the fact that to provoke a behavior the reinforcements must be constant, while to maintain it, these reinforcements must be administered intermittently. Thus, returning to the chat, when we have already written forty times to the same person, and suddenly we answer... not only will it have reinforced that we write, but it will have reinforced that we do it forty times.

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Smartphones and the Internet: the kingdom of immediacy

Like any addiction it is not enough to know the possible long-term negative consequences, since the psychology of behavior tells us that, in general, an immediate reinforcer has more effect on our behavior than a deferred punishment. In other words, we tend to prefer today's bread despite tomorrow's hunger.

Thus, we must offer concrete guidelines and alternatives of conduct, also duly reinforced, if we want to avoid this discomfort that already affects around 20% of young people.

However, while we get down to this prevention work, it is easy for many of us to already be in the grip of new technologies, and therefore if we suffer from symptoms such as irritability or anxiety when not having the Smartphone or another device, if our academic or work life is being affected or if we detect a lack of self-control regarding to the use of new technologies, perhaps it is time to reveal ourselves to our reinforcers and seek the guidance of some specialist.

Because of technology, reinforcers are everywhere, and it is better that we choose them... and not the other way around.