Vulnerable Children in a Digital Age

companion primer

VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN A DIGITAL AGE Applied Research for Vulnerable Children + Families

Everyday technology use is a pervasive phenomenon with potential for both great good and tremendous harm. Perhaps the most susceptible to these risks are those most vulnerable in general: children who have experienced early childhood adversity, especially those separated from parental care.

Although the data about technology use is somewhat limited, we know that children without the protection and guidance of a loving, permanent caregiver are at greater risk for a whole host of life challenges.

Why it matters for vulnerable children A history of childhood adversity places OVC at a greater risk for harm during technology misuse.

Why it matters for caregivers Caregivers can use best practices in appropriate technology use to enrich a child’s home, social, and educational environments.

Why it makes a difference Technology is constantly adapting and so must we. These advancements provide an opportunity for both OVC and caregivers to strike a healthy balance.

How Adversity Impacts Development For orphaned and vulnerable children who don’t have protection or nurture from a stable primary caregiver, the risk of experiencing substantial early childhood adversity is significant.

If this adversity is repeated, the brain and body can produce an instant stress response. This is a child’s way of instinctively protecting themselves from potential harm. However, when this continues to happen, the stress response transitions from protective to potent. This potent loop of constant stress can lead to harmful, toxic stress levels.

There are three types of stress:

Positive response: Vital to healthy development, and characterized by temporary elevations in heart rate and

POSITIVE

hormone release. Positive stress may result from the first day of school or riding a bicycle for the first time.

Tolerable response: May result from a more severe challenge or loss, such as the death of a loved one or car accident. The stress response is temporary and is

TOLERABLE

buffered by healthy, nurturing adult relationships that help the child to cope.

Toxic stress: Develops when a child experiences intense, frequent, and/or prolonged adversity without

TOXIC

the love, nurture, and support of a healthy, long-term care-giving relationship. Causes of toxic stress can vary from extreme poverty and discrimination to illness and abuse.23

Adapted from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child

Where does this toxic stress come from?

ACE’s, or Adverse Childhood Experiences, are some examples of what childhood adversity can look like. A history of ACE’s can have negative effects on physical, cognitive, and behavioral health. All orphaned and vulnerable children are at risk for multiple ACE’s, and simply being separated from parents and family is an adverse childhood experience itself. Other types of ACE’s fall under these categories:

Household Dysfunction

Abuse

Neglect

Physical

Physical

Mental Illness

Incarcerated Relative

Emotional

Emotional

Mother Treated Violently

Substance Abuse

Sexual

Divorce Adapted from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child

What many parents and caregivers of vulnerable children do not know, however, is the impact unregulated technology use - combined with early childhood adversity - can have on their child’s brain development.

“Caregivers hold a key to influence how their children expect, perceive, and feel about technology.�

The Brain's Response to Technology Technology influences a developing, already susceptible mind and works by simultaneously reinforcing and neglecting specific neural communication channels, called “pathways�. These pathways direct how a person thinks and acts. When a pathway is reinforced by repeated behavior and toxic stress, it becomes easier to repeat that behavior essentially, it creates a habit. Technology re-programs the mind, making children more at risk to addiction, challenges with adjustments and transitions, and trouble during social interactions.

The toxic stress from childhood adversity, combined with unregulated technology use, does not prepare a child to develop into a well functioning adult.

EARLY ADVERSITY

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO MISUSING TECHNOLOGY

BRAIN REWIRING

TECHNOLOGY MISUSE

Brain rewiring from early childhood adversity is the first step in the Adversity-Technology Feedback Loop theory (listed here). The fact that the brain is already in a state of rewiring because of ACE’s puts a child at risk to misuse technology. Some examples of this might look like using social media to feel good, addictive-like behaviors with a device, or difficulty falling asleep at night. Once a child is actively misusing technology (Technology misuse phase), their brain rewiring grows even more complicated and irregular. This cycle can endure on a continuous loop that makes it harder for a child to break out of over time .

However, it is here that a caregiver can intervene with positive support, tools, and guidance.

Where Does Technology Misuse Show up?

Attachment Attachment is essentially a child’s trust that his or her needs will be met by an adult who will protect and nurture them. When they don’t have a consistent caregiver, they cannot develop this bond. Children and adolescents who have unhealthy attachment may use technology, particularly social media, to “connect” with others.

Emotional Regulation Emotional regulation is the ability to tolerate intense emotions and manage them in ways that are healthy and socially appropriate. Instead of internally processing feelings, children may use technology to distract themselves from their true emotions.

Impulsivity and Inattention Impulse control is the ability to resist urges and inattention is the inability to keep focus. When children struggle to pay attention, they are more likely to get bored. While bored, they may seek stimulation from digital technology that trains our brains to have short attention spans.

Anxiety and Depression Anxiety and Depression are mood disorders that are critical mental health concerns. Children who experience this may feel stress from social media, seek approval through online judgement, or search for their social identity through technology.

Aggresion Aggression can look like physical altercations, verbal threats, and forcefulness about one’s own desires. Aggressive media may be more appealing to children who are prone to aggression because this type of content reinforces and normalizes their aggressive feelings and behaviors.

Social Impairment Social impairments can be minor, such as shyness around new people, or serious, like feelings of panic and fear when not alone. Social media has the power to publicly broadcast a private misunderstanding between friends. This leads to shame, isolation, and even more social withdrawal.

Poor Sleep Sleep related concerns are the most common consequence of childhood stress and trauma. Children may schedule their sleep around technology, or sleep less due to unregulated use at night.

Risky Sexual Behavior Adolescents who have experienced physical or sexual abuse are particularly vulnerable to risky sexual behavior online. Technology misuse and risky sexual behavior are closely related, particularly for explicit text messages and pornography. This can lead to more permissive sexual attitudes, greater experience with casual sex, more sexual agrression, or more sexual partners.

SET THE TONE

TALK ABOUT TECH USE

Monitor how often you use technology, ask children closest to your for feedback, and then adjust as you learn.

Discuss new media restrictions as learning opportunities, allowing a child new independence as they grow.

MAKE A PLAN

ESTABLISH BOUNDARIES

Consider the unique needs of each individual, create a realistic plan, and then review the plan regularly with all group members.

Draw consistent boundaries and rules on acceptable technology use, making sure to act in love and positive communication.

DON’T USE TECHNOLOGY TO REWARD Instead of using technology to soothe a child, engage with them when they feel negative emotions, and help them manage their feelings by talking them out.

DISCOVER HOW TO PLAY

INTRODUCE ALTERNATIVES

Meet your child at their own skill level and teach them how to expand their play. Combine new friends, teachers, and safe relatives as invited members to this growing opportunity.

Start small by finding alternatives that you can easily do. Make sure to find several, including ones children can together or independently on their own.

SPEND MORE INTENTIONAL TIME TOGETHER

ADMIT WHEN OUTSIDE HELP IS NEEDED

Intentional time might look like family walks, coloring, no-tech dinners, reading together, or a dance party.

There are some situations in which outside assistance is necessary - there is no shame in that, only great wisdom and courage in seeking needed support.

You can do this by gathering resources on the best therapist in your area, don’t be afraid to try, and commit to the process.

Kids from hard places are more vulnerable to technology misuse and other negative outcomes. When children whose brains are already vulnerable because of the adversity they have experienced are exposed to technology, they are disproportionately at risk and may have trouble developing into a well functioning adult.

But there is hope.

God designed our brains to change and heal. God also designed us to be in relationship with each other, even - and perhaps especially - in the age of technology. With time and positive input, the work of trauma can slowly be undone.

Learn More For leaders committed to excellence in care for vulnerable children and the communities that care for them, CAFO’s Center on Applied Research for Vulnerable Children and Families is a trustworthy bridge between research, practice, and care reform that provides the best available guidance to inform the most effective care for children.

• To learn more, visit cafo.org/ovc

• To learn more about vulnerable children and technology, visit: https://issuu.com/christianalliancefororphans/docs/e-book_with_links

• To learn more about vulnerable children and the brain, visit: https://issuu.com/christianalliancefororphans/docs/the_changing_brain_ single_page

For leaders committed to excellence in care for vulnerable children and the communities that care for them, CAFO’s Center on Applied Research for Vulnerable Children and Families is a trustworthy bridge between research, practice, and care reform that provides the best available guidance to inform the most effective care for children.

To learn more, visit cafo.org/ovc

Š 2020 Christian Alliance for Orphans