The average child in the United States watches four hours of television per day. As a result of this information, the impact of television as a developmental influence is a concern. However, the explosion of the internet and cellphones has the potential to affect the development of entire generations before research can even scratch the surface of its impact. Digital technology has extended the influence of peer groups to 24 hours per day. Given the influence of peers and schools as agents of socialization, what implications does this 24/7 access to these agents have on development?
