12# Technology Shapes

Digital World, Real Consequences

Our new, colourful world of limitless imagination is hidden behind a screen.

When the computer suddenly stops working, many children no longer know what to do with themselves. They become listless, unable to find the motivation to do anything.

Their creativity is swallowed by a digital monster that prevents them from escaping into their own imaginary worlds.

The mere thought that the World Wide Web might offer even more opportunities for entertainment seems to drive them into a frenzy.

As a child, I invented stories, imagined different situations and brought my dolls to life.

I was full of ideas, which I explored with friends in an imaginary parallel universe.

Simply by observing the world around me, I learned when it was better to listen to my inner voice rather than follow other people's advice.

It is through play that we truly discover new things.

By interacting with others, we learn to interpret the signals hidden in people's expressions, develop empathy and understand how to respond appropriately in different situations.

Physical contact also plays a central role. It helps us understand closeness and distance, build trust and develop an awareness of our own boundaries and those of others.

Along the way, every child gradually grows into an independent individual.

Sitting in Front of a Screen Closes the Door to Our Subconscious

Or, to put it another way, children are becoming less inclined to trust their instincts.

Although they may be able to use digital technology intuitively, they can find it more difficult to adapt to unfamiliar situations in the here and now.

The ability to learn from previous experiences, recognise patterns and reflect on emerging emotions can become neglected.

Yet these abilities are essential for making quick, intuitive decisions.

Human intuition does not work like a simple "copy and paste" function. It develops through meaningful experiences and conscious engagement with the world.

The Children Being Homeschooled Today Will Shape the World in 2050

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents called for better digital learning opportunities because the endless flood of worksheets had become overwhelming, as reported by Merkur.

Yet activities we can physically experience and engage with – such as sports, music, theatre and art – are essential to brain development.

They encourage clear thinking, strengthen memory and may contribute to maintaining cognitive health later in life.

Homeschooling should not create an educational crisis. Instead, it should be used as an opportunity for an educational revolution.

Digital skills can open up new perspectives and create opportunities for social mobility.

"It is not important to know everything, but to know where to find it," my history teacher, Mrs Förster, told us in 2001.

Back then, the world was not yet completely digital, and I had a rather romantic idea of knowledge: knowing exactly which book contained the answer to a particular question.

It was a completely different experience of learning and searching from the one we know today.

The Puzzle of Online Information Does Not Teach Us Life Lessons

Nowadays, information is often consumed only superficially.

People may not question what they read until a digital platform flags something as "fake news".

Opinions are no longer carefully considered and supported by arguments. Instead, they are reduced to likes and dislikes.

Spoken language becomes harder to follow, and longer texts seem increasingly demanding because everything in the digital world is expected to be short.

Successfully Adapting to the Digital Age Requires Flexibility, a Willingness to Learn and Time

Excessive consumption of digital media can affect our physical and mental well-being.

The constant pressure to remain online and the fear of missing out can create ongoing stress.

Neuroscientist Dr Manfred Spitzer has warned about the potential consequences of excessive digital media use for cognitive development and brain function.

He argues that when certain mental abilities are not sufficiently exercised, the brain may become less efficient at performing them.

This makes it important to consciously create periods of digital downtime and establish a healthy balance between online and offline life.

Our society is undergoing a transformation.

In the past, reading books was sometimes considered potentially addictive, while films were accused of corrupting people's minds.

Today, however, we lose ourselves behind laptops and smartphones in a world overflowing with stimulation.

American neuroscientist Gary Small explains that daily interaction with high-tech inventions changes the brain by influencing neurotransmitter activity, strengthening some neural pathways while weakening others.

The growing flow of information encourages faster processing and represents a kind of "update" to our consciousness.

The ability to adapt to the digital age has become one of the essential global skills of the twenty-first century.

Anastasia Weimer