The Gadget’s Impact on Young Children’s Social Interaction Development

Abstract

The background of this research is in accordance with the current situation considering the reality of underage children already holding devices or gadgets. Children born today are born as Native Digital Generations, namely children who were born in the digital era and interact with various digital devices. This phenomenon also occurred at the Ignatius Slamet Riyadi Cijantung Kindergarten, where the students in the Kindergarten did not interact enough with the surrounding environment. This research aims to analyze forms of device use, the impact of device use on children's social interactions at the Ignatius Slamet Riyadi Cijantung Kindergarten.This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach with a case study method. This research was conducted at Ignatius Slamet Riyadi Kindergarten with the research objects being children from groups A and B, namely 6 children from parents and center teachers. Data collection for this research is observation, interviews, documentation and recording. The validation test uses source triangulation techniques.Data analysis techniques use data reduction, data presentation and conclusions or verification. The research results show that the intensity of device use is high, reaching 2-3 hours per day. The applications that are often opened and used by children are games, YouTube and TikTok. This use has positive impacts such as gaining extensive knowledge, facilitating communication and training children's creativity. Apart from that, it has negative impacts, including eyes getting tired easily, emotions becoming less stable, and interactions between children and their surroundings becoming shallow.