Informatization and gadgetization of modern society and childhood

This article considers the processes of informatization and gadgetization of society and childhood. The study aims to describe major trends and effects of integrating information and technological components into daily, family, social, industrial, economic, political and cultural practices. The research objectives are to elucidate the directions of these processes, identify and describe their positive and negative impacts on modern society. The authors place particular emphasis on children as the most mobile (“quickly absorbing” trends and innovations) and, along with it, vulnerable socio-demographic group, less adaptive than adults. The paper presents the conclusions from topic studies (some involving participation of the authors) conducted by means of sociological surveys and in-depth interviews. The results demonstrate that informatization and gadgetization are actual and relevant processes, though fragmentarily studied. Along with it, they appear very ambiguous. Their positive impacts include increased opportunities for self-realization, self-presentation, and fulfillment of cognitive needs, as well as growing resources and mobility.