The Association Between Gadget Use and Social Development among Children

Abstract

The increasing use of gadgets among young children raises concerns about its impact on their social development, particularly in terms of their ability to interact with others, build empathy, and develop communication skills essential for daily life. Approximately 5-10% of children experience developmental delays. This research focuses on examining the relationship between gadget use and social development among children    This study utilizes an analytical method. The population includes parents and students at KB-TK Ar-Rohmah Surabaya, with a sample size of 100 selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The sample consists of 80 respondents using purposive sampling technique. The independent variable is gadget use, and the dependent variable is social development. The research instruments include a gadget usage questionnaire and interviews using the Denver Development Screening Test (DDST). Data analysis utilizes the Rank Spearman correlation test. Data analysis reveals that nearly half (47.5%) of respondents have moderate gadget usage levels, with the majority (61.3%) experiencing normal social development. The significant Spearman rank test results with a significance level of α=0.05 show p=0.005 < α=0.05, indicating a significant relationship between gadget use and social development. Gadget use can influence social development among children.