Accessing the Impact of Digital Media on Children's Language Acquisition

This paper assessed the impact of digital media on children's language acquisition.The objectives of the study were to assess the influence of digital media on children's acquisition of language and to examine the challenges in accessing digital media for children's acquisition of language.Related literature was reviewed, stating the Gratification and the Utilization theory to offer an explanation of the relevance of digital media in language acquisition.Conceptual and empirical literature was reviewed on language acquisition, digital media as well as the positive and negative impact of digital media of children's acquisition of language.The study employed the Quantitative approach with a descriptive survey design, 200 respondents were sampled.Data was collected using a questionnaire.Data was analyze quantitatively using descriptive statistics and qualitatively using thematic analysis.The study found that, digital media gives the exposure to children on easy language acquisition, it also makes it possible for the learner to acquire more language learning skills through visuals and audios that comes with the language learning application.The study also found that digital media exposes the children to inappropriate contents, the children suffer attention drift, and they are also exposed to some health hazards and children are faced with limited access to digital devices, poor internet connectivity and limited parental guidance as challenges in the use of digital media in children language acquisition.The study recommends that Attempts should be made towards investing into robust technological infrastructure to support the seamless integration of digital media in language learning.There should be regular monitoring and assessment strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of digital media in language acquisition and there should also be the provision on strategies for maintaining focus during language learning activities both online and offline.