Despite smartphones and social media, young people today are as socially competent as those from the previous generation. At least this is what a new study suggests.

For the study, researchers compared teacher and parent evaluations of American children who started kindergarten in 1998, with those who began school in 2010. The former group entered kindergarten when mobile phones were luxuries. The latter group started school when mobile devices were widespread.

Results showed both groups of children were rated similarly on important social skills. These included their ability to form and maintain friendships and get along with people who are different. They were also rated similarly on self-control, such as the ability to regulate their temper.

In virtually every comparison made, ratings of social skills either remain constant or improved for the children born later. There was one exception: Social skills were slightly lower for children who accessed online games and social networking sites many times a day.

Adults are worried when technological change starts to undermine traditional relationships, particularly the parent-child relationship.

The introduction of telephones, automobiles and radio all led to moral panic among adults of the time, because the technology allowed children to enjoy more freedom. Fears over screen-based technology represent the most recent panic in response to technological change. But overall, the study found little evidence that time spent on screens was hurting social skills for most children.

Q19: What does the new study suggest about young people today and those from the previous generation?
Q20: What did the study find about children who access social networking sites many times a day?
Q21: What is adult's worry about technological change?