Is learning to surf teaching us to drown in information?

While reading chapter 1 of Literacy for the 21st Century I became interested in the information provided concerning "new literacies."  The use of technology in reading instruction is a wonderful resource for students and teachers as the number of resources seems to exponentially grow.  Technological games, learning devices, and the internet (among other resources) not only provide countless tools to reach the varied learning styles of children, but also tend to highly motivate students to participate.  The emergence of such technologies has created totally new ways of reading and comprehending information and it is interesting to consider the positive effects, but also the possible consequences, of such new literacies.

The author, Gail Tompkins, discusses new strategies for reading that are nearly entirely related to internet communication and information sharing.  Students are learning how to access information instantaneously as well as having access to instant communication around the world.  I see the many benefits of technology in my classroom everyday, but I also wonder about possible side effects of such instruction.  We already know that the attention span of kids is getting smaller and smaller as they are constantly in need of stimulation.  How is this dependency on technology and stimulation affecting a child's ability to read and comprehend, as well as his ability to think critically?  I notice the effects on myself all the time and I grew up without most of the benefits of learning through technology.  I am just as guilty as the kids and I will admit that while writing this post I have 3 other browser windows open and my focus is most certainly split.  If I open an article without pictures or video or links, I tend to skim it quickly taking in little of what is really being presented.  And anytime a question comes up in general conversation I tend to pull out my phone and search away for the answer.

I tried to search around for information or studies on the possible side effects of technology on children's ability to focus, take in information, think critically, and make cognitive connections.  Unfortunately (or fortunately) most of what I found merely hailed the benefits of technology on children.  Is it really all positive or is it something we tend to overlook and not think about?