Allison Hanes: The promise and peril of technology

As the kids head back to class this week after the two-week Christmas break, some (like mine) might be outfitted with new tablets they found under the tree, while others might be slinging a long-coveted smartphone of their own.
Such electronic gadgets, whether bestowed as a holiday gift or acquired at another point, have become inevitable accoutrements of the generation growing up in the digital age. For parents glued to their own smartphones, it’s less a question of if we will give our ch