Impact of Excessive Smartphone Use on Children's Well-being

The development of smartphone technology has completely transformed the way we engage with the outside world. While there are many advantages to these devices, there is a growing concern about the impact of excessive phone use on children’s physical, psychological, and social well-being. This blog will look at some the causes of this issue, the effect it is having on children, and provide solutions for parents to help their children overcome this.

The causes of a phone addiction

Social media and online games are designed to be very engaging for children, but as they spend more time on these platforms, they are becoming overstimulated. These platforms trigger the release of dopamine in the brain, which is related to pleasure and reward, reinforcing the habit and leading to frequent use. So, it’s no surprise children are getting hooked to their mobile phones. Especially as children become more exposed to mobile phones at a younger age are more likely to develop habits. This is going to lead them to become highly dependent to their devices from an early age. A recent study discovered that 98% of children from new-born to ages 8 have access to a mobile device at home.

The effect it is having on children

1. Reduced Physical Activity

Did you know that children ages 8-12 are spending 4-6 hours per day on their mobile phones? This excessive use is leading children to have very sedentary lives. Their time spent outside and participating in physical activities is being limited, a vital component of healthy growth and development among children. The increase of sedimentary habits can also contribute to various health issues such as weight gain and obesity.

2. Social isolation

While scrolling through our mobile phones, we may feel connected with our loved ones, however it most likely that we’re just absorbing content without forming any meaningful relationships. So as children spend more time on their mobile phones, the less time they are bonding with their friends and families. This is causing children to become isolated from the real world and lose their ability to interact and connect with others, a crucial skill for social development. Children are prone to lack confidence in social situations and lower their self-esteem as a result.

3. Sleep Disruption

Our mobile phones emit a blue light, this artificial light resembles daylight in our brains, stimulating us to feel alert. So, by allowing children to use a mobile phone before bedtime is going to disrupt their sleep quality and limit the duration. Children experiencing this will not receive enough sleep and could leave them feeling tired the following day, which may affect their ability to function.

4. Academic Performance

The longer children are spending on their mobile phones, the vaster amount of information they are being exposed to. This can overload a child’s ability to process and remember knowledge effectively, an essential skill during school. Excessive screen time can also interfere with children’s development of cognitive and language abilities.

Solutions to the addiction

1. Setting boundaries and time limits

Create and apply clear rules for mobile phone use such as time limits and restricting bedtime use. Children’s apps can be simply setup with time limitations, which notify the child when the scheduled period is up and display a passcode to prevent the child from using the app anymore. Setting clear rules will help children to understand their boundaries, which can help to nurture a relationship on mutual respect and trust.

2. Encouraging alternative activities

Organise alternative activities which are fun and engaging for you and your children such as outdoor play, games or arts and crafts. This will create quality time spent together and it will demonstrate how much fun they can have without their mobile phones.

3. Model Healthy Behaviour

Children will mirror the behaviour of their parent’s, so it is really important to set a positive example for appropriate mobile phone use. As this will to help them form a healthy relationship with their own mobile phone.