The habit of using mobile phones among children, especially those aged 12 and younger, has had significant effects on their lifestyles worldwide, including in Pakistan. The practice of parents giving mobile phones to children has not only affected their health but also increased elements of stubbornness and mental stress among them.
Nowadays, screens are an integral part of our daily lives, and they have a significant impact. Therefore, it is inevitable that our children quickly, easily, and naturally learn about them.
Many parents hand over mobile phones to their children at a very young age to keep them entertained. We have certainly witnessed many such incidents where a child, perhaps only one or two years old, knows that swiping on the phone brings light.
Mobile scre.ens quickly become a regular part of children's lives, causing changes in their minds that we gradually become aware of
The habit of mobile phone usage among children, especially those aged 12 and younger, has had significant effects on their lifestyles worldwide, including in Pakistan. Particularly, the practice of parents giving mobile phones to children has not only impacted their health but has also increased elements of stubbornness and mental stress among them.
Mahnoor shares about her six-year-old son Raahim's request for his personal phone, saying, "He told me, 'Mama, I want my own phone.' I not only refused him but was also amazed to hear it."
She elaborates, "However, refusing children access to such things has become increasingly challenging. When they observe peers of similar age engaging in these activities, they may perceive their parents' actions as unjust or interpret them as a lack of affection.
Mahnoor mentions that whenever she asks her son Raahim to stop playing games on the mobile or to return it, he becomes moody.
"He becomes very moody. He starts crying. If you take the mobile away or stop the game, he misbehaves. He becomes upset."
However, this is not just a story of one household but a common concern among all parents nowadays as they observe the increase in their children's screen time.
According to the Pakistan Pediatric Association, 80% of children aged six to eighteen in Pakistan spend four to six hours a day on screens. These screens include mobile phones, video games, and computers.
According to the report, as a result of excessive screen time, 30% of children have weak eyesight, while 50% of children complain of blurred vision, headaches, and eye pain.
"Reading, health, and mental stress are affected"
Dr. Noshin Kazmi, affiliated with Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, is a psychiatrist who believes that excessive use of mobile phones and games among children is causing many problems. According to her, cases often arise where parents feel helpless, and children suffer from depression.
In an interview with the BBC, she stated that children do not have a sense of time spent on screens, and it affects their studies, health, and mental stress. She emphasized that even if children are given mobile phones and games, their sleep quality is not good. Additionally, their eyesight deteriorates, they have physical health issues, and their ability to focus on anything diminishes.
Dr. Noshin mentioned that many children come to them with depression, and it has been observed that they spend excessive screen time. During the COVID-19 pandemic, due to increased screen time among children, it has been seen that they have reduced socialization after returning to school. The enthusiasm for making friends has diminished.
She said, "I have two or three cases where children of O level got so addicted to gaming that they couldn't start studying even after going to school several times."
Psychologist Dr. Pankaj Kumar commented on the mental effects of increased screen time, saying, "Research suggests that if children or young adolescents spend more than six to seven hours on the screen, they may experience psychological effects. This can lead to loss of self-control, lack of curiosity, lack of emotional stability, decreased attention span, and difficulty in making friends."
He further said that it also depends on what they are watching on the screen, whether movies, videos, games, or reading. "Its impact can vary from one child to another."
Researchers have found that students who send or receive text messages during study time do not perform as well in exams, and they cannot concentrate on demanding tasks.
Most parents are worried these days about whether they should give smartphones to their children or keep them away from them as much as possible.
Although we do not have credible and clear evidence that smartphones or social media generally have negative effects on children's mental health, most research so far has been done on adolescents and shows that the risk of negative effects of smartphones and social media on children increases during specific months and years of mental development.
Most experts agree that when making this decision whether your child is ready for a smartphone, we should consider some factors and also think about what we should do as parents after giving the child a smartphone.
A European study on the use of technology in children up to the age of eight has shown that children of this age group 'do not understand or understand very little about the dangers of the Internet,' and if we talk about the clear effects of smartphones and social media on children older than this age, we also do not have any solid evidence.
Dr. Noshin Kazmi says that it is the responsibility of parents to be familiar with technology themselves.
"It is important to clearly explain to the children which app they can use and how long they can use it. If parents don't give them open access, there will be no problem. Screen time of six hours cannot be done after spending time. It is better to keep it in mind from the beginning. There should be a password, a timer should be set, and permission to create social media accounts should be given considering the age."
She says that another big problem is to allow children to access content according to their age. They understand that there should be a discussion on internet safety in schools and homes so that children are aware.
"We also have cases where young children and girls have seen inappropriate content that was disturbing for them and they are facing depression. They have to face bullying for talking to the wrong people."
Are you addicted to smartphone usage?
Experts say that if you're concerned about being addicted to mobile phone usage, the following are some initial signs
1. Checking the phone continuously without any reason.
2. Feeling anxious or restless without the phone.
3. Prioritizing phone usage over social relationships.
4. Waking up in the middle of the night to check your smartphone.
5. Experiencing a decrease in productivity or performance in education or work due to excessive phone usage.
At what age should children be given smartphones?
The effects of social media on adolescents are 'very limited.'
Can you tolerate distance from your mobile phone?
Guidelines for limiting screen time for young children
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