Getting More Out Of Your Smartphone Than You Bargained For
Children today are estimated to be spending anywhere between 2-7 hours every day on their screen time.
Children younger than 8 years old are estimated to be spending at least 2 hours or more every day staring at their screen.
Previous studies have repeatedly suggested that there could be some concerns to keep in mind when it comes to children and their media obsession.
Researchers suggest that an unhealthy cellphone addiction could fuel chemical imbalances in the brain for children, that it could possibly fuel addiction, depression, anxiety, negatively impact productivity and sleep, and much more.
There are now children as young as 13 who are entering smartphone rehab to try and seek help in addressing their screen addiction.
The compare it to a heroin addiction because they say the games and activities that the child plays on the device will in-return cause a release of neurotransmitters, making them feel good. In order to continue feeling like this, they'll keep going back multiple times in order to pursue the activity and end-result.
The brain activity suffers and executive functioning is impeded.
Other studies have found that there are increased risks of depression and suicide that go along with spending more time online.
The study looked at data that involved over 1 million teens from around the US. The results indicated that for the teens who spend more time texting and looking at their phone, that they aren't likely to be as happy as those kids who spent time outside, interacting with people in person, or enjoying time playing sports.
At the end of the day, the responsibility rests with the individual and their parents to be sure that they are regulating their behavior effectively. The individual needs to decide for themselves what works best for them and no doubt that for many they see their happiness increase when they take the effort to limit their digital media use. Though, certainly that isn't the case for everyone.
The results from the study out of San Diego indicate that for the teens who reported being the happiest, they allegedly spent less than an hour every day online.
Researchers have suggested a variety of tips for those who want to try and gain more control over their phone habit. Some of those suggestions are things like decreasing nighttime use, turning off notifications, paying attention to data usage, or planning a specific tech break.
Pics:
Paul Rogers via NYTimes
via scpr.org
via kars4kids.org
via listverse.com
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/19/health/children-smartphone-tablet-use-report/index.html
https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/23/phone-addicted-teens-arent-as-happy-as-those-who-play-sports-and-hang-out-irl-new-study-suggests/
https://www.cnn.com/2015/11/03/health/teens-tweens-media-screen-use-report/index.html
http://time.com/4989275/young-children-tablets-mobile-devices/
https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/30/child-health-advocates-call-for-facebook-to-shutter-messenger-kids-app/
https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/30/health/smartphone-addiction-study/index.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/child-smart-phones-cocaine-addiction-expert-mandy-saligari-harley-street-charter-clinic-technology-a7777941.html
https://www.nbc26.com/news/national/stunning-results-after-researchers-look-at-effects-of-cell-phones-on-kids-national
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/teenage-technology-addiction-smartphone-rehab-seattle-clinic-children-aged-13-mobile-devices-a7684356.html
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170623133039.htm
https://mashable.com/2018/01/24/best-instant-pot-to-buy-recipes-deals-amazon/#vftVoK8czmqd
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jan/27/mobile-phone-addiction-apps-break-the-habit-take-back-control
https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/06/screen-addiction-is-taking-a-toll-on-children/?mtrref=www.google.ca&gwh=BF67A096DB27A0B2D61949FEE74CC3A2&gwt=pay
https://neiuindependent.org/9564/opinions/are-we-addicted-big-time-investors-say-yes/
Related Posts:
When Technology Takes Over
https://steemit.com/psychology/@doitvoluntarily/when-technology-takes-over
Fuck smartphones...this is all you need!;)
Great post @doitvoluntarily ! Its very hard to get a teen or anyone for that matter to spend less then an hour a day on their smart phones , even its good for them , they will find a way ! I think it would be easier and more bennificial ( Thats if you can afford it ) To get them involved in other activities. Like sports or dance / music or swimming etc . so their interacting / socializing more with others , and by doing so , learning to stay more away from their devices simply by doing other things instead !! Upped and resteemed !👍💕😀
This is a hugely important message ... I personally have seen mothers hand their smart phones to toddlers at the laundromat.
One lady said her baby responds better to the phone than to humans..omg
Thanks for doing this post.
What an irony that such an empowering tool can also be so enslaving.
But, this paradox can be found everywhere: a gun can help defend you as much as it can also help kill you.
It’s a good thing these studies are beginning to show the potential effects from this relatively new technology.
It’s important to remember that smart phones, social media, our instant connectivity (/gratification), has only just been around a decade.
And in just ten years— everything has changed.
From the way we interact, do business, meet and date, to, as these studies show, fundamentally think and behave.
This is why a show like Black Mirror is so good—it shines a light (almost uncomfortably) to the dark side of where this can all possibly go, if left unchecked.
Good post @doitvoluntarily, I liked that you not only discussed the issue, but also offered a few practical solutions to help.
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this post plus the rest of the blog is also really good.
Too much touch on the smartphone is not good.
Once in a while I think that it is important to put the smartphone at home and touch nature.
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This is really awesome writing.
Modern age here we come...
I rarely see kids outside now, or when i do see a group of them they are all starring in their screens outside, that's not good at all, they are not playing like we did when I was 10-11, it's too much and I hope that they won't grow up depending on their Facebook "friend" more than their friend IRL
Those stats are crazy! I understand that times changed, and that now it is more affordable for everyone yo have smartphones...But there are certain things in childhood that kids have to pass in order yo grow up as a person...and I'm pretty sure phones shouldn't be involved...
But as you said,parents as individuals should control over it..without that, it is not possible