The rise of technology is inevitable and its effects are felt everywhere in everyday life, but although we experience numerous benefits from it there are other issues that have come up.

The massive use of smart phones has made so many people addicted to these devices. Millions of people all around the world spend their day scrolling down their phones searching for some news, pictures on Instagram or Facebook.

However, not many people are aware of the fact that the use of smart phones can cause an addiction, especially when children are concerned.

This is the truth, if you give your child a smart phone it is like giving them drugs, no matter how harsh it may sound. According to a renowned addiction therapist in UK there is a growing smart phone addiction among teenagers.

This daily routine can be as addictive as the consumption of alcohol and drugs, and can have the same withdrawal symptoms. This makes this situation a serious one.

Scientists got involved in the analyses of this issue and the Professor Jennifer Ihm from the Kwangwoon University in Korea has already released a study that has been based on the smart phone addiction. In this study participated about 2,000 children in the age range of 12. According to the findings of the professor this addiction may affect the psychological and physical health of children. This unusual addiction can have a great influence on the child’s academic success at school. This is an alarming fact as most of the teenagers, in fact probably 100% of them, use smart phones.

According to conducted s tudies confirm that more than 50% of all teenagers are using smart phones on regular basis. Moreover, they are being addicted from their use and most of them are well aware of this fact. In fact, around 84% of the interviewed teenagers have reported that they could not go a day without the use of their smart phone.

How to detect a smart phone addiction?

If the person who has a smart phone checks its phone without any obvious reason, and if that is not proceeded makes him anxious, then it is most likely that he or she is addicted to its phone. In worst case scenario, some of them wake up in the middle of night only to check if there are any messages on their phones.

If the affected person is a student, then it will for sure lead to poor academic achievement.

This addiction may cause anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, neck or wrist pain, anger, tension, relentlessness and feelings of insecurity. This makes the use of smart phone as same as any other addiction.

Parents can stop this addiction

Parents are the perfect example of their children, and if they use the smart phone all the time, then the children will do so as well. Hence, if you are a parent, leave the phone in front of your children and show your children how it should be done. The Journal – Pediatrics Child Health recommends the parents to set an example for their children. They should not hold their phone all the time, and by all means they should never use tit during meals.

2-year-old children are being affected by the use of smartphones and tablets

This finding has come from a comprehensive study of professors Jean Twenge and Keith Campbell from San Diego State University. They have collected data from 40,000 children in the age range of 2 to 17 in the states, and the results showed that the time spent of children on social media or watching videos greatly affects their emotional well-being. It has been revealed that half of the children who have a tendency of using smart phones for 2 hours or more lose their temper and cannot calm down easily. Hence, children in the age range of 2 to 5 should not use a smart phone as it can harm their mental health.

The use of screens causes behavioral concerns

It has been proven that the overuse of screens can lead to developing behavioral issues, both in children and adolescents. 4-hour screen time can make adolescents argumentative and anxious, which will also lead to lack of curiosity. Moreover, they will become less sociable.

Limited screen time

The solution is to limit the screen time in children. Kids that are under 5 should use smart phones only for an hour. Children that go to school and teenagers should use their phones for two hours.

Smart phones have become very handy in the last decade or so, but its overuse can really cause an addiction. If you are a parent, you should be aware of this fact, and try your best not to transfer this addiction to your children.

Smart phones can be very useful, but have in mind that the time spent in front of them must be limited as otherwise it will make you depressed and anxious.

Sources used:

selfdevelopshop.com

businessinsider.com