By Sualiha Zubair: In today’s digital age, mobile phones have become a staple in the lives of all, with usage skyrocketing across every generation. From online learning to social media, these devices are especially integral to the daily routines of children, offering educational tools and instant connectivity. However, experts are sounding alarms over the growing concerns of excessive screen time in young age groups. As the reliance on mobile phones continues to rise, questions about their long-term impact on children’s development are gaining urgency.
Parents and guardians often handover these devices to kids in order to keep them busy and focus on work. Various surveys show that children between the ages of nine to seventeen spend around four to five hours on mobile phone. The survey conducted by smart parent solution company Baatu Tech recently, revealed that 60 percent of children are at a higher risk of digital addiction in India. It added that 70-80 percent of children are surpassing recommended limits daily.
Faiqa, guardian of her nephew, Hamdan, who is six-years-old allows him to watch YouTube videos and Instagram reels before sleeping. “There is no particular time limit. He can go with the phone for hours and he won’t even blink an eye,” she said while focusing on the fact that he mostly consumes informational content.
But this excessive use of smartphones from a young age is negatively impacting the brain development of children. It alters their thought process and delays their speech and language development.
Charles Nelson, a Harvard neuroscientist says that, “Until babies develop language, all communication is non-verbal, so they depend heavily on looking at a face and deriving meaning from that face. That two-way interaction between children and adult caregivers is critically important for brain development. That’s why, exposure to screens reduces babies’ ability to read human emotion.”
While talking about the ill effects of the exhausting usage of mobile phones, Faiqa notes that only has my nephew’s attention span has decreased, he has become less active and prefers to stay indoors only which is not good for his physical fitness.
Parents and Guardians usually find it difficult to keep the track of content their kid consume. It may open kids to violent or vulgar form of videos. Smartphones give children access to media they may not be ready for. Since there is no filter, inappropriate content may pop up on these apps while children are scrolling.
Najma (name changed) 29, mother of two recalls how her seven years old son came running to her one day and asked her the meaning of a “mature term” in front of the family. “I was embarrassed and quickly asked him where he heard it from, to which he replied “youtube.” Since that day, Nagma has been vigilantly monitoring her son’s viewing habits.
Similarly, Faiqa, while addressing the issue said, “My nephew goes to Darsgah but finds it hard to pay attention their as he cannot relate to it. He is more into mimicking the YouTubers he follows.
The rapid consumption of information through short-form content, such as YouTube Shorts or Instagram reels, trains the brain to expect quick gratification. As a result, young users may struggle with activities that require attention and focus, such as reading a book, completing homework, or participating in classroom discussions.
Doctors advise that parents can set boundaries for mobile phone use. This includes setting specific times for phone usage, encouraging device-free family time, and monitoring the content their children access. Additionally, parents can promote alternative activities that do not involve screens, such as outdoor play, reading, or hobbies.
After seeing the decrease in screen time when Hamdan joined school, Faiqa started to believe that his schedule can be fixed. The whole family became stricter regarding the mobile phone use and tried to participate in other activities with him.
