Teen anxiety and depression rates are soaring globally, largely blamed on excessive smartphone use during childhood. Psychologists are ringing alarm bells. Tech-savvy parents, including Silicon Valley executives, advocate delaying smartphone access until high school or later.
Here’s why:
Smartphones are addictive
The tech industry designs smartphone apps to be 'sticky' for profit, mirroring the addictive nature of gambling. Recent studies suggest smartphone dependence triggers addictive brain responses akin to alcohol, drug, and gambling addictions. Smartphones are like pokies in your children's pocket constantly persuading them to crave more.
Smartphones are changing childhood
Playing outdoors, spending time with friends, reading books and hanging out with family are all important developmental opportunities that are being replaced with screen time. Instead of being kids, learning and sleeping, children are distracted, with some receiving 237+ notifications and spending 4-7 hours per day on their smartphones.
Smartphones increase the risk for anxiety and depression
Excessive technology use among children leads to elevated cortisol levels, hindering calmness and contributing to anxiety disorders. Jonathan Haidt's research indicates that over 46 percent of teens are constantly online, correlating with increased suicide rates, self-harm, and depression worldwide. Notably, suicide rates among Gen Z girls surpass those of any previous generation in the United States, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Smartphones put your child at risk of cyber bullying
Bullying is no longer limited to the playground. Bullies seek to harm children through texts and social media, often making retreat for the victim impossible. The most common medium used for cyber bullying is the phone. About one out of every four children has experienced cyber bullying, and about one out of every six children has done it to others.
Smartphones may expose children to sexual content
Smartphones grant children unrestricted access to pornography, with marketers intentionally targeting youth online. Research reveals that 42% of online youth users have encountered online pornography, with 66% reporting unwanted exposure through online ads. Moreover, children are not just consumers but creators of sexual content, increasingly engaging in sexting. Additionally, various apps provide opportunities for sexual predators to track, groom, and harm children.
Smartphones interfere with relationships
Parents often regret giving their child a smartphone due to its detrimental effects on relationships. The parent-child bond suffers as children become distracted and inattentive. Face-to-face interactions decline as children prioritize online connections. Younger children lack the maturity to regulate screen time, leading to excessive scrolling and aimless content consumption.
Smartphones can impair sleep
Research indicates that smartphones and portable screen devices impact the sleep patterns of children and teens, affecting both the duration and quality of sleep. Excessive smartphone use correlates with shorter total sleep time and reduced sleep quality in younger children. Some children even wake up during the night to check texts or social media, exacerbating sleep disturbances. Such disruptions in childhood sleep are associated with various health issues, including poor diet, obesity, weakened immune system, stunted growth, and mental health concerns.