Dr Md. Mahmudul Hassan :
A recent USA statistics found that more than 90% of teenagers use social media and play video games. About 50% of teenagers admit that they feel addicted to their smartphones. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, at least 6 million children between the ages of 4 and 18 are currently suffering from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Excessive internet and mobile addiction causes a mental illness called ADHD. People with this disorder may not be able to concentrate on certain tasks. In the last two decades, the number of people infected with the disease has doubled and the experts have identified the main reason for this as excessive addiction to mobile devices. Experts say that children’s imagination and thinking are also declining.
Different kinds of mental reactions are found in the digitally addicted children like; depression, irritability, sudden anger, guiltiness, anxiety, loneliness, mental retardation, unwillingness to go to school regularly, negative reactions to good words, memory loss, mental insanity etc. It shows various complications and even one may take the risk of committing suicide for not being able to use the internet at one stage. There have already been many such accidents in Bangladesh.
Similarly, physical health reviews have shown that they suffer from various problems. For example; back pain, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, headache, insomnia, unhealthiness, malnutrition, weakness, dry eyes, other ophthalmic problems, excess weight loss or obesity etc.
In addition to these emotional and physical effects, digital addiction also causes social harm to the children. They become unsocial and unwilling to mix with anyone, misbehave with family members, avoid talking properly to their relatives or friends, etc. In short, digital addiction causes serious damage to children’s lives. Resultantly, parents suffer a lot from mental agony due to the uncertain life of their children.
However, some measures may help parents and teachers save their children from digital addiction. Irrelevant notifications or advertisements appeared on the internet increase children’s desire to go online. It needs to be stopped. Avoiding these notifications will help students overcome their digital addiction. Parents or teachers need to control mobile usage. Children imitate what their parents or teachers do. So parents need to review their online usage habits and avoid negative behaviors. Then it will be easier to protect children from digital addiction.
Children need to have strong relationships with other people and spend time with them. Spending too much time and energy on the Internet destroys good relationships with others and increases digital addiction. So it will be possible to abstain children from such addictions if they can establish proper relationships with close people.
Children must be accustomed to living a sober life. Both the internet and technology make children interested in computer shopping, playing games or logging in, which is one of the reasons for creating digital addiction. Children also have to control their mobile or computer use by setting time. Then, children’s digital addiction will decrease.
It is not advisable to have extra devices and mobiles at home and keep them here and there in house. Because the children are interested in touching it when they go for a walk and gradually become addicted. So there should be a designated space for devices at the home and they should not be kept elsewhere. Bedrooms, study rooms and dining areas must be avoided.
Tracking the screen time of a device used by parents is one of the most effective ways to prevent digital addiction. There are some apps that help to track time and raise awareness about digital addiction. There are also parenting apps that play an important role in setting up time tracking on children’s devices and preventing addiction.
The American Pediatric Association and the American Psychological Association advise parents to set a ‘screen time limit’ for children. So, guardians can set duration of Internet use. Social media platforms are one of the main causes of digital addiction among teenagers. It can be used positively to protect against digital addiction. Students get involved in various anti-social activities in the space of online programs. That’s why downloading useful and educational applications like ‘MentalUp’ not only entertain children, but also improve their mental skills and many other cognitive skills.
Students need to be encouraged to read enough books. Reading books develops the mind, increases intelligence, deepens knowledge and attracts socio-cultural entertainment. As a result, students can stay away from digital addiction. Researchers of Children’s Research Foundation in the United States recently have noticed that when children read something, their brain connection (functional brain connectivity) increases and when they see audio-visual content on the screen of a digital device, their brain connection reduces.
A healthy body means a healthy mind. Physical exercise relieves children from boredom and helps increase mental strength. Therefore, they need to be encouraged to exercise in open fields and ensure their regular outdoor activities. It will help students to prevent digital addiction.
Since digital addiction is a terrible disorder like drug addiction, it is our moral responsibility to protect children and adolescent students from it. Many are now interpreting digital addiction as a digital drug. The addiction is so horrific that Microsoft founder Bill Gates himself did not allow his children to use the phone for a long time. It’s time to protect our children and adolescent students from digital addiction.
(Prof Mahmudul Hassan is Principal, Daffodil International School).
