Do you have trouble keeping your children away from their smartphones? Do you often complain about the excessive screen time of your children and look for measures to break the smartphone addiction? This addiction can lead to decreased social engagement, affecting their interactions with others and potentially leading to social isolation. We spoke to our expert Prof Dr Mahipal S Sachdev, Chairman and Medical Director, Centre for Sight Group of Eye Hospitals, Safdarjung Enclave, who listed ways to break smartphone addiction.
According to the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation, smartphone addiction is a behavioural addiction that involves mood tolerance, salience, withdrawal, modification, conflict, and relapse.
Signs Of Smartphone Addiction
Signs of smartphone addiction in children may include
- Excessive use of mobile devices
- Feelings of withdrawal, such as anxiety or rage when you don't use the phone
- Neglect of responsibilities
- Interference with daily activities
- Awakening multiple times at night to check your phone
- Accident or injury as a result of phone usage
Impact Of Smartphone Addiction
According to BMC Psychiatry, smartphone addiction can hamper your health in many ways including:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Poor sleep quality
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Interpersonal competence
- Emotional problems
Apart from this, children and teenagers who spend too much time on their smartphones run the risk of encountering improper content, online predators, and cyberbullying.
According to the Journal of Behavioural Addictions, an individual's performance at work and in school might be negatively impacted by smartphone addiction, as well as their physical and mental well-being.
Also Read: Headphones Or Earphones: What’s Good For Your Ears? Expert Explains Their Impact On Hearing
Impact Of Smartphone Addiction On Eye Health
“The major eye effects of excessive screen time may include digital eye strain, dry eyes, and blurred vision. Also, excessive screen time, especially at close distances, may contribute to the development and progression of myopia (nearsightedness) in children”, added Dr Sachdev.
It's crucial to balance screen usage to mitigate these risks. Regular breaks, proper lighting, and maintaining a healthy viewing distance can help alleviate eye strain.
Tips To Break Smartphone Addiction
In the digital age, it is critical for kids' wellbeing to tackle smartphone addiction. Dr Sachdev listed some tips that can help in breaking the addiction as follows:
- Establish and regularly enforce restrictions on the amount of time spent on screens.
- Make portions of the house, such as bedrooms and the dining room, tech-free
- Before going to bed, electronics should be taken out of the bedroom to avoid disrupting sleep and encourage better sleep habits
- Kids learn through observation and, therefore, exhibit healthy screen behaviours and restrict their own smartphone usage in their presence. Set an example for others by putting a time restriction on your own screen use and spending time with them offline
- You can make use of parental control applications and features to keep an eye on and limit your child's smartphone usage.
- Promote hobbies, sports, and outdoor play to reduce dependency on digital devices. Sometimes offer engaging alternatives to screen time, such as books, puzzles, or board games.
What You Should Know
A path towards more responsible phone use may include brief relapses, modifications, and withdrawal symptoms. It's unrealistic to expect perfection straight away. Recognise that there will be setbacks, and grow from each one.
[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your expert if you have any health issues to get the necessary treatment.]