Smartphones are everywhere nowadays and have entered almost every aspect of our lives. While adults spend hours on their smartphones, children are not far behind. Although smartphones provide unprecedented access to information, entertainment, and connectivity, there is growing concern about their impact on children, especially brain development. In a recent interview with renowned podcast host and neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman, social psychologist Dr. Jonathan Height discussed the reasons why smartphones should be kept away from children.
Increased risk of myopia (nearsightedness)
Height said that children who spend long hours in front of screens, especially using smartphones, are at risk of developing myopia or nearsightedness. Several studies have shown that when children engage in activities focused at close distances, such as using mobile phones, the size of the eye can increase, causing visual images to not reach the retina properly. This change causes nearsightedness, which is increasing rapidly among young people these days. Children who spend more time indoors and are deprived of exposure to natural light are at even greater risk. Exposure to natural light is essential for healthy eye development and may also help prevent the progression of myopia, Haight said.
The impact of screen time on brain development
Screen time isn't just harmful to vision, its effects can be far-reaching. A report published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2019 found that excessive screen time is associated with delays in children's cognitive development. The study found that children who had more screen time at the ages of 2 and 3 performed worse on developmental screen tests at ages 3 and 5. Simply put, this means that exposure to screens at an early stage can hurt language development, communication skills, and problem-solving. In the podcast, Huberman explained that the brain undergoes significant changes from childhood to adolescence, with certain periods being crucial for developing social, emotional, and cognitive skills. Introducing children to smartphones during this sensitive time can interfere with the brain's natural development.
"Plasticity" and the impact of smartphones
It is worth noting that children's brains have "high plasticity," which means they are highly receptive to making new connections and learning from experiences. According to Huberman, when these experiences are filled with instant gratification offered by social media, games, or other apps on mobile phones, it can hinder normal development. A 2016 report by the Pediatric Clinics of North America showed that children who spend more time in front of smartphones are more likely to have a shorter attention span and an increased tendency to distraction.
Concerns about mental health
Smartphones and their impact on children's mental health cannot be ignored. During the podcast, Dr. Hite highlighted that with the increased use of smartphones, cases of depression, anxiety, and even suicide have increased, especially among teens. He said social media available on smartphones further exacerbates these problems, as children, especially girls, face unrealistic beauty standards, cyberbullying, and pressure to seek validation through likes and followers.
Distance from social learning and skills
Smartphones, especially through social media, lead children to prioritize their virtual identities over real-world relationships. This behavior is neither constructive nor developmental. Instead, it distances children from real social learning experiences, which are essential during childhood. Hite emphasizes that children need real-world experiences to develop their identities, social skills, and emotional intelligence. He believes that excessive smartphone use can inhibit the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
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