PESHAWAR, Jul 10 (APP): The digital revolution and the exponential growth in telecommunication technology have undoubtedly made life easier. However, it has also brought numerous health hazards, particularly for children and teenagers in developing countries like Pakistan. Medical experts warn that the increased dependency on cellular phones and social media usage is having negative effects on children, exposing them to mental and psychological disorders.
Over half of the population in many countries uses mobile phones. According to available data, the number of internet users has surged to over 5.03 billion, equivalent to 63.1 percent of the global population. Simultaneously, health problems related to excessive mobile phone use have worsened, especially for children and teenagers, who are vulnerable to psychological, medical, and eyesight issues.
Fazl Rabbani, Head of the Psychiatry Department at Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, told APP that excessive mobile phone use affects the bond of love and affection between children and parents. It also creates emotional and cognitive problems. “Children under five who use mobile phones for cartoons and games are less attentive to their parents than those who play outside. These children become victims of anxiety, frustration, stress, and depression, and they experience sleep disturbances,” Dr. Rabbani explained.
He added that mobile phones have increased psychological problems and crankiness in children, especially those aged three to five years and students preparing for board or O/A level exams. Reduced physical activity, early school enrollment, and excessive screen time are major contributors to behavioral changes in children. When children become troublesome, parents often hand over mobile phones instead of seeking better solutions. The habit of eating out rather than consuming home-cooked meals has also negatively impacted children’s health. Screen time has made children more susceptible to anxiety and psychological problems.
To address these issues, Dr. Rabbani advised parents to encourage their children to spend time with elders and engage in physical activities. He emphasized the importance of avoiding excessive pressure on children related to academic performance and called for the establishment of parks and playgrounds in schools and housing societies. Parents should prioritize their children’s well-being by promoting healthier lifestyles, limiting screen time, and fostering opportunities for physical activity and social interaction. By addressing these factors, the prevalence of psychological problems in children can be mitigated, leading to happier and healthier childhoods.
With the rising trend of digital adaptation and social media use, the number of internet users continues to increase at an annual rate of about four percent. Current trends indicate that two-thirds of the world’s population will be online by December this year.
Dr. Malik Riaz, a senior children specialist at the Government Hospital in Pabbi, Nowshera, said that unchecked mobile phone use by children and teenagers leads to poor performance in education and extracurricular activities. It also isolates them. He noted that many patients bring their children to doctors with complaints of multiple health issues, including anxiety, depression, aggressive behavior, and pain in the back, wrists, and hands due to excessive smartphone and tablet use. “Children also suffer from malnourishment, stunted growth, and low immunity, making them vulnerable to fatal diseases like pneumonia, anxiety, and mental disorders,” he added.
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Dr. Riaz emphasized that physicians regularly counsel patients about the medical risks associated with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and smoking, but rarely discuss the adverse effects of smartphones in educational and health institutes or during driving. He warned that people of all age groups, especially children and teenagers, are most vulnerable to ocular diseases, including nearsightedness (myopia), asthenopia, and ocular surface ailments due to excessive smartphone use. “Using smartphones with full brightness causes blurred vision and poor eyesight,” he said, adding that time restrictions on smartphone use and intermittent blinking during continuous use of digital devices could prevent ocular and visual abnormalities.
He also highlighted that mobile phones carry germs because they are not washable. Rapid exchange of devices could transmit multiple infectious diseases, including coronavirus. Since mobile phone and digital device use started only in recent decades, much research is needed to determine whether their radiation could cause brain and eye tumors.
According to available data, 92.1 percent of internet users worldwide use a mobile phone to go online. Mobile phones now account for more than 55 percent of our online time and 60 percent of the world’s web traffic. As a result of the availability of smartphones, the number of social media users exceeded 4.70 billion in July 2022, indicating that almost 94 percent of internet users were now using social media every month. Additionally, over 227 million new users joined social media in the last 12 months, with more than 620,000 new users every day and seven new users every second across the globe.
“My life improved when I stopped using my smartphone and started spending more time with my family,” said Ehtisham Khan, a student of BS Urdu literature, speaking to the news agency. He explained that smartphones had consumed much of his precious time, which he should have spent with family and friends. He urged people to spend time with their families, especially children, and to encourage reading books instead of wasting time on social media.
