In modern society, it is not surprising to see children using smartphones for hours a day. For better or worse, this trend has already begun to affect them in certain aspects of life.
The causes of this trend are manifold. One possible assumption is that the absence of parental company leads to children’s excessive use of smartphones. This is because parents who are occupied with heavy workloads are likely to leave their kids with video games or cartoon series on their smartphones to kill time. As a result, attracted by such addictive forms of entertainment, these immature minds who lack self-discipline and parents’ guardianship tend to become addicted to the virtual world. Another reason might be that today’s younger generation grow up with digital devices, and these digital-natives get used to the routine in which smartphones are utilized to socialize with friends, get access to updated information, or complete assignments . These activities undoubtedly prolong the time they spend on smartphones.
Though the use of smartphones is conducive to developing children’s digital literacy and preparing them to be technologically savvy, I believe that it is detrimental to their overall development. For one thing, the excessive exposure to digital devices would disrupt children’s physical health. The prolonged screen time, together with a sedentary lifestyle, not only damages their eyesight, but also increases the risk of developing chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension. For another, once kids are drawn to smart devices, they will find it hard to focus on other things around them and will be unable to concentrate on schoolwork or family life. In the long term, this unhealthy lifestyle will pose a threat to their academic performance and family relationships.
Overall, this trend might stem from a variety of causes, and it should be a negative one as it is harmful to children both physically and mentally.
