What is phone and social media addiction?
Phone and social media addiction refers to the excessive use of smartphones and social media platforms. These platforms offer instant rewards, after which there is a release of hormone, also known as the happy hormone, that makes us believe we have discovered paradise with a little message sent to the neuron that creates incredible happiness. We find it in cigarettes as well as in a hug with one of our favourite people.
Dopamine and social media
The use of these devices and platforms can become compulsive and excessive, leading to a lack of control over their use.
In today’s age of easy access to everything from movies to food to platforms such as Uber eat Netflix, and many others I forget to mention, one might ask why it is a bad thing to do without such a useful tool as a telephone
which today is visible and accessible everywhere, we could mention Netflix, Instagram, TikTok etc, and I have only mentioned them. All these contents are easily accessible by all and even at a very young age, and “the problem” with these applications is that they are dopamine barrels. You can find anything you want anywhere as long as there is wifi and a typing machine. Not long ago, I saw a debate that talked about this topic and the consequences it has on a particular audience, which is today’s children. Nowadays, a child has an incredible ease of access to a mobile phone or even to any device, but the problem here is not the access but the consequences of this access.
The child and addiction
I suggest you try giving a phone to a child around you and taking it back 1H-2H later, and it’s like giving a cigarette to an adult, between the fits and repetitive requests to have the phone back there is almost no difference with a person addicted to a drug. According to an international study, a 3 year old child spends about 6 to 12 hours a day in front of a screen between cartoon and series on Netflix and YouTube and funny videos on TikTok. ranging from simple nursery rhymes to animated series and films. This accessible fun leads to more serious problems.
Children who spend more time on their phones and social media tend to have poorer quality sleep, leading to a range of health problems.
Phone and social media addiction can distract children from their studies and have a negative impact on their academic performance. Reduced physical activity: Excessive use of phones and social media can lead to a reduction in physical activity.
Prevention
To prevent children’s addiction to phones and social media, parents and caregivers can take the following steps: Limit the amount of time children spend on their phones and social media. Encourage them to engage in other activities, such as reading or sports, to model healthy behavior.
Parents have a responsibility to model healthy behaviour by limiting their phone and social media use. Monitor your child’s phone and social media use and be mindful of the type of content they are consuming; encourage your child to interact with others face-to-face, as this helps them develop social skills and reduce their dependence on technology. Phone and social media addiction can have significant negative effects on children’s mental and physical health in the long run. As parents, we have a responsibility to limit their exposure to technology and encourage healthy habits.
By setting limits, monitoring use, and encouraging face-to-face interactions, we can help children develop a healthy relationship with technology and prevent addiction.
