Providing a mobile phone to a child under 16 is akin to giving them a double-edged sword, capable of unlocking knowledge but also unleashing a plethora of distractions, cyber threats, and unhealthy dependencies. This can significantly hinder their social, emotional, and cognitive development, potentially crippling their prospects.
The sentiments of Nigerian social media influencer Ijeoma Njoku resonate deeply in this context, as she firmly believes that responsible parenting involves keeping internet-enabled phones out of the hands of minors.
According to her, on Wednesday, buying an Android or iPhone for a child under 16 is a glaring display of parental irresponsibility, irrespective of one’s wealth or social awareness. What’s your stance on this?
Besides children being exposed to mature content, which could cause them to “sexually harass other children because of what they watched on their mobile devices”, as Ijeoma said, they are vulnerable to cyberbullying and online predators.
A study by the Pew Research Center found that 59% of teens have experienced online harassment, while 45% have experienced severe forms of harassment, such as physical threats or sustained harassment.
The story of a 14-year-old girl from Lagos who was lured into sharing explicit photos with an online “friend” who claimed to be a model is an example.. The predator later blackmailed her, threatening to share the photos online if she didn’t comply with his demands. The girl’s parents discovered the situation and reported it to the authorities, but not before the girl had attempted to harm herself.
Research suggests that excessive screen time can hinder a child’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. Children who spend more time on smartphones are at a higher risk of developing addiction, social isolation, and decreased attention span.
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To test executive functionality, ask your child or teenager to do a certain task within a short period. You can ask them to arrange their room in 10 minutes and watch if they can do this without being distracted by their phone, and if they finish on time.
Using a smartphone before bed can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to sleep disturbances and related health issues. The blue light emitted from screens can interfere with the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Now think about that child who has been exposed to this blue light at an early age and will continue to use the phone as the child gets older.
The advantages of smartphones for children and teenagers are not overlooked. Not only do they offer a vast array of educational resources, but they also enable kids to quickly reach out to parents or authorities in emergencies.
By leveraging various apps and tools, kids can develop essential skills like digital literacy, problem-solving, and critical thinking, all of which are crucial for success in today’s technology-driven world.
However, we should be aware of the potential risks and take proactive steps to help children and teenagers navigate the digital world in a healthy and balanced way.
Establishing screen-free zones and times, such as during meals or before bed, will really be of great help. We can also create a time where children engage in outdoor activities, sports, or creative pursuits, which should be more than the time spent on phones.
Study proves that children learn mostly from what they see rather than what they hear, so it’s essential for parents and adults to model healthy screen use habits.
