The civilian Affairs Institute warns against the harmful effects of smartphones on children on planet Day without a mobile phone. Experts urge complete avoidance of smartphones by children up to 13-14 years of age. Excessive usage of phones leads to wellness problems and drug-like addiction.
World Day without a Cell telephone is simply a good chance to turn off the smartphone and reflect on warnings by Prof. Manfred Spitzer - wrote the Institute of civilian Affairs in a communication sent to PAP. As experts emphasize, all day without a smartphone is simply a good day.
The minute you give your kid a phone, you will fight all day - don't usage it here, don't usage it now - warns the Institute. Therefore, the recommendations for parents are clear: until the kid turns 13-14 - no smartphone.
Expert warns against digital dementia
Manfred Spitzer is simply a world-renowned German psychiatrist, scientist and neurodydactic. He is the author of 3 books: "Epidemia smartphones. A threat to health, education and society, "Digital dementia. How we deprive ourselves and our children of our minds" and "Cyberchords. How digital life ruins our health".
Rafał Górski, president of the Board of the civilian Affairs Institute moving the "Save the Children" campaign, warned against many threats. Shortsightedness, overweight, sleep disturbances, posture defects, prediabetic conditions, traffic accidents - these are just any of the problems associated with excessive usage of the phone.
Mental wellness risks
In addition to physical problems, investigation besides indicates the dangers to children's intellectual health. Anxiety, depression, including self-harm and suicidal thoughts, stress, disturbance of attention, increased aggressiveness and reduced empathy towards parents and friends - these are the consequences of smartphone abuse.
Importantly, the smartphone harms the improvement of the kid not only erstwhile he uses it himself, but besides erstwhile the smartphone is utilized by his parent or father during his parental duties - stressed Górski. At the same time, he pointed out that the smartphone is addicted to alcohol, cigarettes, and cocaine.
Children request a real interaction
Children become more addicted than adults and the effects of this addiction are much more dangerous, harmful - wrote the president of the Institute. A kid needs millions of words spoken to him and tens of thousands of games with his parents to make properly.
Laying blocks, painting pictures, reading together, singing songs, playing ball - these are activities essential for appropriate development. Why don't parents do that? Mountainski quoted the words of Danish Minister for Children and Education Mattias Tesfaye of 2024.
Danish Minister admits error
"We were far besides naive and blinded by what was achieved by the largest technology companies, and what in practice meant disrupting the teaching process" - said Tesfaye. "I hope we halt handing out tablets to first graders and give them pencils and teach them to compose letters."
The president of the Institute of civilian Affairs noted that in the absence of a ban on telephones in schools the biggest gain is large business. Technology corporations: TikTok, Meta (Facebook, Instagram), Google (YouTube); smartphone manufacturers: Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi; telecommunications companies: Play, Orange, Plus, T-Mobile day after day depend on their products.
Steve Jobs was protecting his own children
He besides recalled that Steve Jobs, the creator of the Apple brand, had adhered to the iron regulation of drug dealers: "never drug your own product." In an interview with the fresh York Times Jobs said his kids had never utilized an iPad before. "In our home we restrict access to modern technology for children" - he said.
Specialists have for years been pointing out that asking children who are not yet capable of self-control makes the parents of police officers self-control erstwhile utilizing smartphones. Additionally, it is simply a origin of frustration for everyone in the family, due to the fact that it is impossible - the author raised the text.
Mountainski appealed: "I encourage you to make planet Day without a Cell telephone an chance for you and your kid to have fun, reflection and change."
(PAP) Note: This article was edited with Artificial Intelligence.
