Technology Addiction In Children

Gadget addiction: How To Recognize and What To Advice

Dr M A Aleem
Neurologist
ABC Hospital
Trichy

Introduction


Technology is growing and changing just as quickly as our children. With constant exposure to screens, it’s only natural for a parent to be concerned about what all this screen time is doing to our children.

HEALTH CONCERNS

In recent days children can’t entertain them self without electronics. Disconnecting them from them results in tantrums or high level of irritation.

They develops a negative attitude towards spending time in nature.

They can’t manage guidelines surrounding electronics.

Older kids are entering a digital world with social issues connected to cyber bullying with texting, social media, adult content websites, and violent video games. We are just beginning to learn the trickle effect of advanced time spent connected to screens and children plugged into gadget technology.

As a parent – and the one who buys devices, games, and apps – you control your child’s access to technology.  Sometimes things get out of hand before we realize what happened.  Don’t be too hard on yourself.  It’s never too late to reframe your family’s technology rules.


One in three children are using tablets and phones before they can talk

In recent days the rise in gadgets is being attributed to the rise in technology addiction

Gadgets Addiction in children can interfere with their learning education sleeping patterns and eating which results in overweight and obesity . In continuous gadget users signs include withdrawal symptoms and a rise in devious behavior can also occur. These devices uses definitely having a significant impact of the mental health of young people.

Tablets and phones have replaced the TV as a way of keeping children entertained, yet these devices could be damaging to a child's health potentially leading to technology addiction.

SIGNS TO LOOK FOR GATGET ADDICTION IN CHILDREN



Check for signs of anxiety and irritability.

Children may become angry by small things when suffering from withdrawal from gadgets.

They also stressed the importance of taking a 'digital detox' to remedy their obsession.

When people feel an uncomfortable sense of withdrawal when not online, we know that the relationship with technology is not being managed properly.

GADGET ADDICTION

Parents today often struggle with understanding how crucial social media is to children today; the modern day playground is virtual.

Yet when electronic devices start to have more influence over behavior than anyone else or anything else, when children become very distressed when technology is removed from them, that is the moment when really you need to start changing things continued.

For children who are addicted to technology, it is primarily about the way they feel when using it that is the issue, they explained.

Children who are not addicted may get a buzz from a range of activities not just technology.

If a child is displaying signs of severe distress and agitation when separated from technology, then we know there is an unhealthy dependence.

In effect, it is giving them a 'hit', similar to a drug user.

This unhealthy dependence doesn't just mean the child becomes agitated when told they can't use technology, Dr Graham also explains that the addiction may manifest itself in other behaviours.

Technology addiction can impact a child's sleep, interfere with meal times and eating habits and make children act up during play time.


SIGNS TO LOOK FOR GATGET ADDICTION IN CHILDREN



Check for signs of anxiety and irritability.

Children may become angry by small things when suffering from withdrawal from gadgets.

They also stressed the importance of taking a 'digital detox' to remedy their obsession.

When people feel an uncomfortable sense of withdrawal when not online, we know that the relationship with technology is not being managed properly.


LACK OF INTEREST IN OTHER ACTIVITIES

One sign a child may have an issue with gadget is when a parent is trying to get the child to do something else that is fun - such as going to the cinema or take part in an outdoor activity - and the child is reluctant to do so.

In Kids if this reluctance increases and 'it becomes harder and harder to get them to do anything other than engaging with technology, they may be showing signs of addiction.


CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT OR GETTING DISTRACTED BY TECHNOLOGY

If children talk about when they are next going online, or a parent suspects they are thinking about their next technology fix, they may have an issue.

Look for signs of them constantly wanting to get back to their devices. For example, if they keep playing and checking their phone wanting to switch it back on.

MOOD SWINGS AND ARGUMENTATIVE BEHAVIOUR

Another sign to look for is if the amount of time they spend using devices increases.

Equally, if they 'become very sensitive when any concern is expressed about their technology usage to the point it can easily escalate into an argument.

Some children may tell the adult they don't understand because they didn't have devices when they were growing up.



WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

If a child appears tense or upset when they can't get online, and this feeling noticeably goes away when they are given their devices, they may have a problem .

They may become distressed or angry by small things and when they are back online become calmer' and advises parents to check for signs of anxiety, agitation and irritability.


INCREASE IN LYING OR A RISE IN DEVIOUS BEHAVIOUR

This includes concealing the extent to which they use their devices, hiding them or using them in bed without your knowledge.

Children with potential addiction will try to do as much as they can to minimise the extent to which they are asked about their technology use by keeping it a secret.

It's normal for children to want to have some space and secrets but advises parents to ask friends how much time their similarly-aged kids are spending online, or check forums.



Addicted children may become secretive and defensive about their gadgets and their gadget use, as well as argue with parents more often.

Additionally, children addicted to technology may also avoid or ignore real-life activities and refuse to go to places where their gadgets can't be used, such as the cinema.

It's pretty much guaranteed parents will think their child is spending too much time online or on smartphones. The key thing is to talk to other parents at the school gates, or similar, to find out if a child is more preoccupied than their mates.

If there is a real difference, you need to speak to your child not just about cybersafety, but about what is so preoccupying, what might be addictive within it, and what this addiction might help them avoid in the real world.



More than half of parents worry about their children's use of technology. A third of children, stock image pictured, check their phone for messages several times an hour, while almost two thirds use their devices in bed.

It is important to restrict the time children spend using technology to help prevent forming an unhealthy dependence.

Techniques include ensuring prolonged periods where children are focused on the 'real world' and play time with other children. 

Establishing a maximum daily time allowance can be a good place to start. It is also about making sure adults leave their phones off or on silent during meal times and when with friends and family as children learn behavior from their parents.

HOW TO CONTROL A CHILD'S TECHNOLOGY ADDICTION

Tune out, turn off
What can you do about it? I’ve talked with dozens of parents about this, and while there’s no magic formula, it really boils down to a few simple rules:

1. Create a contract.

It’s a good idea to sit down with your kids and collaborate on guidelines for when and how they’re allowed to use their devices. Write them down so there’s no dispute later over what they agreed to.


2. Establish tech-free zones.

A popular tactic is to set times or spaces where technology is verboten . Meals are a typical time to ask everyone to check their phones at the door; many parents forbid technology after a certain hour or in kids’ bedrooms; and some plan gadget-free trips and other activities.

You will probably need some kind of monitoring system on your home network to help enforce these rules. You’ll also want to get familiar with the devices your kids use most. The iPad, Kindle, and Xbox all have rudimentary parental controls built in, while AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon let you set time restrictions and put other limits on their phones for a small monthly fee.

3. Choose your screens carefully.

Measuring screen time alone is missing the point. There’s a big difference between spending two hours building cool stuff in Minecraft and spending two hours decimating zombies in Dead Rising. I think my son spends too much time watching YouTube videos, but actually many of them are about science or history. It’s not a substitute for playing football, but it’s not a total brain-melting waste either.




4. Get active.

What does a kid do when there’s no screen to turn to? What you used to do when you were a kid: Break out the board games, ride bikes, play hopscotch. There was a period in third grade when my daughter was obsessed with knitting and got all of her friends obsessed, too. That worked fine.

There are also dozens of Xbox, PlayStation, and Wii games that allow kids to exercise more than just their thumbs, using the consoles’ cameras and motion detectors. These games are also easier for most adults to play along with. It’s still technically screen time, but it’s social and physically active screen time.

5. Heal thyself.

Want to see someone who probably spends too much time staring into the electronic void? Look at the reflection in your monitor. Or smartphone. Or tablet. If you’re not dealing with your addiction to pixels, how can you ask your kids to deal with theirs?

FAMILY 'S GATGET RULES

1)   Don’t view your phone as a shut-up toy. 

When our oldest child was repeatedly asking for our phone parent explained that they didn’t want to shut them up. Parent always wanted to hear their thoughts. That conversation (and a few reminders) ended the habit they had formed of always asking for our phone out of boredom.

2)   Free range your children!

The summer months are ideal for getting outside more and sitting in front of a screen less. This is the best tip for that older 10 year old who can’t get enough video games. Give them the freedom to free-range with a friend, visit a local park, or just to explore! Start with smaller time intervals and let them enjoy exploring the neighborhood on their own. As a mom learning to encourage free-range play, it’s difficult to not feel panic at first. Parent should stay positive by thinking of free-range play as a gift thet can give their children to help them grow and discover the beauty of play and nature through their own eyes and experiences.

3)   Insist on electronic-free play dates.

We’ve all seen the effect of one child pulling out an ipod and suddenly all social interaction is lost with a group of children. Request that electronic gadgets don’t accompany guests or play dates when you are hosting.

4)   Have a child that doesn’t like nature?


Rekindle their love by including low-level technology to help enhance their connection. Have an old digital camera? Children love to take pictures and you can create amazing eye-spy games and hunts. Another tool to getting kids outdoors is geocaching. It’s a digital style treasure hunt that involves either a GPS or just following clues and instructions. Time spent in nature is incredibly important – if you need to take baby steps to get kids outside, every little bit counts.

5)   Look at your own habits.

What example are you teaching children with your relationship to electronics? When you have idle time – how do you spend it? If you are checking your phone and needing constant stimuli, it might be time to wean yourself down from your own technology addiction. Need something to keep hands busy and productive? Take up a hobby. Watch yourself through the eyes of your child and show them that you are willing to detox from electronics too.

Sometimes we need to reevaluate technology and the huge advancements and accessibility to understand how connected we’ve become. There’s no app that can replace the importance of play and time spent in nature.



CONCLUSION

Awareness of this problem has given rise to a new phenomenon: unplugging camps for adults, where overly wired professionals free themselves from the shackles of technology.

The rules at camp are taken seriously. No digital technology, no work talk, and no networking. The focus isn’t on disconnecting from devices as much as it is about reconnecting to the things that really matter in life.



Here’s what adults get up to when they’re not glued to their devices.

Modern phone age families
If you are feeling the urge to toss your kids’ smartphones into the trash, there are two more things to keep in mind. First, this is not a new problem. Parents’ biggest complaint was that TV rotted kids’ brains. Their parents probably worried about an excess of talking pictures. Go far back enough; I bet we’d discover Fred and Wilma were concerned that Pebbles was spending too much time in front of cave paintings. Most of us survived just fine.

The second thing to remember is that we have to prepare our kids for the world they will inherit, not the one we grew up in. Barring some kind of technology apocalypse, nearly everything they read, do, or say as adults is going to be delivered digitally.

In other words, they will be spending even more time in front of screens. One of our jobs as parents is to make sure they don’t spend all their time in front of them. Another is to make sure that the unavoidable time they do spend with technology is spent well and wisely.