Chennai: Sujata Krishnan, mother of a seven-year-old daughter, was worried as the little girl was addicted to her parents’ mobile phones. “I can’t blame her as she obviously learnt it from us. Each time she cried, our immediate reflex was to stick out the phone. However, only when we noticed it had become a habit did we realise that we were ruining our child,” she said.
With many parents fearing that their children would fail to succeed in life if they are not in touch with the technology of the time, some teachers have a hard time trying to ensure that their students do not flout school rules that forbid carrying cell phones to school.
“It is not just to ensure that students do not misuse their phones, but it is also because teachers know what the possession of a smartphone can do to a teenager. It can get them into a whole lot of trouble. Youngsters tend to lose their concentration when addicted to smartphones,” said Reena Bharath, a middle school teacher.
“Smartphones expose children to social media, which is highly unsafe as they are not aware of the problems related to web surfing,” said P. Nilam, a counsellor. “I have come across many children who find it difficult to sit without a phone for the shortest time period without throwing a tantrum,” she added.
Psychologists say the sharp increase in the use of technology among youngsters is not good as addiction tends to affect their emotions. “Social media is uncensored and when children enter that arena, they tend to get sucked right into it. They begin to lose control over their actions and reactions,” said a child specialist.
Though technology per se is not that bad, its over dependence becomes a problem. “Children who are addicted to smartphones tend to interact less with parents or avoid participating in real life activities,” said Parvathy K., a psychiatrist.
