Smartphone peer pressure is kicking in

“Once upon a time there lived a happy young boy, till one day, his father gifted him a smart phone.” A short story that speaks volumes about how potent a smart phone can be! Amongst youngsters there is tremendous fascination and also, heavy peer pressure to own a smart phone. No doubt, it’s a great gadget to ensure one’s safety, but it also gets them addicted to games, social media, unsafe apps, where online bullies, blackmailers, porn and Internet predators are on the prowl. One may get deeply absorbed in the myriad world of virtual reality, the excitement of being connected, experiencing popularity by the many likes and appreciation over photos and videos, creating an identity through social media, get hooked onto interesting apps, games and sometimes exploring the dark side of porn and chatting with strangers. 

So ideally, it is best for parents to delay giving teenagers a phone for as long as possible. On the other hand, youngsters can take breaks from using their phones by spending time with family in the evenings and weekends. Turn off smartphones while having dinner and when out with friends or family. One evening every week, stop using your phone entirely.