Fight against smartphone addiction among children

Smartphone addiction among children and youngsters has posed the gravest ever threat to family as a cohesive unit and its place in wider society. Unlike substance abuse, it is performed in the open in full view for all to see. The addiction is widespread and equally as prevalent in urban areas as it is in villages. It is common nowadays to see youths and teenagers from varying backgrounds honed in on smartphones. Most parents pray their wards diverted this to their studies. While smartphones and the Internet have brought revolutionary benefits into people's lives, their harmful side effects are now getting exposed. The excessive use of smartphones has far-reaching and devastating consequences for both the young and the old, but unsuspecting children bear the brunt.
A recent study conducted by researchers from Jahangirnagar University focuses on the impact smartphone usage has on children in Bangladesh. The research reveals that parents who spend three or more hours daily on smartphones significantly increase the likelihood of influencing their children to develop such addiction. Parental behaviour in shaping children's behaviour is a deciding factor. Parents' tendency to hand over their smartphones to their children as a quick fix to pacify them or to keep them occupied while they attend to other tasks has worsened the situation. The surge of smartphones has caught society unaware, leaving it no time for putting in place a proper defence.
Shockingly, the research claims children who are addicted to smartphones are 500 times more prone to mental health issues and 230 times more susceptible to physical health problems compared to their non-addicted counterparts. This addiction inflicts a range of adverse effects on the physical and mental wellbeing, as well as the cognitive development of preschool-aged children, especially. Developing mental disorders is just one facet of the overuse of smartphones. Additionally, excessive use of smartphones unsettles family bonds, as children tend to spend more time with their gadgets rather than engaging with their parents and siblings. Many children are growing up without learning appropriate social skills, which come from interactions with family, friends, and neighbours. They hibernate in their bedroom, cut themselves off from the outside world, and watch cartoons, play video games, or surf the net for hours without talking with or seeing real people. As a result, today's youths are facing significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and other related disorders compared to any previous generation. While smartphones are not necessarily exclusively responsible, their adverse effects may be devastating.
In the face of this mounting crisis, it is imperative for parents, educators, and policymakers alike to work harmoniously towards making a concerted effort to protect children from the pernicious addiction. Parents must act by example and ensure they are not overusing smartphones themselves and are giving adequate time to their children, helping them with their homework, taking time to listen to them (however boring it might be) etc. Limiting smartphone usage will not be easy, but it is not impossible either. Parents ought to discipline themselves first and then their children. Teach by example. Initially, it will be challenging, but with determination, they can overcome the urge to constantly keep checking the phone or to give it to their child out of habit. It will help them gain more control over their time and become more involved with beneficial activities rather than being a captive slave to an electronic device.