Gadget Addiction in Children is a Result of Mimicking Their Parents
Parents who always plays with their smartphone or iPad in front of their children are at risk of neglecting their children. These children are at risk of dependence on electronic equipment screen, either it is a smartphone, iPad or other gadgets in their life.
“The younger generation will eventually grow to become addicted to computers, televisions and smartphones. This addiction is synonymous with alcohol addiction,” says Dr Aric Sigman as reported by the Telegraph.
Dr Sigman is a biologist and member of the British Psychological Society. He presented the research evidence suggesting a link between high levels of use of gadgets with the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
At the age of 7 years, these children will spend a total time to watch gadget screen for around 1 year. Effects of exposure to gadget screen for a long term will change children’s brain circuitry like as it occurs in drug or alcohol addiction.
“Exposure to gadget screen releases the dopamine hormone , a chemical that plays an important role in brain reward system and is associated with the formation of the nature of dependence or addiction,” said Dr. Sigman.
It is expected, that today’s youth spend up to six hours a day watching their smartphone. Children who are currently aged 10 years on average sees 5 different gadgets screen at home and watch two or more screens at the same time.
Boys whose parents watch television more than 4 hours a day are more than 10 times likely to have the same habits with their parents than those with parents who rarely watch television.
At the annual meeting of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in Glasgow, Dr Sigman advised the parents to control the use of gadget at home.
Dr Sigman suggests that children younger than 3 years should not be allowed to be exposed to gadget or a television screen at all. Children aged under 7 years also may not watch gadget or television for more than 1 hour a day.
“Learning to read facial expressions and body language of someone is very important to develop empathy. But kids today do not have enough experience to be able to do it,” said Sue Palmer, author of ‘Toxic Childhood’.
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