The Health Risks of Technology on Children: What Parents Need to Know

Today, technology has become an inseparable part of our daily lives. While it has offered significant benefits and positive impacts in various aspects, it comes with risks, especially for children. This article discusses the health risks of technology on children and provides strategies for parents to follow to ensure their children grow up healthy.

The Health Risks of Technology (1-4)

1. Physical Health Risks

Constant and prolonged use of technology by children, including smartphones, tablets, video games, and computers, can negatively affect their physical, emotional, cognitive, and overall health and development. The risks include the following:

• Poor posture development.

• Musculoskeletal issues.

• Experiencing “tech neck”; a condition that refers to neck, back, and shoulder pain.

• Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS); is a group of eye and vision-related complications, such as irritated, dry eyes, blurry vision, and headaches.

• Sleep disturbances due to blue light from screens, including poor sleep quality and difficulty falling asleep.

• Obesity, eating disorders, and reduced physical activity.

• Reduced immunity.

2. Mental and Emotional Health Risks

Children’s mental health is significantly affected by prolonged and improper use of technology. These effects include the following:

• An increase in psychological disorders, such as anxiety, stress, ADHD, and depression.

• Low self-esteem and confidence, as comparing oneself with others on social media can create feelings of inadequacy and loneliness.

3. Social and Communication Development

Excessive use of technology can disrupt the development of social skills in children, including:

• Communication difficulties in real-life situations, which can affect their relationships with others.

• Poor expression of opinions leads to aggressive and violent children, particularly towards their parents.

• Children are prone to viewing improper online content and may have access to strangers who have harmful intentions.

4. Cognitive Development

Moreover, technology can negatively affect the development of cognitive functions in the following ways:

• Reduced attention and concentration, which may affect learning and school performance.

• Poor problem-solving skills and critical thinking.

• Children who use screens passively do not engage in traditional play and exploration activities, which are essential for healthy cognitive development.

Strategies for Parents (5,6)

To avoid the harmful effects of technology on children, parents must act proactively as follows:

1. Limiting Screen Time

Parents should monitor the amount of time their children spend using technology. It is recommended that children aged 2-5 years old not to use screens for longer than one hour per day, and older children should have controlled and limited use of technology.

2. Limiting Full Access

Access to online websites and games should be parent-guided to prevent improper use and undesirable effects.

3. Encouraging Physical Activity

Children should be engaged in physical activities to improve their physical, mental, social, and cognitive functions and enhance their overall health. This approach ensures that children are fully occupied and not distracted by screens and technology.

4. Improving Social and Communication Skills

Parents should encourage their children to attend social events, meet new people, learn new skills, and participate in workshops of their interest.

5. Setting a Good Example

Parents should set a good example for their children by limiting their use of screen time, engaging in physical and social activities, and using technology only for its benefits and positive impacts.

Written by Webteb.com 

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9273128/

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9273128/

3. https://wohum.org/technologys-effects-on-child-development-pros-and-cons/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8MG1BhCoARIsAHxSiQk3djI0ZSGzcHh6X5XVPSjBenwt_COAfWqnuO1CJAuMH2Zt3Y4U_usaAld2EALw_wcB

4. https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/9-health-hazards-of-electronic-devices-for-kids

5. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Tips-for-Parents-Digital-Age.aspx

6. https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/parenting/7-tips-to-help-our-children-use-technology-well/