Research Questions:
What is the effect of Smartphones on child development?
Many researchers have confirmed that smartphones are detrimental to
children’s social and economic development as the Child’s attention is diverted
by the use of it. To be more specific, the use of interactive screen time on hand-
held devices such as smartphones also impairs children’s development of the
skills needed to learn math and science according to the findings of the research.
On the other hand, excessive use of smartphones is bound to have a negative
impact on your child’s overall health and development. The blue light and
radiation emitted by smartphones are harmful for both children’s eyes and brain,
and it has the ability to damage their eyes and alter their thought process as
well. As numerous studies have shown that excessive amounts of Screen Time
damages brain structure by causing grey matter atrophy, reducing cortical
thickness, compromising white matter integrity, impairing cognitive function and
debilitating dopamine function.
It is high time to take screen time limits extremely seriously, as it is ultimately in
the hands of parents to eliminate all these risks from their children’s
development by being more watchful and by limiting screen time effectively. It is
true that even as adults it is quite difficult at times to limit ourselves with our
smartphone usages, which makes it all the more important to limit children’s
screen time as they are much more susceptible to experiencing the above said
problems.
https://sherwoodhigh.com/blogs/5-harmful-effects-of-smartphones-on-the-
development-of-your child/#:~:text=New%20studies%20also%20suggest
%20that,to%20the%20British%20Psychological%20Society.
The Positive Effect of Smartphones on Child Development
While it may be intuitive to focus immediately on the consequences of
smartphone technology on youth, the learning benefits of smartphone
technology cannot be ignored. Equipped with miniature computers, students
from elementary school to college can develop digital literacies and research
skills earlier than previous generations.
To find out more about these scholastic opportunities, of USA Today surveyed
teachers across the United States. Many believe smartphones in classroom
environments can yield three profound benefits in the development of children:
Self-sufficiency: Through early guidance and support, parents and teachers can
help children learn how to self-regulate the time they spend on their phones.
This lesson will help them create and practice healthy self-awareness and self-
reflection practices that will better prepare them for adolescence and,
eventually, young adulthood.
Digital literacy: As children use smartphones, they effectively prepare
themselves to engage with future technologies. Because some schools offer
high-speed internet access to students, children can begin to develop a greater
knowledge of how to navigate resources online through their smartphones. One
teacher interviewed by USA Today found that this level of access has a
democratizing effect, which can help bridge the digital divide between families of
different income levels.
Access to emergency services: In the unfortunate event of an emergency,
students with smartphone access can find help more easily. As far as the effects
of smartphones on child development, this constant ability to reach emergency
services can give both children and parents a sense of security that enables
growth.
While these perspectives should be measured, considerably more research
needs to be conducted to build a solid case for how smartphone use beneficially
impacts children as they grow.
The Negative Effect of Smartphones on Child Development
The drawbacks of smartphone use on children has received attention in recent
years. In academia, journalism, and other popular forms of media, there has
been a growing concern for the ways that children have increased access to
smartphone technology.
Specifically, the behavioral consequences of smartphone dependency in children
has received the attention of scholars across the world. An article titled
“Association between mobile technology use and child adjustment in early
elementary school age” used data compiled from a group of 1,642 first-grade
children in Japan to determine whether there’s a link between the use of
smartphone technology and behavioral development. The researchers found
that “routine and frequent use of mobile devices appear to be associated with
behavioral problems in childhood.”
Additionally, some scholars have even turned toward the adverse bodily effects
that smartphones can have on children. A recent article published in the journal
Child Development explored the physical health consequences of smartphone
use for children. It stated that, as more children begin using smartphones at
earlier ages, “it is of importance that neurological diseases, physiological
addiction, cognition, sleep and behavioral problems are considered.” Because of
this, parents and clinicians should be aware of the repercussions of early-age
smartphone usage.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has begun identifying the risks associated
with children using smartphone technology. The Washington Post recently
reported on the WHO designation of how much time children — particularly
babies — should spend on smartphones. The organization stated that children
between two- and four-years-old “should spend no more than an hour a day in
front of a screen.” Additionally, the writers found that a research gap exists in
the field. They stated that “Long-term consequences can be hard to measure,
and ethical concerns prevent experiments” that could explore the topic more
thoroughly. As a result, we will likely be unable to grasp many of the negative
effects of smartphones that will put children at further risk.
A root cause of the negative effects of smartphones on child development can
come from an unexpected place. An article in the Atlantic stated that, before
parents should be concerned about their children’s smartphone usage, they
should first consider their own. As the ultimate examples of their children,
parents need to be mindful of their smartphone consumption since that kind of
behavior will set the stage for how children will interact with technology. Parents
must consider what image they express to their children and how they
communicate responsible smartphone consumption.
https://www.cune.edu/academics/resource-articles/examining-effect-
smartphones-child-development
What is the effect of Smartphones and Tablets on social and emotional
communication of children?
The more time you spend looking at a screen, the less time you spend interacting
in person with others. This makes it more difficult to establish interpersonal
connections and strong relationships, which are important for mental health and
the health of the community at large.
Using screens to zone out or decompress is fine in moderation, but there can be
a negative effect if excessive.
“Anything that is done out of moderation is cause for concern,” says UNC Health
pediatric and adult neurosurgeon Carolyn Quinsey, MD. “For children, they are
learning early in life to engage in passive activities instead of being actively
engaged, which can become a habit as they grow older.”
That lack of face-to-face interaction can lead to depression. Health experts are
also concerned that excessive social media use—especially among teens—can
lead to depression and anxiety.
“We know that social media can be linked to depression and anxiety,” Dr.
Almodóvar-Suárez says. “When we go into social media and post, we’re posting a
manufactured life—picking the best pictures of ourselves or the nicest picture
from our trip. We’re not showing an ugly part of the trip, like a four-hour bus
ride or an unflattering picture. The problem is that when we see that from other
people, we start to question why we can’t be having that same experience. We
feel like something is missing.”
https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/the-effects-of-smartphone-usage-on-the-
brain/#:~:text=The%20more%20time%20you%20spend,of%20the
%20community%20at%20large.
These days, many children are prescribed drugs for attention deficit disorders
and hyperactivity. This is a direct result of children spending an average of five to
six hours a day staring at screens. And they're often on two or more screens at a
time. For example, a child may watch television while playing on a tablet or
phone. Babies are born with the curiosity to learn about their world, so they're
highly motivated to interact with people and objects around them. That's why
they love it when we play silly games with them, such as peekaboo. But when
little ones are gratified and get instant rewards from using mobile phones, they
may lose interest in the real world.
The use of interactive screens impacts brain chemistry, messing with how your
child experiences joy and pleasure. Excessive screen time desensitizes the brain's
reward system and it may kill your child's ability to enjoy the simple pleasures of
life. Your little one may lose interest in observing her immediate surroundings
and instead, want to stay in a constant state of stimulation.
Researchers from the University of Toronto and The Hospital For Sick Children in
Toronto found that 30 minutes of screen time increased the risk of delayed
speech by 49 percent. Even a few minutes of screen time before bed can reduce
the release of the hormone melatonin, which helps us sleep. That, of course, is
going to affect your child's mood.
https://www.parentcircle.com/how-smartphone-use-impacts-child-s-emotional-
wellbeing/article
What is the effect of Smartphones on the children’s health?
Children are not fully-grown yet, and they are just little adults, their growing
minds and bodies make them uniquely vulnerable to the effects of the
environment around them, including all types of radiations generated by mobile
phones, iPads, tablets, smartphones and all other kinds of wireless devices. In
the new era, the children are exposed to technology at younger ages than ever
before. There are different types of radiations generated by mobile phones and
wireless devices, microwave radiations, ionizing and non-ionizing radiations.
Ionizing radiations such as x-rays, radon, ultraviolet rays of sunlight all are high
frequency, and high energy. Non-ionizing radiations are low in frequency and
energy. Cell phones have non-ionizing radiations. Mobile phones send radio-
frequency waves from its transmitting unit or antenna to nearby cell towers.
When we make or receive a call, send or receive text, or use data, our phone
receives radio-frequency waves to its antenna from cell towers.
Microwave radiations from the cell phones and other wireless devices are very
harmful, particularly for children and unborn babies. Many researches have
proved that, such radiations pose a greater risk for bodily damage in children
and unborn babies. The rate of microwave radiations absorption is higher in
children than adults because their brain tissues are more absorbent, their skulls
are thinner, and their relative size is smaller. Fetuses are particularly more
vulnerable, because microwave radiations exposure can lead to degeneration of
the protective sheath that surrounds the brain neurons.
According to a recent research, the brain tissues of children absorb about two
times more microwave radiations than that of adults, and other studies have
reported that the bone marrow of children absorbs ten times more microwave
radiations than that of adults. Belgium, France, Germany, and other
technologically sophisticated governments are passing laws or issuing warnings
about children’s use of wireless devices. They also legislated that smartphone
makers specify the least distance from the body that their products must be kept
so that legal limits for exposure to microwave radiations aren’t exceeded. For
iPads, laptop computers and tablets, the minimum distance from the device to
body is 20 cm (about 8 inches).
There are many potential health risks to mental and physical well-being related
to overuse of cell phones, especially low IQ & improper mental growth in
children, sleep deprivation, brain tumors and psychiatric diseases are hot-button
issues. Till date, studies related to radiations generated by mobile phones have
been inconsistent and results have been conflicting. These wireless devices are
now part of our everyday life, but they can be used in a manner that is safe
enough, the most important point is the distance, holding a cell phone few
inches away from our ear provides a thousand times reduction in risk. Unless a
cell phone is turned off, it is always radiating, so when not in use, it should not
be kept on the body. The best place to keep a cell phone is somewhere like a
pouch, purse, bag, or backpack. These devices should be kept away from a
pregnant woman’s abdomen, and a mother should not use a cell phone while
breastfeeding and nursing, and baby monitors should not be placed in an infant’s
crib. Children and teenagers need to know how to use mobile phones and
wireless devices safely. Cell phones should not be permitted in children’s
bedroom at all.
In fact, there are solid grounds to believe it really is so. The cause for that is
radio-frequency of electromagnetic fields given off by wireless and mobile
devices. They have an adverse effect on our body, especially on growing skulls of
kids, toddlers and teenagers, which can trigger the development of brain cancer
in the future. According to a recent research conducted by the International
Agency for Research on Cancer, excessive use of mobile phones may lead to the
formation of brain tumors as glioma and acoustic neuroma. First and foremost,
this is an issue for those adults and children who are virtually glued to their cell
phones.
Pew research center has reported, that 75% of preteens and early teens keep all
day their cell phones in their front pant pockets, which is way harmful for their
reproductive health. Boys should not keep their cell phone in their front pants
pockets. There is a potential harm to sperms, and girls should not place their cell
phone in their inner wears. This recommendation was based on a case study of
four young women with a history of keeping their cell phones in or near their
inner wears, and who subsequently developed breast cancer. It’s obvious that
more radiations are absorbed with more hours of use, so children should be
taught to use their mobile phones as little as possible. Landlines, Skype, and
computer phone services, when connected to the internet with a cable, don’t
give off radiations, therefore the parents should encourage their kids to use
those. Moreover, the Wi-Fi routers in the home should be placed away from
where people, particularly children, spend most of their time.
Good health is above wealth, but majority of us undermine our personal health,
and become more careless about our children’s mental and physical state day-
by-day, caused by the excessive usage of cell phones. A recent survey found that
92% of world population has mobile phones today. Among which 31% admit that
they never turn off their mobile phones. More than 90% of parents provide their
kids cell phones, so they can easily keep in touch whenever they want to. All of
this gives sufficient ground to talk about a cell phone addiction, specially about
the possible dangers of cell phones on children’s health.
About the author
Dr. Faisal Khan is a MRCPCH-UK scholar. He also has SMLE, MPH, MCPS to his
credit. He hails from Pakistan and is currently practicing in Al-Dar Hospital
Madina Munawara, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
https://innohealthmagazine.com/2019/well-being/effects-mobile-phones/
What is the effect of Smartphone usage on learning effectiveness?
Effect of the use of a smartphone in students learning activities.
Ifeanyi and Chukwuere (2018) postulated that the use of smartphone on
students has both a negative and positive effect depending on how it is used.
Further, the author emphasizes on the negative side of the coin where the
smartphone has become a great distraction to studies. For instance, there is a
high propensity that students who are glued to their smartphone check updates
or notification almost every minute if not strictly controlled. Consequently, this
diverts their focus from their studies and even at a lecture time when a lecturer
is at the peak of teaching. The author concluded that the effect of smartphones
on academic performance or the learning of students is mixed with challenges
Kibona and Mgaya (2015) postulated that despite the phenomenal advantage of
smartphone in learning it is considered as double edge sword where most of the
applications such as WhatsApp,Facebook, and games, affect students in Tanzania
negatively in all level because of its addictive nature. Thusly, it inadvertently
steals away students’ time which affects their academic performance adversely.
In the same vein, Lee et al., (2015) investigated smartphone addiction in
university students and its implication for learning among 210 Korean female
university students
(mean age=22 years). The study revealed high-risk addictions and consequently
rated themselves low on ‘self-regulated using smartphones’. Similarly, this study
agrees with Ifeanyi and Chukwuere (2018) that smartphone consumes most of
the user’s time and in addition does not enhance their academic performance
but rather decrease as they envisioned before getting them as indicated by the
majority 270 (72.0%). This is also affirmed in the works of (Lin et al., 2014; Tossell
et al., 2015). In further elucidation, high excessive use of smartphones leads to
complications which include vascular permeability, neck pain, and
musculoskeletal disorders and mouse brain damages. On the contrary, Shai
(2016) assessed the use of smartphone in the University General Physics
Laboratory. Using 120 students with a survey approach, the study found
favorable responses on the effect of smartphones on students learning activities.
Respondents affirmed that smartphone had a positive effect on their studies, for
instance, it “provides an effective background on the lab
safety information, administrative requirements and general knowledge of
physics lab equipment” (p.33 as cited in Sarfoah, 2018).
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=6260&context=libphilprac
