ADVERSE EFFECTS OF TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN, IN THE EYES OF PSYCHOLOGISTS

According to psychologists, children’s habits such as depression, anxiety, lack of interest in academic activities and feeling lonely have increased compared to previous years due to technology, mainly due to the increasing use of technology.

Dr Deepika Parhar, a psychologist at King’s College Hospital London in Dubai, told the Khaleej Times that overuse of technology is having a psychological effect on young people, especially children. Children who value smartphones are getting away from their sports, eating on time and sitting down to talk with family, which is badly affecting their real life.

He said that overuse of technology has made it difficult for children to communicate with each other and they feel reluctant to talk face to face which is having a negative effect on their confidence.

Excessive use of technology affects children’s educational activities as well as their abilities. Excessive use of it impairs mental health as well as physical health and leads to obesity.

Psychologists say that the increasing use of smartphones and tablets is making the mood of teenagers unnatural, leaving them unaware of their home environment and childhood mischief or innocence.

A World Health Organization (WHO) study released in April found that watching videos or playing games on smartphones is becoming more and more prevalent among children, with more than 10 percent of children in the United States alone have become addicted.

Experts suggest that children up to the age of five should be given a minimum of screen time. Children of this age should be given priority to reduce their screen time and participate in sleep and healthy activities.

Doctors added that more research is needed on the pros and cons of the technology. We must keep in mind that the dominance of technology is severely affecting the lives of young children.