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We live in this digital age where we have gadgets for doing almost everything. But, while the world is becoming smarter with smartphones, we are actually turning dumber, don’t you agree. We rely on the phone and technology for everything, instead of applying our brains or our limbs. Well, to the point the smartphone helps us in staying connected and getting our things done, it is definitely a boon. But, the same thing turns into a bane when it just becomes a permanent fixture in our hands and we refuse to log out of Facebook or Whatsapp.
Well, my blog is not about our addiction to the phone, but the growing addiction of children towards this gadget. As I move around my apartment complex, I see a lot of young children glued to their own handsets. Instead of playing some outdoor games, they enjoy watching videos, accessing Facebook and playing games on the phone.
The other day, I got a ping on my whatsapp and found out that I was added to a group called “Deadpool team”. I started to wonder whether somebody had added me by mistake. But, then, I realized that the group was created by my son’s classmate who is only 7 years old. Initially, I thought that maybe the group consisted of the mothers of the kids on the group, but was really shocked to find out that the kids themselves were online and were chatting with each other. Kids behaving this way is one thing, but what baffles me is that their parents are really cool about giving their handsets to the kids so that they can surf the net and do whatever they please to do. We all know how things are on the net and how ugly some of the websites are. Do we really have to expose our children to all that stuff at such a young and vulnerable age? You can call me a product of old school thinking as I am quite against kids using technology that is not required by them.
My daughter has several groups on Whatsapp that she accesses on my phone. And, she makes it a point to drop a hint several times that all the friends on her group have their own phones. She says that they do not disturb their parents for checking the messages. Though, I have told her that I do not have any plans of buying her a phone for the next 2 years at least, I am sure that the rate of dropping hints will only keep increasing and she will hold a grudge against me till then. And, the sad part is that I am not actually sure if I should go with the flow or hold my own stand about technology and its usage. The point is that there should be a necessity for it, before it is granted to the kids.
These days, the parents are much more relenting than what the parents used to be in our generation. Kids only need to ask and the parents are too ready to oblige. What are these parents trying to prove? Love and affection can be shown in different and better ways too, rather than giving such material things. Is it really cool for the kids to flaunt their phones and show to the society that they are available online? With the kind of society that we live in, with online stalkers and crazy lunatics, is it safe for the kids to be exposed to all that cyber-crime at such a young age.
Apart from the physical problems that the radiation might cause to your children, it also affects them mentally. In fact, I was just browsing the net about the effect of phones on the kids and found out the following facts:
- As per a study conducted, children who use smartphones more regularly, develop a low sense of well-being. In fact, many of them become prone to anxieties, depression, restlessness, sleeplessness, etc.
- At an age, when their mind is fertile and their body is craving for physical activity, a phone can disrupt their growth and turn them into zombies.
- Kids become so distracted about who is online and who is messaging that they concentrate less on their studies and do not get time to pursue their other hobbies.
- Children are exposed to all the inappropriate sites that are definitely not meant for them.
Well, the only positive thing about phones that I can perceive is that it gives a sense of safety to the children and the parents. If your child is going to a far-off location and you would like to know about their whereabouts, then, you really need to be in touch with the kid. Such circumstances can warrant a phone, but even then, a normal phone would do, I guess.
What is your take on this? Please do share your views. And, by the way, thanks for reading my blog. Stay happy and blessed. 🙂
s1lversp00n said:
The only necessity for a child, “tech -wise”, should be a PC. Personally, i don’t think any child below 15 should own any pocket devices because there’s more to these gadgets than kids would care to know.
umagovindan said:
Thanks for the comment Ayush.. These are exactly my thoughts… 🙂
Saurabh Sharma said:
Totally agree with you…. My kids will get smartphone but without internet connection. In case they have to surf internet it has to be in our supervision.
umagovindan said:
Thats good Saurabh… Till things are in control and in moderation, it is completely alright, i guess. After all, we are not raising saints and saadhus… 🙂
Rekha @ Dew Drops said:
The problem with parents these days is that they see that getting a phone and installing WhatsApp saves them the call costs as well as gives them distraction-free time from the kids. The main reason they provide it is to make it easier for the child to discuss homework and other study related issues. What they do not realize is that to save the cost of few calls, they are themselves putting the child at the risk of online-bullying. About the child holding a grudge against the parents, it happened with our generation for some other reasons and it will happen with our kids for totally different reasons. But I am sure that once they grow up, they will understand us just like we understood our parents.
I am equally shocked about 7-year olds having a WhatsApp group. And that name! By God!
umagovindan said:
You are right Rekha.. We cannot do away with the groups on Whatsapp and it is actually quite useful sometimes. It is only when the kids get totally distracted and want to remain on whatsapp forever that it becomes a cause for concern. My phone keeps getting pings morning, noon and night in my daughter’s different groups and it is actually quite disturbing. But, I am not going to relent and get her a smartphone.. 🙂
Rekha @ Dew Drops said:
I trust you. And she will mature soon and will understand you. 🙂
Ramanan said:
Great post, Uma. In some of such situations, I am reminded of the adage, ‘Life guarantees questions, not answers’. These are modern dilemmas.
umagovindan said:
So true.. And, thanks for reading my post.. 🙂
Amit Agrawal said:
I think kids should be given a phone only if going out with friends or going on school picnics. However better said then done, I got a phone for my kids keeping above need in mind, but now they use it as a gaming device all the day.
umagovindan said:
See, when you have something in your hand, you cannot resist the temptations, right? When we, as adults cannot keep away from all the social media distractions, how can we expect the kids to stay away? Anyways, with supervision and moderation, things should be in control, Amit.. 🙂
Hem said:
Bhabhi, i am right now giving phone as a gaming device to kids and so far he hasn’t asked me about owning a phone. He keeps checking cricket score in phone for now. But I hope he doesn’t ask me for own phone any soon and if he does, I think we will refuse it for sometime. But again maybe we will have a spare phone to him after few years to ensure safety but hope to keep it moderate and in check. Certainly was not thinking of own whatsapp groups n private messages until after10th. Its really scary! Certainly we need to encourage outdoor games n activities and not allow them to be dumb kids, but u know with both parents working, what can happen.
umagovindan said:
True Hema.. I can totally understand your point. When both the parents are working, the kids get a good amount of freedom. Myself and yourself would have also enjoyed those free days in our childhood. :-). And, it would be really important for the kids to have some form of communication in their hands so that we know that they are safe. As long as social media and internet are used minimally, the kids should be OK, i guess. We will have to draw a line somewhere..
Shankar said:
Very good post and a very important point discussed. Technology is a boon as well as a bane. More so highlights the important part parents need to play. My personal opinion is not to outrightly refuse them, since that would only increase their curiosity and grudge towards us but to make them understand on why something is and something not required. Effective communication. No wonder parenting is the biggest project for a Project Manager😄
umagovindan said:
Yes Shankar, you are right. We cannot refuse them outright, but we should make the kids aware that we do try to meet their reasonable demands. I guess it gives some kind of a thrill to the kids, to own their own phones and chat with their friends.. A project manager’s job is easier as compared to managing the kids at home.. 🙂
sandhya said:
i completely agree with you Uma, i will give me my kids only to play games. i appreciate your effort in writing this blog.
umagovindan said:
Thanks a lot for reading my blog Sandhya and really appreciate your feedback. 🙂
shellysopinion said:
I agree, we are not thinking for ourselves anymore, our first thought is lets google it, or is there an app for that? so you are right.
umagovindan said:
Thanks for reading my blog and commenting on it. Wish others too agreed on this and restricted the digital access for themselves and their kids. Life is so much beautiful outside of it too.. 🙂
shellysopinion said:
Yes life is really beautiful outside of it, one of the things I want to start is travelling with my kids, going on adventures… #toomuchdigitaldevices# Lol
umagovindan said:
Well said.. There is nothing greater and better than travelling around with kids.. Wishing you a lot of fun and happiness.. 🙂
shellysopinion said:
Thank You!