KARACHI:
Most children today have access to mobile phones or other electronic devices which expose them to all forms of content. As they grow older, many children develop an unhealthy attachment to their phones. If parents try to prevent their children from using phones through confiscation or setting limits, children resort to temper tantrums and other extreme measures. The heavy presence of mobile phones and the need to have constant access causes people, especially the youth to feel anxious or agitated without their phones.
Unfortunately, nowadays, most things are reliant upon digital media. Often teachers instruct children to access content online or give tasks that require access to the internet. During Covid all teaching moved online because of which parents can no longer prevent children from using phones or the internet. Most children and teenagers prefer spending their free time playing online games or using social media applications. Resultantly, they are losing self-consciousness, concentration and discipline. This has not only resulted in poor educational outcomes, but most of them lack real-life connections. There is also an increase in lethargy, inactivity and poor mental health among the youth.
To effectively address the youth’s addiction to mobile phones, educational institutes must promote and provide a range of recreational activities such as sports, debate, etc. This will steer their interest away from phones and induce creativity and stamina. At home, parents should engage in different activities with children such as reading and avoid using phones in the presence of younger children.
Habiba Zakir
Mardan
Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2022.
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