In this age of the Internet, smartphones are in everyone’s hands. People now feel more comfortable watching everything from news to dramas, movies, games on mobile than on TV. As before, all the family members sit together and watch any program. There was a time when people would sit with everyone, including the youngest children in the family, and watch ‘Etc.’, ‘Mina Cartoon,’ ‘Sisimpur,’ sports, or various competitive events. Now that day is no more. Now people prefer to spend time online. And during Corona, people’s mobile usage has multiplied. It is affecting children as well as adults.

According to a report by Raushan Akter Urmi in the daily Samakal, one in three Internet users in the world is a child, according to UNICEF. And every day 1 lakh 75 thousand, that is, every half a child is being connected to the Internet anew. 25 percent of Facebook users are under 10 years old.

If a child sees family members using mobiles and tabs all the time, then naturally his attraction towards that thing will increase. From this attraction, they are also getting addicted to mobile usage. Family members are also handing over their mobile phones to the child. Many parents consider this child’s addiction as ‘keeping pace with the times. But they can’t even imagine what kind of danger this child’s behavior could put in the future.

According to a report in the Times of India, 65% of children have become addicted to electronic devices while corona.

In 2019, the Guardian published a report in Commons Media. According to that report, 53 percent of 11-year-olds in the United States have a smartphone. By the age of 12, this number had risen to 69 percent.

According to the American Community Survey, in 2018, 94 percent of 3-18-year-olds had access to the Internet at home. Of these, 88 percent used the Internet through computers and 6 percent through smartphones. As the days go by, this number is increasing. Nowadays, thanks to online classes and exams, children are getting more opportunities to use the Internet and many are getting addicted to it.

According to NBC News, an 8-12-year-old child uses an electronic device for an average of 6 hours. This use has increased during the Coronation period. The American Association of Pediatrics recommends two hours of electronic devices for children, where children now spend most of the day using mobile phones and other electronic devices.

According to The Global Times on Monday, more than 40 percent of Chinese parents believe their children are addicted to mobile phones. Chinese children aged 10-17 are using mobile phones for 4 hours and 36 minutes during the Coronation period, which is clearly more than before. 

If children are not freed from this addiction, it will bring many evils in the near future. Excessive mobile use puts stress on the baby’s brain and eyes. They are suffering mentally as well as physical damage. Electronic devices are hindering their mental development. According to experts, the onset of various mental illnesses, especially problems with brain function, is due to the addiction to electronic devices.

what we should do?

Family members need to free children from mobile addiction. They should refrain from using mobile or electronic devices in front of them as much as possible, and children should also be discouraged from carrying mobile phones. Since they can no longer play outside, the adults in the family should give the children more time at this time; Playing with them for a part of the day; Listening to their instructive stories, developing the habit of reading books. Remember, children love to imitate. They will receive the education that they will see in front of them.