Technology addiction in children is an addiction that causes pathological disorders when the time spent on the internet is not controlled and when the time away from the internet is not controlled.
Technology is a very attractive, life facilitating field for people of all ages and has many benefits. However, too much of it can cause technology addiction in children.
For children, activities such as cartoons, computer games and internet use can be fun and supportive of development.
However, it is only possible for parents to set limits so that the positive aspects of technology are not overshadowed by its negative effects. If no limits are set, children may become addicted to technology. In this sense, it is important to set limits to prevent technology addiction in children.
Advanced technology addiction in children must be treated by a specialist.
It is not a sign of intelligence!
A child's mastery of technology, especially at a young age, is not an indication that his/her intelligence is very good. Unlike their parents who met the virtual world at an older age, children are more talented due to the fact that they were born in a more technological world. In order to support the development of their children, parents should control the use of technology in terms of content and duration according to the age of the child. Without supervision, the child's psychology may be negatively affected and he/she may become a candidate adult for technology addiction in children in the future.
What are the Symptoms of Technology Addiction in Children?
In technology addiction in children, especially in a child who is exposed to intense screen exposure, different symptoms appear according to age. Technology addiction in children can also occur at a young age with such habits.
Especially technology addiction in children, a child who has watched intense television, tablet or computer screen in the environment in the 0-3 age period;
- There may be retardation in language and speech skills,
- The child may not turn around every time he/she is called.
- As the child grows older, attention deficit and difficulty in controlling anger may occur.
- It may negatively affect the child's relationship with his/her parents or friends, or may manifest as failure in his/her studies, unwillingness to do homework, boredom with writing.
In adolescence, technology addiction in children may lead to withdrawal, unwillingness to participate in non-technological activities, and deterioration in family and friend relationships.
Apart from these symptoms that technology can facilitate the emergence of technology, technology itself is a risky situation with the possibility of creating an addiction. Technology addiction in children is a risky situation that can affect the future of the child.
What Should Parents Do?
Parents should first review their own technology usage habits. It is more likely that the child of a family with technology addiction in children will also have this kind of problem. It should not be forgotten that children primarily take their parents as an example.
A child who sees his/her parents on the phone or in front of the television will also turn to these channels. Unfortunately, children who turn to these channels have a high risk of becoming technology addicts in the future.
The use of technology is not recommended in the 0-2 age period.
For example; There is a risk of permanent anorexia in a child who is fed in front of cartoons in order to increase his appetite.
- Families should impose and enforce time limits on their children's use of technology.
- The use of phones and computers by young children should be in a common area with their families so that parents can more easily control which virtual environments their children are in and whether the content they watch is appropriate for their age.
In the DSM-5 manual, the American Psychiatric Association has identified Internet gaming disorder in the classification of disorders that are likely to increase in the future and need to be researched.
This disorder is especially seen between the ages of 12-20. This is a disorder in which children play games on the internet intensively during adolescence, sometimes with their friends, sometimes with people they meet in the virtual environment, and if they do not play, they show violent reactions and their social and academic activities are disrupted due to these games.
The person may not see this as a disorder, even if they are told that their life is affected, they may not realize. Technology addiction in children is a serious disorder for all age groups.
Sometimes the child has another underlying psychiatric disorder.
For example
- Depression
- Attention deficit
- Anxiety
- Anxiety disorder
- The presence of a disorder such as obsessions
- Social maladjustment
- The presence of problems with friends may lead the child to play more games on the Internet
It is useful to seek help from a child-adolescent psychiatry specialist in cases where families find it difficult to impose restrictions due to children spending too much time with technology, not knowing what to do without technology, and reacting when it is taken away. In such cases, it should not be forgotten that technology addiction may occur in children in the future. In this case, families should definitely seek help from a child and adolescent psychiatrist.
