Smartphone addiction is known to harm the eyes of children under the age of 10. But doctors warned on Saturday that excessive time spent on the device could impair physical health and cause a range of behavioral problems.
According to the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO), children under the age of five must spend less time watching screens. While the UN health body does not recommend screen time for infants and 1-year-olds, those as young as 2 should not be exposed to more than an hour.
However, “even toddlers as young as one-and-a-half years old are being handed smartphones by their parents,” Dr Rajiv Uttam, director of pediatric pulmonology, Critical Care Pediatrics (PICU), Pediatric Care, Medanta The Medicity, Gurugram, told IANS. .
The doctor noted that children who spend too much time on their devices are seeing illnesses such as “diarrhea, fever and other health problems.”
Several studies have shown the negative impact of smartphone use on eyesight. Long-term use of smartphones in children has been linked to vision impairment and dry eyes, among other things.
Dr. Vikas Taneja, Pediatric Consultant, Manipal Hospital, Dwarka explained that this is mainly due to radiation as children use their mobile phones at very close range.
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“Children may experience excessive eye strain, which can lead to red eyes and excessive itching. This can lead to frequent rubbing and watering. Eye strain can lead to headaches and their sleep can be disturbed. Excessive use of mobile phones can also affect the eye muscles,” he told IANS.
This loss of sleep can further lead to many anxieties and depressions. Such children are usually lonely, have low self-esteem, become overly irritable, have a lot of aggression and behavioral changes, and may throw tantrums.
Rajiv said excessive use often leads to detachment from the real world, and children are likely to show symptoms similar to virtual autism.
“Habitual smartphone use during meals also contributes to poor eating habits, obesity and related health problems such as high blood pressure and sugar levels, ultimately leading young children to the pre-diabetic stage.”
Importantly, visual impairments and attention deficits further exacerbate these concerns, often going unnoticed until academic performance suffers, the doctor said.
To mitigate these risks, health experts have advised parents to prioritize quality time with their children, encourage healthy eating habits and limit screen time per day. Additionally, balancing technology with outdoor activities and nutritious meals is essential to support a child’s holistic development.
