Excessive use of smartphones has significant effects on both children and adults, and recently a study has pointed to another serious risk for children.
A non-governmental American organization, Sapien Lab, has stated in its research that using smartphones at a young age can potentially cause psychological issues for children in the future.
Referring to the same study, former CEO of Xiaomi India, Manu Kumar Jain, shed light on the dangerous effects on children’s mental health caused by the use of smartphones and tablets at an early age. He urged parents not to give smartphones to their children.
In a social media post, he said that parents should discuss the hazardous effects on mental health caused by the use of smartphones and tablets in the early years of their children. He shared a report by Sapien Lab, which revealed a deep connection between early access to smartphones (and tablets) for young children and an increased risk of mental disorders in adults.
According to the research, women who used smartphones for the first time at the age of 10 faced mental health challenges in 60 to 70 percent of cases.
Among those who used smartphones for the first time at the age of 18, the proportion was 46 percent. Similarly, it was reported that 45 to 50 percent of men who used smartphones before the age of 10 also experienced similar mental health issues.
Manu Kumar Jain stated, “I urge parents to refrain from giving phones to their children when they are crying, eating, or in the car.”
He further emphasized that it is the important responsibility of parents to take care of their children’s mental well-being and that excessive screen time has serious consequences.
