Flying colors of academic excellence used to spread the vibrance and charisma of Jeeva, an 11th grader from Kallambalam, Kerala who once dreamed of climbing the ladders of success. The menace of mobile addiction entangled those dreams into a trap and she lost herself to virtual spaces. Locked within her room, she took her own life because she realized too late that her life was being controlled by a device that created for her a world she felt she couldn’t escape.

The life of Jeeva resonates with the journey of many youngsters and children in our society. Surveys state that in the year 2020, 158 children in Kerala succumbed to their suicidal tendencies over 6 months. In the same year, the period of lockdown saw a 65% increase in mobile addiction among children and 70.7% reported behavioral issues associated with it. These statistics should not be considered as mere numbers but a wake-up call for parents and well-wishers to guide kids into the security of a controlled and healthy environment

Are you a confused parent who is not able to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy smartphone usage? It is critical to be conscious and educated to recognize symptoms and signs of mobile addiction such as the following

  • Tolerance to usage, makes children crave increased screen time to achieve desired contentment. 
  • Failure in controlling and monitoring their usage 
  • Obsessive thoughts of smartphone and subsequent disturbance in normal functioning 
  • Withdrawal symptoms such as anger, depression, irritability, and restlessness when restricted from using mobile. 
  • Immedicable impulses of checking phones, even in life-threatening situations such as driving, etc.

Smartphones’ atrocious power over young and curious minds has devastating effects on mental, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Studies have proven a positive correlation between mobile addiction and depression, anxiety, and stress. On an emotional level, increased feelings of seclusion and self-absorption cause loneliness and depression among adolescents. Comparisons promoted by social media platforms have increased anxiety and self-esteem degradation among teens. These mood disorders get transformed into a series of behavioral manifestations such as eating disorders, self-harming tendencies, and self-destructive delinquent behaviors.

The information overload caused by exposure to uncensored and unlimited internet usage has led to cognitive disorders such as reduced attention span, acute decrease in concentration and incapacity to be productive in task completion, and academic failures. Their difficulties expand to include the inability to control cognitive-emotional impulses and increase unhealthy tendencies, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Accompanied by a preoccupation with phone usage, such a cognitive impact evades into their social lives by reducing social interaction skills and meaningful relationships

The negative implications of smartphones extend to include a violent potential channeled by the anxiety and irritability it induces. A shocking incident reports the intensity of violence where a 16-year-old boy in Lucknow, killed his mother due to her repeated attempts to reduce his gaming addiction. Gaming has proven to induce aggressive tendencies among adolescents, particularly boys, due to their inability to regulate dangerous emotionality. Uncensored usage of the internet can lead to addiction to pornographic content, increasing cyber-bullying and sexually deviant behavior among growing teens. Children are both prey to such criminal activities or become a part of the network of cyber crimes themselves

While the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral implications prove the gravity of the situations, positive intervention strategies at home and the psycho-therapeutic approach are highly effective in increasing mental health and reducing maladaptive manifestations of smartphone usage. Appropriate help with consideration of the unique strengths of the child can lead to a transforming state of healthy functioning

Reference

Signs and Symptoms of Cell Phone Addiction. (2019). PsychGuides.Com. Geraadpleegd op 18 juni 2022, van https://www.psychguides.com/behavioral-disorders/cell-phone-addiction/signs-and-symptoms/#:%7E:text=A%20need%20to%20use%20the,such%20as%20anxiety%20or%20depression.

Viswanath, C. (2020, 27 oktober). Tiff with Siblings, Parents’ Scolding: Why 158 Children in Kerala Died by Suicide in 6 Months. News18. Geraadpleegd op 18 juni 2022, van https://www.news18.com/news/india/tiff-with-siblings-parents-scolding-why-158-children-in-kerala-died-by-suicide-in-6-months-3012077.html