“Small is the number of people who see with their eyes and think with their minds.”—Albert Einstein

Cell phones, television sets, multimedia gaming simulators; every one of them

represents a gadget, in one form or the other, that has facilitated the whole

world to reside in one’s pocket. At the same time, they have drastically

reduced the number of people who could have witnessed events with their

own eyes and analysed them with their own minds!

Cell phones, especially the “smart ones,” have brought a revolution to the

everyday lives of people. In India, free data, provided by leading telecom

companies, has proved to be catastrophic for tender, young minds. The

commonplace phone, which earlier used to be a subtle means of

communication, has suddenly become a necessary evil. Games, music, movies,

networking, emails, internet, and even calling—everything is possible with just

a touch or a swipe!

Smartphones are churning out a generation devoid of social skills, with a

stark preference for “virtual games” and “virtual friends,” and that too, in a

“virtual world.” The teenagers, today, are leading—more or less— a

mechanized life. They are acting as slaves in front of self-crowned electronic

gadgets. Conversations with “real” friends have become a thing of the past, as

everyone is busy chatting, rather than typing (sic), through “Emojis” and “GIFs”. The

youth have become bystanders in a life that is passing them by as they are

busy staring at their gadget screens.

Besides, addiction to gadgets has become a leading cause of several problems:

Obesity: Weight gain and lethargy are the most common symptoms. Eating

“potatoes by the couch” has become a pervasive pastime.

Lack of concentration: Performance in academics and sports is adversely

affected. The children get so immersed in gadgets that the latter become the

only focal point of their entire lives. The teen who used to “own” the device is

now “owned” by it.

Aggression: Intolerance, seeking immediate gratification, and difficulty in

Regulating oneself as well as emotions leads to aggression, irritability, and

outbursts of anger.

Depression: Inability to invest in meaningful and real relationships leads to

conflicts with siblings and friends. Loneliness and the feeling of being left out

may lead to depression.

An undisciplined routine: Being awake till late at night and waking up late in

the morning results in weariness throughout the day and disturbs the normal

circadian rhythm, leading to hormone imbalances and physical ailments. Also,

the blue light emitted by the gadgets suppresses the release of melatonin,

considered essential for inducing sleep, and thereby, disturbs the sleep-wake

cycle.

Guidelines constituted by The American Academy of Paediatrics recommend

the optimal age and respective duration suitable for a child’s exposure to

technology: infants should have no contact; 3–5-year olds can be allocated

gadgets one hour per day, and 6–18-year olds can be allotted gadgets two

hours per day. In spite of these guidelines, young people, on an average, are

online for a period up to four times the recommended allowance.

Please, parents, pay due heed towards your child’s television watching habits.

Have you observed how much time your teenaged son/daughter spends in

front of the computer? Have you ever tried to check what keeps him busy? Is it

only the games, or movies, or is it something that s/he is not supposed to see?

When did you last see your child going out to play with his/her friends? Is your

teenager mingling with the peer group? Does s/he like going outdoors or is

s/he acting like a couch potato? When was the last time your child attended a

family get-together eagerly? Or did you find him sitting in the corner playing on

a smartphone during the occasion?

If any or all of the questions, cited above, pique your interest and make you

fumble for answers, look again. Yes, it’s alarming; your child needs help…