Counselling & Supporting Children in a Digital World

The younger generation is suffering greatly as a result of the increased use of mobile phones and other gadgets brought on by the development of modern technology. There is a significant decline in students’ concentration and study time as a result of their close relationship with their mobile phones. But the main question is, is this addiction also affecting their brain development?

“A lot of us are drawn to anything that is readily available, approachable, brand-new, quick, and related to information and technology. Children learn to accept cell phone use as a natural occurrence when they witness it among their parents, relatives, and other people in their immediate environment. In essence, the very presence causes an instantaneous propensity towards technology,” says Anoop Singh Bishnoi, Chairman of The Doon School, Dehradun. “Parents want to provide their children with every little thing at a young age, it’s considered as a luxury, as some of them want to give their children the best, most pampered life. For this, they buy their kids the priciest, most modern entertainment devices, and a lot of the times in the name of learning aid, which is where the problem begins. These children grow up developing a mindset that all these things are a necessity for them, and in most situations, these things become a sign of how modern they are or how well-to-do their parents are. This never-ending spiral surely affects their thinking and self-worth, which slowly starts becoming materialistic.” he adds.

Moreover, with rising cases of cyberbullying, it’s a concerning topic for both parents and teachers. Besides, there are some general concerns related to excessive phone usage which directly or indirectly have a significant impact on brain functioning. The ease with which mobile phones are used, face-to-face communication feels like it’s something of the past. For example, WhatsApp groups are more common now, instead of weekly PTMs, and although the thought behind this would be that it will encourage conversations, it’s often not taken seriously. Another thing is that smartphone apps and texts cause the release of dopamine, which leads to addiction, even when it's not being checked, the very presence of a phone diverts attention.

Mobile phones and other portable devices have indeed given us a lot, they are the most accessible educational resource at present which offer a sea of useful information from around the world. We can’t deny its supporting role in learning. However the first responsibility is of parents. Before they get their children a smartphone, they should set clear expectations and consequences and even before that, they should educate their child about the technology use, issues, and concerns. This makes it easier for the child as well to comprehend things and be open about their concerns to their parents as well, because most of the children enter the wrong side of the internet only when they don’t have answers to their curiosities. Parents are like role models, children get influenced by them and learn from their actions. Excessive screen use, poor digital etiquette, lack of social skills can affect your young one too, so before one’s child starts paying attention to their habits, it’s important that one should work on their actions and set a good example.