Dainik India news Varanasi:The digital revolution has made smartphones an inseparable part of modern life. While technology offers undeniable benefits in education and communication, its excessive use in children has emerged as a growing public health concern. Multiple studies have highlighted its adverse effects on physical, mental, and social health. This article reviews the impact of excessive screen exposure on children, citing global and Indian data, and provides evidence-based recommendations for parents and caregivers. Pediatrician Dr. Anamika Dwivedi, in an exclusive interaction with Dainik India News, shared her clinical observations and expert advice on this emerging challenge.
Mobile phones, tablets, and laptops are widely used by children for entertainment, education, and social interaction. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2022), children aged 5–16 years spend an average of 3–4 hours daily on digital devices, exceeding the recommended screen time of ≤1 hour/day for children under 5 years and ≤2 hours/day for older children. Prolonged exposure to screens has been linked to sleep disorders, impaired vision, obesity, poor academic performance, and psychosocial issues.
Dr. Anamika Dwivedi emphasized that the misuse of mobile phones in children is no less than a “slow poison,” gradually impairing their physical and cognitive development.
Physical Health Impacts
- Sleep Disorders
Exposure to blue light from screens suppresses melatonin secretion, delaying sleep onset.
A WHO study (2022) found that children with >2 hours of daily screen time had 1.5 hours less sleep on average compared to those with limited use.
- Ophthalmological Issues
The AIIMS New Delhi Pediatric Ophthalmology Unit (2021) reported that 40% of children with >3 hours screen exposure daily showed symptoms of Digital Eye Strain (DES) including dry eye, blurred vision, and myopia progression.
Dr. Dwivedi noted that in her clinical practice, an increasing number of children present with early-onset myopia directly linked to prolonged smartphone exposure.
- Obesity and Metabolic Disorders
Reduced outdoor activity due to excessive screen time is a significant contributor to childhood obesity.
The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP, 2023) revealed that 14% of adolescents aged 10–19 years in India are overweight or obese, increasing their risk of Type-2 Diabetes, Hypertension, and early-onset Cardiovascular Disease.
Mental and Cognitive Health Impacts
- Attention Deficit and Learning Problems
A JAMA Psychiatry (2019) study reported that children with >2 hours of screen use daily performed poorly in memory, attention, and language tasks.
According to Dr. Dwivedi, parents often complain of reduced attention span and poor academic focus in their children due to prolonged gadget use.
- Behavioral Disorders
Prolonged exposure to fast-paced digital content has been associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-like symptoms.
Early excessive exposure is also considered a risk factor for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) tendencies.
- Emotional and Social Impacts
Children addicted to mobile phones often show reduced eye contact, poor peer interaction, and increased irritability.
Dr. Dwivedi stressed that social withdrawal and isolation are now common clinical observations in mobile-addicted children.
Recommendations for Parents and Caregivers (as advised by Dr. Dwivedi)
Limit daily screen time to ≤60 minutes for children under 12 years and ≤90 minutes for adolescents.
Establish screen-free family time during meals and before bedtime.
Encourage minimum 60 minutes of outdoor physical activity daily.
Use mobile devices for educational purposes only, under parental supervision.
Promote alternative hobbies such as music, art, sports, yoga, and reading.
Avoid exposing children below 2 years of age to any form of screen (WHO Guidelines, 2019).
Excessive mobile phone usage in children is a silent epidemic with long-term consequences for their physical, cognitive, and social well-being. Scientific evidence strongly supports the need for regulated screen exposure, increased outdoor activity, and parental guidance.
Dr. Anamika Dwivedi, in her interaction with Dainik India News, concluded that mobile phones should serve as a tool for education and creativity—not as an invitation to disease and disability.
References
- World Health Organization. Guidelines on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Sleep for Children under 5 Years of Age. Geneva: WHO; 2019.
- World Health Organization. Adolescent Health and Well-being Report. Geneva: WHO; 2022.
- Christakis DA, et al. “Interactive Media Use at Younger Than the Age of 2 Years: Time to Rethink the American Academy of Pediatrics Guideline?” JAMA Pediatrics. 2018;172(5):399–400.
- Twenge JM, Campbell WK. “Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents.” Preventive Medicine Reports. 2018;12:271–283.
- Nagata JM, et al. “Screen time and mental health in children and adolescents.” Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. 2020;4(6):375–385.
- Madigan S, et al. “Association Between Screen Time and Children’s Performance on a Developmental Screening Test.” JAMA Pediatrics. 2019;173(3):244–250.
- AIIMS New Delhi. Pediatric Ophthalmology Annual Report. New Delhi: AIIMS; 2021.
- Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP). Childhood Obesity Report 2023. Mumbai: IAP; 2023.
- Strasburger VC, Hogan MJ. “Children, Adolescents, and the Media.” Pediatrics. 2013;132(5):958–961.
- Hale L, Guan S. “Screen time and sleep among school-aged children and adolescents: A systematic literature review.” Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2015;21:50–58.
- Canadian Paediatric Society. “Screen time and young children: Promoting health and development in a digital world.” Paediatrics & Child Health. 2017;22(8):461–468.
- Przybylski AK, Weinstein N. “A large-scale test of the Goldilocks Hypothesis: Quantifying the relations between digital-screen use and mental well-being in adolescents.” Psychological Science. 2017;28(2):204–215.
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Govt. of India. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). New Delhi: MoHFW; 2021.
- Ministry of Education, Govt. of India. Report on Digital Education in India. New Delhi: 2022.
- Domingues-Montanari S. “Clinical and psychological effects of excessive screen time on children.” Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. 2017;53(4):333–338.
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