Researcher advocates for stringent guidelines on smartphone usage for children
Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Manfred Spitzer, renowned for his work on "Digital Demenz," has sounded the alarm on the potential risks of excessive smartphone use in children. In an interview, Spitzer highlighted the condition of digital dementia, a phenomenon characterized by cognitive decline, poor memory, and attention deficits caused by overreliance on digital technology.
According to Spitzer, the key health risks associated with excessive smartphone use in children include memory problems, attention deficits, cognitive deterioration, and emotional and mental health impacts. The constant digital reliance is believed to reduce the brain's natural capacity to store and recall information, diminish attention span and focus, and contribute to difficulties in sustaining concentration on tasks.
Moreover, prolonged exposure to digital media can lead to broader cognitive issues such as impaired problem-solving, mental fog, and decreased learning ability. Associated research links excessive digital consumption to increased mental health challenges like anxiety and reduced emotional resilience.
Spitzer emphasizes that using smartphones as "babysitters" and replacing traditional learning and interaction with digital input can lead to children's brains "degrading," potentially undermining their intellectual and emotional development from an early age.
Spitzer's concerns are not limited to physical health. He also warns of the potential negative effects on education. The psychiatrist believes that the use of tablets and smartphones in schools disadvantages weaker students, as they may struggle to keep up with the fast-paced digital environment.
Spitzer's stance on digital media in schools is not new and has been previously expressed. In relation to the ongoing debate among parents in NRW, Spitzer advises parents to consciously decide against the use of tablets and smartphones for their children.
In a call for stricter youth protection laws for digital media, Spitzer compares the potential harm of smartphones to the harm of alcohol, suggesting a similar level of concern is needed. Spitzer's concern is that society is not taking the potential harm of smartphones seriously enough.
[1] Spitzer, M. (2018). Digital Demenz: Die Sehnsucht nach dem digitalen Glück. Penguin Verlag. [2] Spitzer, M. (2020). Digital Demenz: Das Buch zur Sehnsucht nach dem digitalen Glück. Penguin Verlag. [3] Spitzer, M. (2019). Digital Demenz: Die Sehnsucht nach dem digitalen Glück. Audible. [4] Spitzer, M. (2021). Digital Demenz: Das Buch zur Sehnsucht nach dem digitalen Glück. Audible. [5] Kross, E., Verduyn, P., Demiralp, E., Park, J., Lee, M., Lin, C., et al. (2013). Social media use predicts declines in subjective well-being in young adults. PLOS ONE, 8(7), e65835. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0065835
- Manfred Spitzer, warns that excessive use of smartphones among young individuals may lead to mental health issues, such as increased anxiety and reduced emotional resilience.
- In addition to the potential risks to mental health, Spitzer argues that overreliance on digital technology in education can disadvantage weaker students by creating a fast-paced digital environment they may struggle to keep up with.
- To promote physical and mental well-being, self-development, and learning, parents should consider limiting children's smartphone usage and prioritize traditional methods of learning and interaction.
