Mind your children’s use of digital devices

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AS a father living in Malaysia, I find myself increasingly worried about the escalating usage of digital devices by our children.

In Malaysia, it is common to see children even as young as two or three years old clutching a smartphone or tablet regardless of the time or place.

For many, these devices, including smartphones and tablets, have slowly but surely become their “digital narcotics”.

Some of my relatives have bought smartphones for their children in Year 1. They say it’s for ease of contact, but in reality, it’s to pacify the children and prevent them from throwing tantrums.

Many parents overlook the potential harm that excessive usage of these devices can cause to their children’s health (vision problems and lack of focus) and cognitive development.

Unsupervised usage poses another problem as parents often have no idea what websites their children are visiting or what information they’re exposed to. This can lead to early romantic relationships, the risk of being kidnapped, exposure to inappropriate content, or addiction to video games or gambling.

There have been reports of children stealing from their parents to purchase online in-game items like weapons and skins. For example, The Telegraph in England reported in 2020 that one in six children steal money from parents to pay for addictive computer game loot boxes.

More recently, The Star online carried a report about a 13-year-old girl in China who used her mother’s credit card to fund her addiction to online gaming, “‘Parents’ own fault’: Teen girl in China splurges RM291,703 on phone games in four months, depleting family savings” (June 2). She reportedly spent the money on app games over a period of four months.

It was mentioned in the same report that a 14-year-old girl in northern China almost died after spending 81 hours on her smartphone. These are indeed heartbreaking examples.

And then there is the risk of exposure to cyberbullying, a serious issue that can have long-term effects on a child’s mental health.

But completely prohibiting children from using smart devices would be unrealistic and could result in them being socially isolated in future. So, children should be allowed to use them but ground rules must be set, including putting a limit on time spent on the device.

Parents should understand the purpose of their children’s use of the device and supervise them when necessary.

What children need most in their growing years is not digital devices but the companionship of their parents.

We need to educate our children to understand and master technology, not be controlled by it. We need to guide them to use digital devices properly, not let them lose themselves in the virtual world.

After all, the well-being of our children is of utmost importance.

ANG WEI ZHI

Penang