Should Children be Restricted from Social Media and Smartphones?

For many parents, smartphones have become a truly serious problem. Modern children have been able to use gadgets since kindergarten – which they actively engage in. Today, it’s rare to see a child with a book; almost no one plays games outdoors. Games are now only on phones and tablets. Our children are ready to "hang out" on them for days.

Against this backdrop of universal gadget enthusiasm, there is a justified concern about the possible consequences. How does the world of the internet affect a child's psyche? And which side proves to be stronger in the question: children and social media – harm or benefit?

Scientists argue that children are developing much more slowly because of smartphones. Doctors are alarmed about poor posture and vision problems. Psychologists talk about the development of neuroses and difficulties in communicating with peers. Teachers claim that because of gadgets, children perceive information worse and, consequently, receive lower grades. Everyone recommends taking the phone away from the child, limiting their usage time, and applying various control methods.

Many draw parallels with the previous generation. They say that there were none of these gadgets before – and children were healthy, well-behaved, and intellectually developed. But I believe there is a nuance here.

Things were different back then. It was another time, another generation, and different needs. There were no high technologies – and people lived their ordinary lives without inflated demands and expectations. After all, they did not see or know anything different.

Now, however, the world has changed drastically. Why talk about children – just look at adults. Most of them can no longer imagine their lives without a phone and the internet. We acquire all the information we are interested in not from books or magazines. But from our phones. That’s where we communicate with a large number of friends. And we feel perfectly fine doing so.

The assertion about harm to child psychology is a contentious issue. I know parents whose children love playing games on their phones, run their own channels on social media, and at the same time perform well in school, attend clubs, are passionate about music, and perform in an orchestra. They also connect with like-minded children from other countries and communicate with them using online translators.

I also know parents whose children endlessly play football on the playground – and are known as troubled adolescents. They are rude to teachers and barely pass their grades in school. They don’t attend any clubs, and they are not interested in doing so.

So, in my opinion, the issue is not about gadgets at all. It lies within the child itself and how they are raised. I also believe that the matter of control relates to parenting. If there is trust between parents and children, then no one in such families will hide phones or install trap programs. Unless the adults closely monitor with whom their child is communicating online. For the safety of the child, of course.

Moreover, I believe that smartphones and other devices can be a wonderful addition and even a tool for a child's development. Who knows – maybe your children will become famous producers or excellent cameramen? Or famous bloggers with huge audiences?

What do you think about the benefits and harms of smartphones? Do you control your children? Do you limit their "hanging out" time on gadgets?