Since digital devices have come into existence, everyone has started to gaze with their eyes on digital screens such as cell phones, tablets, and even computer screens. On the other hand, young children are the most frequent users of modern time’s technology, and they spend most of their time on cell phones and gadget screens. However, in the modern world, being responsible and productive needs too much time on digital screens for work to make a living, as well as to stay connected to family and friends. Well! That’s all about adults, but when it comes to young children and tweens, their bodies and brain still running with underdeveloped cells and tissues. So, their cognitive functions or their brain may suffer due to over usage of the technology, especially in terms of digital cell phones and gadgets. Therefore, “Digital Dementia” has been found among the kids and tweens who eat, sleep, and drink while having tech- devices in their hands.
Why We have written this particular post?
We are going to discuss the research about the excessive use of digital devices, and its after effects in the shape of digital dementia. It will make you aware of the symptoms to diagnose it without visiting any physician, and at the end; we will discuss important key points to mitigate the negative effects of technology and how you can treat trauma in the shape of digital dementia.
ASHA Survey stated that:
Even the elementary school young students are used to using entertainment technology for an average of 7.5 hours a day, Kaiser Foundation stated that.
- Almost 75% of young children use digital devices in bedrooms
- 68% of young children lonely in U.S use gadgets such as tablets
- 59% of kids own cellphone devices connected to the internet
- Dramatically 44% have their games consoles
So the digital devices obsession is real and occasional screen time may be okay, but even parents prefer to babysit their children with the use of digital devices to keep them in peace and to keep them quiet.
However, half of the parents surveyed have stated that technology is being used to get entertainment. Furthermore, 50% of the parents have stated that they use technological gadgets to deal with the children behavior problems and traumas.
If something is common, it does not mean “OK”
The young kids and teens that are commonly using technology in terms of cell phones, gadgets, and computer devices connected to the internet, do mean that they doings should be endorsed positively. Technology and digital media addicted children may become media-obsessed adults, and they may suffer from digital dementia kind of health issues that keep them into trouble in long run. If parents are doing the same, such as using tech-devices, use of instant messaging apps, text messages, and other digital activities in front of their growing children. Ultimately, they will chase their parent’s footsteps.
What is digital Dementia?
The world-renowned neuroscientist Manfred Spritzer has introduced this terms in his book since 2012. He has coined this particular term to explain how the excessive use of digital technology correlates with the breakdown of the children cognitive capacity. So, using tech-gadgets to keep children quiet and entertain is the huge digital parenting blunders that parents should avoid.
Neuroscientist Spritzer’s has published in the psychology that says, “Short term memory start declining when we overuse the technological creatures”.
The ultimate hazards due to the use of excessive use of technology may increases ADHD, autism and spectrum disorders derail the development, anxiety, learning and sleeping disorders. Additionally, the articles say about the children that play videos games as augmented reality games their grey matter in the hippo-campus start decrease, that is the part of the brain of our spatial cognition. However, other proposals need further investigation, but when it comes to the past research, “it gets reduced the gray matter that may become a factor of schizophrenia, depression, dementia, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Technology & dangerous effects on brain
A young PHD holder Kimberly says, number of dangerous changes may occur in the brain of the users who spend most of their time on the internet. All these changes that occur in the brain are due to excessive dopamine stimulation through reward and pleasure center of the brain. So the brain consists of multiple dopamine pathways that play a significant role in reward motivation behavior. Dramatically, Cocaine, is been utilized for the same dopamine function in the brain as does the excessive use of technology. So, the overuse of digital devices is similar you are using digital cocaine.
Will you let your children to be the victim of digital dementia?
The following are the tips to prevent young children to be a victim of digital dementia.
Living a life without using digital devices may be impossible for children as well as for adults. But we can do something in terms of the adoption of precautionary measures that help to counter digital dementia among children. Let’s discuss the major tips below.
- Don’t let your children to spend most of the time on the digital cellphones and gadgets all day long
- Don’t provide children their own individual devices connected to the internet
- You can monitor children’s screen activities, and you can even count their screen time
- Set parental control on children’s digital devices, especially if they have social media accounts
- Remotely block internet, text messaging or any other activity on the target device using the TheOneSpy software
- Make some ground rules for your children to use the tech gadgets, and when it comes to violation of the roles implement the penalties
- Encourage your children to perform physical activities rather than sticking all the time with artificial world
- In case children have to use desktop and laptop computers for studying, then tell them to take regular breaks to get up and move around to give their brains rest
- Teach your children the importance of real–life activities in terms of memory and cognitive functions
- Parents should fixed passwords on their home WiFi modem or routers, and it would be best to shut down your WiFi before sleeping.
- Put computers, especially at a place where you can keep an eye on children activities
Conclusion:
You may have heard an anonymous quotation, “everyone knows how to raise children, except them who have them”. So, if you have children, then don’t be the ones who have been stated in the quotation. Protect your children from the excessive use of digital devices. Do your parenting job to the fullest and don’t let your child be the victim of digital dementia.
