BTN News: When should children and teens use electronic devices? How should they use the internet and social media? These questions are often debated today. Most discussions are based on what adults think and observe. But what do kids think about using these devices? How do they experience it? We looked into how children feel about using mobile phones. This gave us important and clear insights into how technology affects their emotions and relationships.
Early Use of Mobile Phones Among Young Kids
In a study with 642 children from Bizkaia, the average age was 9.26 years. We found that only 22% own a mobile phone. However, 65.3% use their parents’ phones. On weekdays, children spend about 42 minutes and 42 seconds on mobile phones. This increases to 112.53 minutes on weekends. Kids with their own phones use them more. Even those who use their parents’ phones often exceed the recommended screen time.
The Spanish Pediatric Association says no screens before age 2. They suggest a maximum of one hour a day for children under 5. For older kids, they recommend no more than two hours of digital leisure. The French Academy of Psychiatry has stricter rules. They suggest no screens before age 3, no video games before 6, no internet before 9, and no social media before 12. But kids in our study think they should get a phone at 12, while their parents think 14 is better.
Lack of Guidance on Using Mobile Phones Starts Early
Kids said they did not get any advice on using mobile phones until the fourth grade. But kids use devices a lot even at younger ages. Guidance on mobile use should start in early school years. Parents and children often talk about mobile use. But these talks are often tense. Parents use their phones a lot in front of their kids. This sets an example that kids tend to follow.
Main Ways Kids Use Their Mobile Phones
Kids mostly use mobile phones to watch videos and play games. This makes us wonder if they have other ways to have fun. As they grow, kids also use phones to talk with friends and family. This shows that phones play a big social role. This change shows that kids are replacing face-to-face interactions with digital ones. These face-to-face talks are very important for their growth.
Kids Know About the Bad Effects of Mobile Phones
Kids, especially those with their own phones, know that phones can have bad effects. They say phones reduce quality time with friends (31.65%). Phones make them more open to harm (25.06%). Phones cause fights with parents (23.08%). Phones can cause addiction and health problems like headaches (19.49%). Knowing this means we should talk about both the technical risks and how phones affect social life.
Parents’ Reasons and Worries About Mobile Phones
Parents buy phones for their kids mainly for safety and talking. They want to track their kids (20.54%). They want kids to be independent (19.55%). They want constant communication (19.55%). They want their kids to fit in socially (23.76%). They also feel social pressure to buy phones (16.58%). Parents worry about improper use (44.83%). They worry about too much screen time (46.93%). They also worry about addiction (8.24%).
Working Together to Ensure Healthy Device Use
For kids to use devices healthily, families and teachers need to work together. Schools should teach teachers about digital literacy and related issues. This training should start by first grade. Schools should also inform students about how phones affect their lives. Local governments should offer training and support for families. Community-level strategies, like making joint decisions on mobile use, should be considered. Local governments should provide more leisure activities for kids. When there are other fun things to do, kids are willing to put their phones down and play. Though they spend a lot of time on screens, kids still love to interact and play.
