Is My Child’s Smartphone Doing Damage?
These days, with the prevalence of (and constant engagement with) digital devices, many kids are spending less time outdoors and more time staring at screens. As a result, many parents are concerned about the potential harmful effects of smartphones. While engaging with a screen may not always be the best use of your child’s time, many common concerns over the digital age might be exaggerated. Like so many things in life, there are both benefits and drawbacks to having technology everywhere. Technology isn’t going anywhere, so we need to do what we can to maximize its upsides and minimize its downsides. But before we can start, we need to separate fact from fiction.
Smartphones are amazing educational tools. They give kids and adults alike unprecedented access to information and organizational resources, creating opportunities for learning like never before. However, growing up with a phone in your hand may negatively affect your attention span, making your kids accustomed to constant stimulation and instant gratification. Furthermore, as a 2017 University of Texas study suggests, the mere presence of a smartphone can negatively impact cognitive performance. At this point, it seems that smartphones have immediate effects on our ability to focus and be patient with certain types of tasks. That’s why we believe in the “everything in moderation” adage.
Most of the potential damage that a cell phone might cause would result from excessive and/or unfettered use. Therefore, placing a few boundaries on you and your child’s screen time could go a long way toward limiting any possible harm from smartphones. At Briarcliff Pediatrics, we recommend ensuring your kids avoid screens after the sun goes down, or at least for a couple of hours before bedtime. The light that digital devices emit can disrupt healthy sleep patterns, so phones and tablets aren’t the most constructive forms of entertainment at night.
Over the years, there have been varying levels of unfounded concern about cell phones and cancer. While cell phones do emit electromagnetic radiation in the form of radiofrequency, it’s what’s known as non-ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation, like X-rays and Gamma rays, have wavelengths small enough to penetrate to the DNA level and potentially cause cancer. Radio wavelengths, however, are too large to warrant any concerns about DNA damage.
With this information in mind, we recommend exercising your own judgment to monitor your children’s screen time. On one hand, smartphones and tablets can be great for education and development, and kids will need to feel comfortable with digital devices to navigate the modern world. On the other hand, the distracting and hyper-stimulating modern technology we constantly use can throw off sleep patterns and negatively affect focus. Furthermore, with so many things to do indoors these days, we should encourage kids to go outside for exercise and fresh air as much as possible. However, like most things in life, if you and your child use your smartphones judiciously, you can make the most of them and minimize any potential harm. Again, everything in moderation.
Dr. Ray Deeb and Dr. Ashley Brown provide comprehensive healthcare for newborns and children up to the age of 18, and they’re currently accepting new patients. If you would like to learn more about us, you’re welcome to come in for a complimentary meet-and-greet so that you can talk in person with Dr. Deeb or Dr. Brown and get a tour of our newly renovated office. Contact Briarcliff Pediatrics to schedule an appointment, and don’t forget to follow us on social media to get the latest health tips and news in children’s health care.
