Parents today have countless concerns about their children — from obesity, diabetes, nearsightedness, and poor academic performance to emotional instability. In recent years, one more issue has emerged: children’s growing dependence on cell phones and smartphones.
While many parents either remain unaware or fail to set limits, a 2019 CellCell survey of 1,135 American parents with children aged 4–14 revealed a troubling trend: four in ten parents admitted they allowed their children to use phones simply “to keep them quiet or stop them from bothering others.” In other words, 40% of parents exchanged peace and quiet for screen time. The same study found that 57% of children used phones mainly to play games.
Since 2019, with social changes and the explosion of technology, the issue of children using cell phones has become a serious one — touching education, moral values, psychology, and physical health. Studies now show that half of all 11-year-olds, and nearly all teens, own a phone.
In the United States, 53% of 11-year-olds and up to 95% of teens have their own phones. Parents’ permissiveness — giving in to their children’s demands — makes it easy for even 8-year-olds to own one.
Children and teens now use their phones anywhere and anytime. On average, they check their screens more than 100 times a day, even during class. Those under 13 frequently access social media, online videos, and — disturbingly — adult content. The consequences are severe. Studies link early and excessive phone use to psychological issues such as low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and depression, especially among girls. Cyberbullying has become another serious threat.
The Dangers of Excessive Phone Use
Here are 10 negative and potentially dangerous effects of uncontrolled phone use among children:
- Eye damage and vision problems: Headaches, blurred or dry eyes, and eye strain are increasingly common.
- Poor sleep and insomnia: Disrupted sleep cycles and frequent awakenings affect overall health.
- Delayed intellectual and language development: Less face-to-face interaction limits vocabulary, communication, and emotional bonding.
- Reduced attention span and focus: Addiction to screens leads to boredom with real-world activities and often to gaming addiction.
- Obesity and other health issues: Excessive phone time replaces outdoor play, raising risks for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
- Mental health disorders: Overuse is linked to irritability, depression, anxiety, and emotional instability.
- Exposure to inappropriate content and online abuse: Children are vulnerable to predators, misinformation, and digital exploitation.
- Social withdrawal and poor communication: Screen dependence reduces real social connections and weakens family relationships.
- Academic decline: Screen addiction impairs concentration, memory, and learning habits.
- Radiation exposure: Some studies suggest prolonged phone use may affect brain and bone development. Experts recommend not holding phones directly to the ear.
Expert Insights
According to Dr. Douglas Gentile, psychology professor at Iowa State University who studies media effects on children:
“It’s no surprise when you look around — at airports, restaurants, even at home — that kids today aren’t staring at TV screens but at the smaller screens in their hands.”
Smartphones allow children not only to play games and chat but also to:
- Access both good and harmful websites.
- Engage on social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, where virtual interaction can distort their sense of reality.
Dr. Jenny Radesky, developmental-behavioral pediatrician at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and lead author for the American Academy of Pediatrics, advises:
“Children shouldn’t have free rein over devices. They should ask permission to use them. Keep phones out of their bedrooms, and set clear boundaries about when and how they can be used.”
Similarly, Amy Williams, in her analysis “How Do Smartphones Affect Childhood Psychology?”, notes that as children grow, they increasingly depend on technology for stimulation and status. However, prolonged screen time rewires their brains, weakening traditional learning skills like reading, writing, and focus.
Phones and the Internet also hinder emotional and social growth. When a child relies on digital communication, their ability to express empathy and connect emotionally in real life suffers.
While some educators argue that technology can enhance learning and communication, the consensus remains: without supervision and balance, it poses far greater risks than benefits.
Guidance for Parents
Raising children in the 21st century means preparing them to live with technology responsibly. Parenting today involves not only moral and academic guidance but also digital discipline.
Here are recommendations from Amy Williams’ research for parents managing phone use:
• Avoid letting children under age 2 use screens or electronic games.
• Use technology together — play, watch, and learn as a family.
• Don’t let screen time replace real-world play and friendships.
• Limit total screen time to 1–2 hours per day (including TV, computers, and phones).
• Encourage shared family meals and conversations.
• Choose educational programs that develop math, language, reading, and science skills.
• Never allow phones in a child’s bedroom.
By 2025, about 98% of Americans will own a cell phone, and around 91% will have a smartphone. On average, adults spend six to seven hours per day on their devices and check them over 200 times daily. A 2022 Gallup report found that 72% of Americans sleep with their phones nearby.
This means adults — not just children — need to model healthy habits. Children learn from their parents. The home remains the first and most influential classroom — where young minds learn not only how to live, but how to grow.
– By Trần Mỹ Duyệt-
Ph.D in Psychology
References:
- 10 Harmful Effects of Mobile Phones on Children’s Health.
- How Do Smartphones Affect Childhood Psychology? Amy Williams, Last updated: 8 Oct 2018, Psychcentral.com)