Can devices cause anxiety?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Recently, on a seven-hour, late-night flight to Europe from the USA, I couldn’t help but notice a young woman seated next to me who was on her smartphone for the entire flight playing games; she was probably 18 or 19 and travelling alone. I glanced in amazement as her fingers moved rapidly around the screen. She was fixated and hardly paused to even think; the only time she took a break was to eat and go to the washroom, and this was only for a few minutes. I thought about addiction, especially among youth, and how excessive screen time may affect their mental health and focus.

This led me to read The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, a best-seller which outlined startling research pointing to a mental health crisis among children due to how we have “rewired” their upbringing, learning and development with an overload of digital technology and apps. I believe this crisis will follow children into their teenage years and adulthood; many successful influencers on social media struggle with depression and anxiety, and occasionally have to step back. Older adults are generally better able to control screen addiction and media, due to real-life responsibilities and priorities involving work, home, families. Many of us grew up without the Internet and devices with apps. We socialised in person as kids, playing with each other, going to parks, interacting and engaging socially. A blogger I follow speaks relentlessly about how she has banned devices for her young kids (until they reach 18). She felt that as a single parent, it was her responsibility to safeguard their mental health and well-being, to prevent anxiety and help to enhance their attention span, language and brain development, and social skills.

Many states in the USA, and other countries around the world, have now banned the use of digital devices in schools, unless they are being used strictly for educational purposes. They are cited as an unwanted distraction to learning, which may lead to loneliness, anxiety and unhappiness. While some argue that moderation is key, others say even limited exposure can lead to addiction, especially among kids. This is where the real danger lies, as it affects their learning, development and emotional intelligence to navigate life. The concern is that an entire generation could be growing up with a lot of anxiety and social detachment. Advancement in technology is great, but as parents and educators we must find the ideal balance to link the realities of life and human experiences.

P. CHIN

chin_p@yahoo.com