The youngest technology addict in Serbia is FOUR years old!

The youngest technology addict in Serbia is FOUR years old!

Nowadays, addiction to the Internet and video games is becoming more and more common, causing concern among experts and parents. The new scourge of modern times does not choose age, and the youngest addict in Serbia is only 4 years old.

In the show “Uranak” on K1 television, we explore the differences between substance addiction and Internet addiction. What causes this type of addiction? How to recognize the symptoms and what are the possible consequences?

We discuss these questions with our guests, Dr. Svetislav Mitrović, a psychiatrist at the Institute for Mental Health Palmotićeva, journalist Aleksandra Petrovski and Katarina Jonev, an expert in the safety of children on the Internet, who will share their knowledge and perspectives on this urgent topic.

“It is not new that children seriously abuse digital technologies from the age of ten or eleven. Addiction develops very early, and although we have not had a case of such a young child, such as a four-year-old, we have examples of very young people facing this problem,” said Dr. Mitrović, explaining what Internet addiction looks like.

“Internet addiction cannot be seen as drug addiction, but as a non-substantial addiction that causes certain behavioral symptoms. These patterns often resemble substance addictions. “When young people are deprived of digital means, violent reactions occur, and prolonged use of phones or other digital devices can lead to changes in behavior,” added the doctor.

The first sign of addiction in young people

“Young people often get phones very early, even at the age of five. In some cases, I have seen parents give their children a phone while they are still in the nursery, so that they can watch cartoons. This is an early step towards getting used to digital media. The young person then entertains themselves with games and social networks, which take up more and more of their time. When parents warn children about excessive use, there is often outcry and anger, and children continue to use phones at night or on the street and at school.”

dr. Mitrović noted that when the time a young person spends in fun activities exceeds an hour and a half a day, it can be a sign of problematic use:

“In that case, we can already suspect the development of addiction.”

When asked whether parents are aware of the consequences of giving a phone to a one-year-old child, the doctor answers:

“Parents are aware of what they want to achieve when they let their child watch the phone, but they are often unaware of the long-term consequences. Some recognize that something is wrong, while others think it’s just a trend and that it’s completely normal, because everyone has a cell phone. Many parents need time to realize that this is a problem. It is necessary to establish a certain regime in the family that will support the healthy lifestyle of the child. If the child does not sleep at night, how will he follow the lessons? What will his biorhythm be? This in itself is a health risk, not to mention content that can be awkward, scandalous or even dangerous. This must be discussed,” emphasizes the doctor.

Journalist Aleksandra Petrovski emphasizes the importance of providing healthy alternatives to children in connection with the use of digital devices.

“As parents, our task is to offer them a healthy alternative. The screens will not retract on their own; early elementary students spend between one and four hours a day passively using digital devices. We can’t take away all their devices because there are many useful features. We should focus on how to show them how they can behave responsibly, especially when they start using social media. I am glad that the formal limit for the use of these networks is increasing; now it is allowed at the age of 16, and officially at the age of 13. Unfortunately, in Serbia, we have worrying data on the daily use of social networks among children aged nine to eleven, she explains.

Katarina Jonev points out that parents have to control the content that their children watch on the Internet

“21. In November 2019, I organized a conference about children on the Internet, where experts stated that the youngest addicted to the Internet and mobile phones is a four-year-old child. Unfortunately, very little has changed in the past five years. All specialized hospitals that deal with various forms of addiction are full, and more and more parents are bringing their children, who are not only teenagers, in order to provide them with adequate help and guide them on the right path. The goal is to provide them with a quality life without the excessive influence of the screen. It is obvious that parents have not woken up enough to this issue.

Today we are facing another extreme – children of an increasingly younger age are physically and aggressively acting towards their parents, especially their mothers. Katarina cites a case where a mother of an eight-year-old boy complained that her son was causing serious injuries and that she did not know whether to call the police.

Each home is specific, but we must not allow such behavior to be accepted as normal. Boundaries and discipline are key, and this also applies to the use of mobile phones. Parents are the ones who should guide children in the virtual space, showing them how to properly use social networks and all the advantages of the digital world, but they should also set clear limits in that use,” says Katarina and adds:

“We have a problem that the content on digital platforms is often such that children get lost in that maze and don’t know what is desirable content and what is not. Unfortunately, a large number of platforms offer inappropriate content that targets our children. Many of them do not understand what it is about, but think that they should behave that way, which results in the creation of negative models of behavior. From a young age, when a parent decides to give a phone to a child, it is important to set guidelines about what and how much children watch. Also, they should watch content together and participate in that digital space. When the time that a child is allowed to spend on the Internet expires, the phone should be taken in a nice way and healthy alternatives should be offered,” he adds.

Hidden content and security on social networks

“Although social networks have proposed various protection measures in the last few years, in practice it is not sufficiently functional. When will we finally see the sanctioning of inappropriate content and users, such as a temporary account ban of five months? Although social networks and IT companies emphasize that they care about the safety of their users, especially children, who are the most vulnerable, the issue of security remains problematic. Providing a secure environment requires considerable investment and effort. The most important elements of safety are the environment in which children are, parental support and the education system,” he adds.

More and more young people experience frustration when someone does not like their content, especially if a derogatory comment is left. Parents often tell their children that it shouldn’t affect them. Psychiatrist Dr. Mitrović explains whether such responses help or hinder.

“Personally, I believe that social networks should not be available to children under the age of 16. It is recommended that children do not even watch television until the age of three for medical reasons. Unfortunately, in our society the situation is different. When parents answer such questions, they somehow accept the child’s presence on social networks and offer advice on how to deal with negativity and bad reactions, which can lead to stigmatization of the child,” said the doctor and continued:

“Parental reaction may be different, but if a child reaches the age of 16 without experiencing injury or stigma in such situations, that would solve part of the problem. In some countries, mobile phones are banned in schools, because it is not clear why a phone would be needed during lessons. It could serve as an example for us, and the introduction of similar measures at the legal level would represent the best possible solution for the protection of children,” he adds.

Positive sides of digital assets

“The positive aspects of digital means are that they enable access to knowledge and diverse contents. However, it is important that this availability is adapted to the age and level of knowledge of the children, as well as the type of content offered. Parents must be able to explain to children the potential dangers and risks, as well as the ways in which they can protect themselves. Also, it is necessary that both children and parents know how to react if they notice inappropriate behavior or content on social networks. Parents must familiarize themselves with the risks and dangers posed by the Internet” – concluded Dr. Mitrović in the program “Uranak” on K1 television.

Source: BIZLife

Photo: Freepik