Parents don’t want to give their children smartphones

Despite the known harm smartphones can do to children, there is a culture in New Zealand of giving them access to these devices at a young age, says Samantha Marsh from the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Kiwi children are among the heaviest screen users in the world. Māori and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds are over-represented. However, there is a global push from parents who refuse to give their children smartphones.

It is based on research showing a link between mental and physical health problems in children using smartphones and social media.

Daisy Greenwell started a group in the UK called Smartphone Free Childhood and it was a success, she told RNZ Saturday morning.

“Within a week there was one site in every county in the UK, thousands of school groups and now there are 150,000 parents in our community,” she said.

She explained that the idea that it’s too late to do anything is exactly what big tech would like.

“They have been unregulated since their inception, but when they first came to market we didn’t know what impact they would have on children and childhood.

“And now we are doing it and the evidence is very clear that it is not good for children and we need to do something about it,” she said.

“I think we’ve done a very poor job in New Zealand, there hasn’t been much research in this area to let parents know there is an alternative,” Ms Marsh said.

There are groups in New Zealand similar to Greenwell’s that promote the same message.

“Unplugged Rebels, a grassroots group of parents that pushes for changes in this area.

“We recently formed a Before 16 group, made up of people with expertise from wellbeing academia to technology, and we really want to see a social media-free childhood be the norm in New Zealand, not the exception.”

The goal is not to leave children isolated, Greenwell said.

“People are really starting to do something about it and it is quite possible, just wait a few more years, you could buy your child a simple brick phone, just make calls and text, and when they grow up, you could buy them a smartphone.”

Studies have shown a number of health problems associated with smartphones, Marsh said.

“We know that non-adherence to screen use recommendations is associated with factors such as obesity, increased rates of disease, increased visits to the doctor, poorer motor skills and problems with hyperactivity.”

A review of the data by pediatric physical therapist Julie Cullen found a number of factors affecting vision, hearing, neck and headache pain, attention, language and cognitive function, Marsh said.

“And of course everyone is now talking about the effects on mental health and mental wellbeing.

“So depression, anxiety, eating disorders or low self-esteem.”