Photo: novosti-n.org
Experts have raised concerns that smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles are affecting the younger generation more severely than adults. Unfiltered exposure to online content can have profound consequences, influencing what children see, hear, and experience.
A recent study found that such devices contribute not only to obesity but also to social difficulties, motor skill delays, and poorer academic performance. Children aged 10 to 13 appear to be most affected.
“Many children receive their first smartphone at an early age. The impact is evident in pediatric practice. The study suggests that the health issues we’re seeing now are just the beginning, and the negative effects will likely intensify in the coming years,” said Gerda Herold, a consultant at the insurance company Pronova B.K.K.
Specialists also noted that younger children are increasingly affected, with deficits in motor development, speech, and creativity appearing in children as young as three years old. Teenagers aged 14 to 17 may use electronic devices less frequently, but the issue remains relevant for them as well. The research involved more than 100 pediatricians.
