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📵 When was the last time you unplugged? The problem of the phone-based generation. 📵

📵 When was the last time you unplugged? The problem of the phone-based generation. 📵

The irony of social media being anything but social. What is the right amount and how do we navigate around the digital era?

Michelle Lim
March 25, 2024

Dearest MindFull Readers,

🚫📱 PHONE-FREE DAYS 📱🚫

When was the last time you had one? It's becoming increasingly rare, isn't it?

This week, I stumbled upon an eye-opening article by Jonathan Haidt that dives deep into the impact of excessive screen time and phone usage on our kids. It's a real wake-up call to the concerning trends we're seeing in our children's development.

If you're interested, you can check out excerpts of the article here.

Photo by ROBIN WORRALL on Unsplash

What struck me the most was how this isn't just about kids zoning out in front of screens, but also us adults as their role models play a huge role in this. It's about the long-term effects on their well-being and growth and how we build our relationships with the younger generation. As such, it's our responsibility to pay attention to these things.

Below is a part of Haidt’s article where research has shown the sharp decline of healthy in-person social interactions:

”But perhaps the most devastating cost of the new phone-based childhood was the collapse of time spent interacting with other people face-to-face. A study of how Americans spend their time found that, before 2010, young people (ages 15 to 24) reported spending far more time with their friends (about two hours a day, on average, not counting time together at school) than did older people (who spent just 30 to 60 minutes with friends). Time with friends began decreasing for young people in the 2000s, but the drop accelerated in the 2010s, while it barely changed for older people. By 2019, young people’s time with friends had dropped to just 67 minutes a day. It turns out that Gen Z had been socially distancing for many years and had mostly completed the project by the time COVID-19 struck.”

Much of the study highlighted in this article may have been based on the American population. However, if you do manage to read further into the article another research has been done across 29 nations worldwide, on how social media and digital devices are influencing boys and girls in negatively different areas and this applies to children worldwide.

Photo by Adem AY on Unsplash

So, what can we do about it? Here are a few ideas we can start with:

Boundaries Matter: Let's set some clear boundaries around screen time, for both our children and ourselves.
Family Time is Key: We need to make sure we're carving out quality time together, away from screens. Go for a walk or play a board game.
Lead by Example: Our own phone habits matter too. Let's model the behavior we want to see in our kids.
Seek Support: Don't hesitate to reach out for help. Parenting in the digital age is so tough, and remember you are not alone.

Take a moment to think about your family's tech habits. Are there changes you could make to support your kids' well-being? Having a tough time trying to grapple with this challenge and need someone to talk to? I am all ears and have a safe space for you where you can express your thoughts, simply book your free time slot right here.