According to a study done before the Covid-19 pandemic it was found that nearly three-quarters of parents were concerned that their kids’ use of mobile devices may be harmful to them or to family relationships.
During the pandemic schools were shut for two years in Goa. Students had to follow classes online on their mobile phones from the safety of their homes.
Obviously there was no other option for the parents but to see to it that each child in the family owned a personal Smartphone in order to follow the lessons in their particular class.
Poor families probably even had to apply for a loan in order to buy a mobile phone for their wards. Besides following the online classes, children could have been using the mobile to play games and follow other apps.
This could have the students addicted to the mobile phone. Young children have impressionable minds. Even though schools in the physical mode have commenced, students could even now be using the mobile for purposes other than following the online classes which have been discontinued.
It could be very difficult to deviate little childrens' interest from the mobile phone now. Studies have shown that excessive use of the mobile could cause anxiety, depression, affect family life and even cause obesity.
Parents need to do everything possible to see that their wards stay detached from the mobile during the school vacation which is to follow shortly.
