If you notice that your child is spending too much time on their cell phones, it might be an indication that they are close to being addicted, or they may be struggling with phone addiction already.  

Even though phones are beneficial for your child’s use, you can set some measures in place to manage screen time addiction.  

Here are some tips to get you started

Teach them about addiction

Talk to your children about the fundamentals of addiction, and teach them how they can even get addicted to their phones if they are not careful.

Show them the pros and cons of phone addiction so that they will understand that while cell phones have their benefits, the downsides can be devastating.

Set boundaries for them

Another way to prevent phone addiction is to set healthy boundaries that will limit screen time. For instance, you can allow them to use their phones for a short time during the week when they are in school. Then you can give them more time to use their phones during weekends.

Teach them other healthy activities

You can teach your child healthy activities to replace phone addiction. Encourage them to learn a skill, learn how to play an instrument, cook together, go swimming or hiking, etc. When they spend time on other profitable activities, it reduces screen time for them.

Encourage them to use the internet to learn

It is important to let your child know that using the internet the right way can make them better than their peers.

Teach your children how to use the internet for research so that they can stand out among their colleagues. Early exposure to the good sides of the internet can pan out well for your child in the long run.

While you try to set some boundaries and limits to control cell phone addiction, talk to your child’s teacher and other trusted adults to keep an eye out for you. Also, draw closer to your child so that you can have an idea of all their activities.

These days, more children have access to cell phones primarily because it is an essential item that everyone should have for communication. However, if left unchecked, kids can become addicted to cell phones.  

While cell phones are important for your child’s social and academic needs, you need to help them provide a balance so that they become addicted to their devices.

Some studies have opined that cell phone addiction might produce the same effects as alcohol or drug addiction. This makes it more important to ensure your child handles their cell phones the healthy way.  

Here are some of the signs of cell phone addiction in kids:

They lose interest in other activities

You can tell that phone addiction is prominent in a child when their interest in other activities begins to decline.

This might be because they spend more time playing games, watching videos, or just communicating with friends and strangers online. They might spend less time reading books, playing games with friends, etc.

They are mostly isolated

One of the highlights of phone addiction is when your child prefers to spend time in their room and frowns at every chance to stay around people.

When they are in social settings, they are always on their phones and cut off from every conversation because they might not be interested.

They experience fallouts with their family and friends

When you notice that your child no longer communicates regularly with you like before, it might be that they are addicted to their phones. They might avoid face-to-face interactions because their minds are fixated on the ongoing activities online.

It is important to mention that there will always be activities on the internet that will continuously engage your child.

Your child will keep getting exposed to both the positives and negatives on the internet and the only way they can live an overall balanced life is when they control their online activities.

Parents and caregivers need to teach children how to use the internet the right way to that it doesn’t affect them mentally, emotionally, and physically.

The invention and development of cell phones are insightful ones undoubtedly. Owing to a host of advantages it has brought us, adults and kids inclusive, the relevance of cell phones can not be undermined.

However, as good as this advent is, many people tend to use them to the disadvantage of their mental and physical health. Common ways to know if you are addicted to your phone may include:

Spending excess time texting, chatting and interacting with people than you do in the real-world

• Finding yourself using your phone even when there is nothing productive to be done on it
• Gaining self-fulfillment in using your phone other than interacting with the rest of the world
• Getting at your phone to socialize even when it is not convenient or suitable
• Finding yourself using your phone out of self-compulsion (involuntarily)
• Feeling reluctant and less productive when you do not have your phone

The adverse effect of cell phone addiction 

The effects of cell phone overdependence are shocking and quite devastating. Some of these are:

• Increased health complications like eye/sight problems, body pain, muscle redundancy, short-term memory problems, etc.
• Worsened communication skills
• Anxiety and mental stress
• Aggravated level of depression and self-esteem issues

Ways of controlling cell phone addiction

The various ways by which cell phone addiction can be curtailed could very prove to be tasking. However, it is important to break free from this addiction. Tips on defeating cellphone addiction include:

• Consciously set aside a day to stay without your phone every week
• Set a 30-day recovery time frame for yourself 
• Never charge your phone beside you while you sleep
• Get interesting apps that will help you stay focused and monitor your screen time daily. Apps like space, screen-time, forest, flip, and app freeze are awesome apps that can assist you with setting realistic goals.
• Remove apps that you spend time with from your home screen 
• Utilize functions like turning off your notification, as well as turning on “do not disturb” and airplane mode often.

In the last decade, technology has thrived in aspects of inventing advanced mobile phones and other devices. Androids, iPhones, and other smartphones now afford almost anybody the leverage to access the internet from wherever and whenever.

Over half the world’s population, including children and adults, own a mobile phone. While many people do not have a problem with this, others develop an addiction to their phones.

As technology keeps growing from height to height, the functionalities and capabilities of cellphones upswing also. These, in turn, increased the possibility of overuse and mental dependence.

Social media apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Telegram, and others, require people to spend a lot of time on their phones. The expectation of new followers, likes, comments, and engagements get people overly attached to their phones.

Asides from social media applications, mobile games, movies, music, and other fun things are also on the go for any smartphone user. All these benefits consciously or unconsciously contribute to cellphone obsession.

Getting addicted to your phone can be both physically and psychologically detrimental to you in the long run. Some of the numerous physical and psychological damages that could cellphone addiction are:

1. Neck and overall body pain: when you stare at your phone or tablet for hours with your neck down, you could develop neck pain. Sitting or lying at a spot for a long time could also contribute to body pain.
2. Illness and health complications: due to excessive body rest, one could develop several health disorders like cardiovascular disease, HBP, muscle pain, eye problem, weak immune system, etc.
3. Reduced sleep time and increased fatigue: could result in an unstable sleep time and mental stress.
4. Anxiety and depression
5. Relationship problems
6. Isolation and self-esteem issues
7. Other physical damages may include male infertility due to excessive radiation from phones, car accidents, etc.

Dissociative drugs are “a class of hallucinogen that are known for altering perceptions of sight, sound, and connections with one’s surroundings. When taken, they generate feelings of separation, or dissociation, from the environment and self.” As a result, this can have a huge impact on the individual who is addicted by causing him/her to feel as though he/she is out of his/her own body. The biggest reason for this is because these types of drugs numb the person so that he/she is no longer able to pick up on pain like he/she would normally – through his/her central nervous system. Instead, he/she might feel as though he/she is on top of the world where no harm will come to him/her. 

In turn, that’s why such substances are called dissociative because not only does the addict begin to lose his/her sense of reality, but he/she begins to lose his/her sense of self as well. This can cause him/her to be unaware as to whether or not he/she has hurt himself/herself. Consequently, he/she may find himself/herself acting recklessly because of this, causing danger to himself/herself and others. The activities that he/she might choose to take part in can vary, but one, in particular, could be him/her driving under the influence. Some of the short term effects of dissociative drugs are listed as follows; numbness, disorientation, hallucinations, dizziness, and memory loss. However, there are many more based on the level – and/or dosage – at which the individual is taking the substance. 

This is where long term effects come in causing a plethora of problems by affecting the future of those who have abused dissociative drugs. Some of these include but are not limited to “depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.” These can happen over a prolonged amount of time if the individual continues to abuse the substance. In conclusion, if the person gets the help that he/she needs early on he/she has the opportunity – and/or more of a likelihood – of avoiding mental health disorders. Then – and only then – can the individual get the help that he/she needs so that he/she might be able to live an addiction-free life. But if he/she chooses to continue on his/her current path it can pose as dangerous, and may even result in death.

Cell phones are a major factor in our modern day world, and while some may find themselves on their phones slim to none, many of us may find ourselves on our phones frequently throughout the day. Phones are what keep us connected to the world around us, whether it’s to keep in touch with family while on business, or whether we are catching up with a close friend—via facetime—who has since moved away. Yet, even though there are a number of ways in which our phones benefit us, there are just as many disadvantages if we aren’t careful to use our phones in moderation. Consequently, excessive phone usage does not only affect one mentally/emotionally, but physically as well, through factors such as; their weight and their sleep patterns.

First and foremost is his/her weight which can begin to take a toll due to the obsession that he/she has with his/her phone. Oftentimes, those who scroll frequently on their phone begin to lose track of time, as second scrolls turn into minute scrolls, and minute scrolls turn into hour scrolls. They then begin to find themselves disconnected with reality, and instead only taking that which is right in front of their face, rather than that of their surroundings. In turn, this can cause problems for those who spend more time on their phones, rather than outside. The more time that they spend on their phones, the quicker that day turns to night, and they then find themselves wondering where all their time has went, and/or where it has been spent. In the midst of all that time, even a fifteen minute walk can make a big difference, doing good for their bodies, as well as their mental health.

Second is the effect that phones have on one’s sleep pattern. For many of us have heard that we should avoid tv, phones, and other such forms of light source right before bed because it makes it harder to sleep. In turn, the bright light exposure can throw off one’s sleep schedule, and cause him/her to get less sleep than he/she would normally. In turn, if this becomes a habit for the particular individual to scroll through his/her phone before bed, he/she may find himself/herself frequently waking up tired.

In conclusion, there are underlying effects that come with excessive cell phone usage, just as much as there are problems that wear on one physical. That’s why it’s important that individuals young or old are careful as to how much time they chose to spend on their phone, vs. how much time they take to interact with the world around them. For, if they aren’t careful it can cause great harm to their physical health, in addition to their mental/emotional health.