Excessive mobile phone and internet use provokes a third of paediatrician appointments
Thursday, February 9, 2017 @ 2:18 PM
A THIRD of all visits to paediatricians are for health problems related to mobile phone and internet use, according to medical data.
With 97% of teens aged 15 to 18 owning a mobile phone and over 90% being regular internet users, the potential for troubles ranging from addiction to repetitive strain, backache, headaches and eye problems, among others, is very high – and technology-savvy kids are getting younger all the time.
The Spanish Social Paediatrics Society says 40% of children and teenagers had accessed photos or videos of a sexual nature online, and 20% had shared images of other people they knew without their permission.
Parents are becoming more and more likely to seek medical advice, or at least be very worried about, their children's possible mobile phone and internet addiction, but kids and teens themselves appear to have 'little or no motivation' to moderate their own behaviour in this area.
The Society carried out a survey over the last academic year, and has now produced a report after fully analysing the data.
It warns technology abuse and addiction is on the rise, and can lead to distressing and life-limiting side-effects.
Those affected will typically spend more and more time using their mobile phones or surfing the net; have no willpower if they try to cut down, and suffer either agitation or feelings of deep sadness – sometimes both at once – when they attempt to control their own mobile and net use.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com