Wollongong, Australia. A new study on the effects of caregiver smartphone usage on child development.
It’s not an unusual sight in public spaces: parents and caregivers looking at their smartphones in front of their children. This is not surprising, as smartphones are an indispensable part of most people’s everyday lives. And even in the presence of children, their use is sometimes helpful or necessary. However, a new study by the University of Wollongong in Australia provides further evidence that digital distraction of parents and caregivers by smartphones and similar devices has a significant negative impact on their children, especially if they are younger than five years old. The researchers analyzed data from 21 research studies involving nearly 15,000 participants from ten countries. The central object of research was what is known as technology interference, or “technoference” for short. The term describes the phenomenon of interpersonal interaction and communication being disrupted or interrupted by digital devices.
The Australian study concluded that children whose parents or close caregivers frequently use smartphones and similar devices in their presence often exhibit a range of social abnormalities. These include less developed cognitive and prosocial skills, more frequent emotional problems, and weaker bonds with their parents. Furthermore, children spend more time on digital devices themselves. The study concludes that there is a link between the screen time of parents and caregivers and the healthy development of children, which, according to the scientists, necessitates more extensive research. They also see topic-related educational work for parents as a constructive step.
Sources Tagesschau and JAMA Network
Translation Charles Cross
Picture Jonas Leupe
