A study conducted in Japan found that excessive smartphone use can lead to reduced blood flow in the frontal lobe due to an overload of text and images, overwhelming the brain’s ability to process information at a similar pace.
The frontal lobe is the command center of the brain, responsible for processing information from the external world. It typically employs three functions to manage this process:
– Shallow thinking: This involves remembering information for a short period. For instance, what a child should do or learn today, or processing one-time information or tasks, such as getting a glass of water when thirsty.
– Deep thinking: Utilizing past experiences and accumulated knowledge to think more profoundly. For example, if we’re creating a five-year plan, what skills would we need to master, and how can we break down large goals to turn our ideals into reality.
– DMN (Default Mode Network): This is when the brain is at rest, and we’re daydreaming or letting our thoughts wander.
Consequently, excessive mobile phone use can tire the brain and hinder various activities, primarily in the following three aspects.
Three key impacts on children’s development
1. Forgetfulness
Usually, when we watch short videos or read brief articles, we don’t think deeply, and our shallow thinking function is engaged. Our brain, like our stomach, needs to digest before it can absorb. If information goes in but doesn’t come out, it can lead to congestion. Even when new information enters from the outside world, children may not be able to remember everything.
Prolonged phone use can impact memory retention.
2. Poor decision-making
Decision-making is one of the primary responsibilities of the frontal lobe. If children constantly check their phones, a deluge of disjointed information will enter their brains, leading to slower reactions. Additionally, without space for independent thought or the ability to form deep and systematic understandings, children who are addicted to their phones are more easily influenced by others’ opinions and lack their own convictions.
3. Mood instability
When someone appears dazed, their brain is in DMN mode, seemingly doing nothing. In reality, the brain is analyzing and organizing information. If children frequently use their phones during moments when they should be daydreaming, their brains won’t be able to sort through this information effectively.
As a result, the brain becomes a “junk house,” constantly stressed and unable to switch between “work” and “rest” modes, leading to mood instability and irritability.
However, in today’s digital age, with rapid technological advancements, parents cannot prevent children from exploring these new frontiers. Experts advise against prohibition and instead recommend guiding children to use technology reasonably and purposefully. If appropriate methods are applied, smart devices can even support children’s learning.
Mood instability and irritability can result from excessive phone use.
What can parents do to encourage healthy phone usage?
1. Put down the phone and talk to your child
The brain has something called “mirror neurons” that become active as soon as a child is born. A child’s character and habits are gradually formed through implicit learning. If you want your child to use their phone less, the most effective way is to lead by example, subtly influencing them through your actions.
Additionally, parents should proactively initiate conversations with their children on topics unrelated to academics. For example, “Who is your closest friend in class?” or “Did you learn anything interesting today?” or “What are the extracurricular activities like at your school?”
Parents should engage in more conversations with their children.
When discussing these topics, children’s souls will be more relaxed, and they will express their most genuine emotions and thoughts. Through these conversations, parents can understand their children’s current challenges and interests. More importantly, when children feel profound love and support from their parents, their attention to their phones will naturally decrease.
2. Set time limits
Today’s mobile phones can be set with usage limits, locking certain features after a specified time. If children want to continue using the phone, they must enter a password to unlock it. However, before setting these time limits, parents should agree with their children on how many minutes per day or which days of the week they can use their phones.
Experts recommend that children use mobile phones for no more than one hour per day and no more than 30 minutes at a time.
3. Clear the mind
As mentioned, when we’re in a daze, our brain switches to DMN mode. If children genuinely want to relax, they can daydream for a few minutes. During this time, all we can do is gaze at the distant river, trees, or buildings, or practice meditation.
Many people consider using their phones as a way to unwind, but it actually increases the brain’s burden. As soon as we start swiping, countless texts and images flood our minds, easily leading to fatigue.
Encourage children to think and seek information from books.
4. Encourage brain exercise
Nowadays, when people encounter something they don’t understand, they tend to search for information on the Internet. However, according to experts, this is a bad habit. While it’s convenient, if we rarely use our “deep thinking” function, our brain activity decreases. This is especially true for children still in the learning phase. If they rely solely on the Internet for everything, they may struggle to form independent thinking habits and encounter difficulties when making decisions in certain situations.
If your child encounters something they don’t understand, encourage them to look up words in a dictionary or seek information from books. This will stimulate the brain to actively make connections and enhance its associative and cognitive abilities.
