6 Things to Know About Safe Phone and Internet Usage for Kids

Online activity can take over a child’s life and lead to negative consequences, so parental monitoring and establishing guidelines are imperative. 

Parents need to exercise good communication with their kids to build trust and safe internet habits. Christin Lola/Shutterstock

For many parents of children and teens, the internet and cell phones can pose concerns. Unsupervised and excessive use of either can cause problematic physical and emotional issues, such as neglected responsibilities, increased anxiety, addiction, and even safety risks. Here are six things to know about safe digital device usage for kids.

1. Digital Usage Can Become an Addiction

Merriam-Webster defines an addiction as a compulsive, chronic, physiological, or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity having harmful physical, psychological, or social effects. Withdrawal or abstinence causes well-defined symptoms (such as anxiety, irritability, tremors, or nausea). While many associate addictions with painkillers, alcohol use, or excessive gambling, internet and phone use can also become addictive, especially among juveniles.

A study conducted by BMC Psychiatry between 2011 and 2017 on problematic smartphone usage by children and young people reported problematic usage was reported in approximately one in every four children. It was accompanied by increased odds of poorer mental health. In the report’s conclusion, BMC considered problematic phone usage to be an evolving public health concern that requires greater study to determine the boundary between helpful and harmful technology use.

2. Healthy Limits Vary Per Child

Determining what constitutes too much technology is a challenge for all parents. Katie Dorn, a former K-12 school counselor and co-founder of EmpowerU, a program designed to help students replace anxiety and depression with confidence, advised The Epoch Times on the subject. “When we think about how much is too much, it’s really about how screen time impacts the rest of your child’s life. Ask yourself: Is it affecting their mood? Are they neglecting responsibilities like schoolwork or chores?”