Digital Discourse Database

Number of Posts: 13
Posts 1 - 10

Are smartphones really making our children sad?

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Newspaper | The Guardian
Date | 13.8.2017
Language | English
Country | UK
Topic Tags | (mental) health, addiction, childhood, smartphone, threat, youth
Summary | Children's relationship with screens has become a contested topic; not everyone agrees with what should or shouldn't be done. Last week, the Atlantic published an excerpt of Jean Twenge's book (the Atlantic article was titled "Have smartphones destroyed a generation?"), which initiated very diverse reactions. Jean Twenge, who is an American pychologist, said that social media have a negative effect on young people. Twenger then answered some of her critics in this Guardian article.
Image Description | Photograph of a group of teenagers all staring at their phone or tablet.
Image Tags | female(s), male(s), smartphone, tablet

Is it wrong to let my child play on my smartphone?

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Newspaper | The Guardian
Date | 10.8.2017
Language | English
Country | UK
Topic Tags | (mental) health, addiction, childhood, smartphone, technology-free
Summary | The author of the article sometimes feels guilty when she lets her 2-year old son play on a smartphone. When young children are glued to a screen, they are so captivated by what they're watching. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children younger than 2 should have no exposure to screens; it can hinder their language and social development/skills. The author of the article also claims that her kids already show characteristics of "addicted" behavior. For instance, they scream and are irascible if someone takes their screen away. She also says that what is dangerous is not so much when kids are on screens, but rather when parents are.
Image Description | Photograph of a kid using a smartphone next to an adult.
Image Tags | female(s), male(s), smartphone

Children are addicted to their phones - but the parents are worse

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Newspaper | Telegraph
Date | 25.4.2017
Language | English
Country | UK
Topic Tags | addiction, childhood, smartphone, technology-free, threat
Summary | Allison is an addict and thinks her ability to concentrate has been affected by her phone. On Easter Sunday, she told her kids that no technology was allowed at the table; her son called her mom a hypocrite because she is always on her phone. According to a study, about a third of teenagers have already asked their parents to stop checking their phone. The worst is when toddlers in their strollers are crying to grab their parents' attention and parents keep staring at their phone. Today, a lot of toddlers and children have a lack of language skills.
Image Description | Photograph of a man walking in the street and using his phone (other people in the background)
Image Tags | female(s), male(s), smartphone

Tablets and smartphones damage toddlers' speech development

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Newspaper | Telegraph
Date | 4.5.2017
Language | English
Topic Tags | addiction, childhood, language threat, research/study, smartphone, technology-free, threat
Summary | According to a study, giving toddlers digital devices before the age of two can hinder their speech development. In Britain toddlers spend about 44 minutes a day using digital devices, and it can impact their language skills.
Image Description | Two photographs of toddlers using and looking at a tablet.
Image Tags | female(s), tablet

Quand le smartphone fait de l'ombre au bébé

(When smartphones eclipse babies)

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Newspaper | La Tribune de Genève
Date | 13.6.2017
Language | French
Country | Switzerland
Topic Tags | (mental) health, addiction, childhood, smartphone, technology-free, threat
Summary | More and more parents take a lot of pictures of their newborn before holding him/her for the first time. As a result, a hospital in the Swiss German part of Switzerland decided to impose a new rule: no screen during mother-baby nap. The problem especially affects the younger generation (under 30). Parents seem to pay more attention to their smartphone, which is alarming. For instance, mothers post pictures of themselves in labor. There are no special rules in Geneva, but doctors and midwives are thinking about alternatives. An excessive use of smartphones can also have a negative impact on children's development.
Image Description | Photograph of a hand taking a picture of a newborn with a smartphone
Image Tags | hand(s), smartphone

Einfach mal abschalten

(Just turn it off for a little)

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Newspaper | die Weltwoche
Date | 27.4.2017
Language | German
Country | Switzerland
Topic Tags | (mental) health, addiction, childhood, smartphone, threat
Summary | Lots of adults are virtually tied to their smartphones, even when crossing the street. The children, naturally, imitate this and for the "head-down generation". One cannot blame the children for becoming addicted to smartphones because they can only form into what they learn from their parents. No wonder that we are dealing with epidemic-like amounts of ADHD diagnoses: children are tranquilized with screens and later the developmental tolls of this are treated with drugs.
Image Description | A collage-like illustration of parents drifting off into the ocean on rafts made of giant smartphones and the children left behind on an island.
Image Tags | female(s), male(s), smartphone

L'explosion des troubles chez les tout-petits surexposés aux écrans

(Rise of disorders in toddlers overexposed to screens)

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Newspaper | Le Figaro
Date | 18.5.2017
Language | French
Country | France
Topic Tags | (mental) health, addiction, childhood, school, smartphone
Summary | Toddlers overexposed to screens seem to demonstrate symptoms similar to autism, a doctor says. Toddlers have already access to smartphones. Sofiane, for instance, got his first tablet at the age of 18 months. His kindergarten teacher noticed that he never wanted to sit next to his peers, and would often space out. Moreover, he always needed an adult next to him to guide him. Those "screen children"often exhibit developmental delays as well as relationship, language and behavioral disorders. Children shouldn't have access to screens before 3. Some parents think that giving their toddlers "learning tablets" will help them in the future.
Image Description | N/A

Los ‘smartphones’ no van a volver idiotas a tus hijos

(Smartphones are not going to make your kids dumb)

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Newspaper | El País
Date | 8.6.2016
Language | Spanish
Country | Spain
Topic Tags | (mental) health, addiction, childhood, research/study, smartphone, threat
Summary | Although it is hard to measure the impact of new media use on the brain, recent studies show that an appropriate use of screens can encourage learning skills. However, some studies show that a frequent use of screens for children under 5 may harm their developing brain. New technologies are always received with some apprehension; for instance, Socrates warned people that writing would be harmful for cognitive abilities such as memory. Although we don't know exactly what the consequences of an extended use of screens are, children under 2 should not be using any screen. A Professor at Harvard claims that although it might not be good for young children to use screens, they are not going to be dumb if they use them. Also, many experts agree with the fact that a passive use of screens (TV, tablets, etc.) is negative for a child's development. Children under 3 need a good balance of activities.
Image Description | Video of different children using tablets, and photograph of an adult and a child in front of a TV screen.
Image Tags | game, school, tablet, TV

CALLING ALL PARENTS Being glued to your smartphone is putting your children’s lives in danger

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Newspaper | The Sun
Date | 6.6.2016
Language | English
Country | UK
Topic Tags | addiction, childhood, research/study, smartphone, threat
Summary | A new study showed that parents who are addicted to their phones are putting their children's life in danger. Parents are distracted by their phone while they should be looking after their child. Adults should turn off their phones when they are with their children; it can save their kids' lives in certain situations.
Image Description | Series of two photograph: young mom with 2 toddlers on a swing; she is talking on the phone while looking at her tablet, and another young mom on her phone while looking at her tablet; she is pushing a stroller. Video of a mother who does not like the negative effects of social media on her kids; she uses a gun to shoot her kids' smartphones.
Image Tags | female(s), smartphone, tablet

Don't overshare and put your phone down when you are talking to me: Children reveal how they expect their PARENTS to use technology

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Newspaper | Mail Online
Date | 8.3.2016
Language | English
Country | UK
Topic Tags | addiction, childhood, research/study, smartphone, technology-free
Summary | When parents create rules to limit their children's smartphone use at home, they also want their parents to respect those rules themselves. A survey shows that children consider two rules particularly important: they want their parents to be present, and they don't want their parents to share personal information about them (the children) online without their consent. Children want to be able to talk to their parents and have their full attention. It's also easier to follow certain rules if the whole family respects them.
Image Description | Two photographs: two kids are eating breakfast while their mom is on the phone, and two other kids and their mom are on their phones, laughing. One video of kids being interviewed about their parents' smartphone use; they feel ignored.
Image Tags | female(s), male(s), smartphone

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