DIGITAL ADDICTION: Parents practice what you preach!

A growing body of research indicates that it’s parents’ online addiction that’s fuelling children’s digital dependence and adversely impacting the mental and emotional well-being of teens writes Kiran Balimane, Mini P. & Cynthia John With media focus on rising children’s digital addiction, parents’ internet and digital addiction is the elephant in the room that few are noticing and discussing. Somewhat belatedly, there is growing awareness that the root problem may well be the reality that parents themselves are spending long hours online for work, entertainment and socialisation. A growing body of research indicates that it’s parents’ online addiction that’s fuelling children’s digital dependence and adversely impacting the mental and emotional well-being of teens in particular. A recent (2021) Commonsense Media study found that parents who reported problematic or addictive use of technology — “checking phones often, feeling lost without them or turning to mobile phones when they are lonely” — also reported that their relationships with their children were being “interrupted”. Often, these interruptions prompted aggressive child behaviour and “crying spells”. Similarly, another study published in the journal Paediatrics (2019) highlights that children whose parents spend more than two hours per day viewing digital screens are more likely to experience behavioural problems, such as hyperactivity and lack of concentration. A more recent study (2022) led by Dr. Raian Ali, professor, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar and visiting professor, Bournemouth University, UK, found that adolescents are more likely to be internet addictive if their parents are addicted to the worldwide web. “Parents’ behavioural correction is often part of the solution when it comes to their children’s technology addiction. We explored whether there was any correlation between the intensity of internet addiction of parents and their children. The results showed a direct connection: the more addicted the parents, the stronger were their children’s compulsions. Setting an example is a powerful form of parenting. The way parents use technology is no exception,” says Dr. Ali. (see box p.12) Hyderabad-based parenting coach Monica Nagpal believes the impact of parental tech addiction on children is too important to ignore. “Parents’ digital especially social media addiction has ballooned to dangerous levels with disastrous consequences for children’s social and mental well-being. Many recent studies have highlighted that parents’ tech addiction is resulting in children experiencing anxiety, stress, and imitative behaviour. It’s a parental duty to use technology mindfully and set a good example for children,” says Nagpal, founder of Hope and Happiness and Mindfulness. In the new digital age, with work, entertainment and socialisation highly dependent on technology, PW asked educators, parenting and health experts to share practical ways and means by which parents can reduce their digital addiction, to set a good example for children and improve quality of family life. Set clear rules and boundaries Eminent educator Dr. Skand Bali, principal of the top-ranked Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet, advises parents to establish clear rules and boundaries for technology usage. His suggestions: Tech-free zones. Designate tech-free zones and time slots at home to encourage healthy in-person…