Smartphones Can Become Like 'Cocaine For Kids,' Says Study

Smartphones can become like 'cocaine distracted as a mum or dad
can affect a child’s

for kids,' says study mental and emotional development.
Smartphones are like cocaine for kids, says a A study by the University of Maryland likens
new study. Five years ago, this claim might smartphone addiction to being hooked on
have seemed like an exaggeration, but sadly cocaine. Cocaine is an illegal drug, which works
these days it doesn’t sound very outrageous. as a stimulant. When a person uses this highly
Smartphone addiction is a real problem. addictive substance, they experience a sudden
jolt of energy and pleasure. The “high” they get
from being constantly connected to the internet,
specifically social media, rivals that of drug use.
Once the brain senses a dopamine or “happy

hormone” spike, the person instantly feels a
surge of happiness. Naturally, it’s tough to kick a
bad habit that makes you feel extremely good.
College-aged kids are extremely dependent or

“addicted” to media consumption, says the
Is your child becoming obsessively dependent study. This is true across the world, asserts the
on their smartphone? A new study is research. Kids today are growing up dependent
emphasising the dangers of smartphone on devices, on having a stable internet
addiction. connection, to get through every single day.
We previously took a closer look More worrying still is that those seeking help to
at nomophobia, or no-mobile-phone phobia. treat internet addiction are getting younger and
younger.
Those with this condition desperately need to
have their mobile phone within reach at all times. Smartphones are like cocaine, this is not hard to
Even finding oneself in an area with poor signal believe. This comparison is worrying enough,
or running out of battery can cause fear in those right? But this isn’t just the way smartphones
with nomophobia. Though this is a fairly new affect brain function.
phenomenon, more and more studies are
backing its claims.
The effects of smartphone addiction
Smartphone Addiction: Affects the Way the

Brain Works, Says Study
Smartphones can become like 'cocaine for kids,'

says study
1. Smartphone Addiction Messes with Your

Sleep Cycle
Smartphones are like cocaine because they alter
brain activity, causing a surge in happy Being hooked on your phone doesn’t just keep
hormones. This makes it addictive! you up at night, its effects extend to when you
Smartphones — more specifically, our reliance actually try to sleep. The light smartphones emit
on them — can interfere with real life affects your sleep cycle.
experiences. Yes, we need smartphones to do
Rest is important, especially for growing kids. So
errands, to be informed or to be entertained, but
minimising screen time can help address sleep
mums and dads should know that being phone
problems, too.
2. Smartphone Addiction Can Cause Anxiety There are some apps that have been developed
to curb smartphone addiction and they can be
Kids and parents are constantly flooded with found on the Google Playstore
information and stimulation. And kids don’t just  Activity Bubbles: The app uses
love surfing the net, they love playing games on bubble to show users how many times
phones as well! they’ve unlocked their devices. Every time
the screen is unlocked, the bubbles grow
If a smartphone-addicted child or adult until they fill up the screen. They stay there
disconnects from the internet for even less than for the whole day.
a day, it can cause feelings of frustration and  Screen Stopwatch: There is a
increase anxiety. stopwatch on the screen, which records the
user activity and shows how much time the
3. Smartphone Addiction Can Cause Poor user spends on his phone.
Attention Span  Envelope: Currently only used with
the Pixel 3a. It essentially turns the
How long do you stay on a website before smartphone into a simple phone that is used
switching to another tab or page? Because there to make and receive calls.
is such a wealth of information online, we often
feel too restless to stay on one activity for very
long.
Smartphones can become like 'cocaine for kids,'

says study
4. Smartphone Addiction Can Make You a ‘Lazy

Thinker’
Even though the internet has practically every bit

of information about everything, we tend to rely
on it too much, even when it comes to forming
our own opinions.
For impressionable kids, what others say or

share online greatly influences their worldview.
As parents, it’s up to you to control the media
they consume. Raising an independent thinker is
not impossible.
5. Smartphone Addiction Can Hinder Healthy

Emotional Development
It’s not just the way kids think that is affected by

smartphone addiction. It can also influence the
way kids feel.
Science Daily says that digital addiction can
cause emotional problems, particularly
“depression, anxiety, insomnia, and impulsivity.”

Smartphones Can Become Like 'Cocaine For Kids,' Says Study

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Smartphones can become like 'cocaine distracted as a mum or dad

can affect a child’s

Once the brain senses a dopamine or “happy

College-aged kids are extremely dependent or

Smartphone Addiction: Affects the Way the

Smartphones can become like 'cocaine for kids,'

1. Smartphone Addiction Messes with Your

Smartphones can become like 'cocaine for kids,'

4. Smartphone Addiction Can Make You a ‘Lazy

Even though the internet has practically every bit

For impressionable kids, what others say or

5. Smartphone Addiction Can Hinder Healthy

It’s not just the way kids think that is affected by

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