Habitual Use of Gadgets: A Quantitative Study on How The Influence of Excessive Use of

Gadgets Affect the Eyesight of Children Ages 3 to 9 Years Old

CHAPTER 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

This chapter includes the introduction, statement of the problem, scope and limitation,
conceptual framework, significance of the study and the definition of terms used.

Introduction
Technology has become an integral part of our lives, and it’s no surprise that children are
growing up surrounded by it. Gadgets have become ubiquitous in our daily lives. So, the
researchers focused on children’s early exposure to gadgets. Technology offers endless
possibilities and can be a great source of learning and entertainment for children. However,
parents should be cautious about the amount of time their children spend on gadgets and ensure
that they are being used in a healthy and safe way. Also, this research discusses how they affect
their eyesight because of using devices.

This research examines the possible negative effects of using gadgets or technology on 3 to 9
years old children. There is no definitive evidence that suggests that gadgets cause poor eyesight
in children. In spite of that, excessive use of gadgets may contribute to eye strain or fatigue,
which can cause temporary discomfort. It is important for children to take regular breaks when
using screens and maintain a safe distance from their devices to minimize the risk of eye strain.
If you are concerned about your child's eyesight, it's best to consult an eye doctor and better
control using gadgets.

Today's children or what is known as Generation Z, were born into the internet age and are
referred to as "Digital Natives." Because they are more digitally clued up, members of
Generation Z will be the ones to explore new applications as if they were already a part of their
daily life. Generation Alpha has the potential to become increasingly preoccupied with devices

1
as time goes on because they have grown up immersed in technology. As a result, parents have
utilized technology as a means of kid management and public behavior training. There are a few
circumstances, such as the location of the children growing up or sparsely populated could result
in an excessive use of gadgets. In line with modern life, parents have long imposed the
expectation that their kids own smartphones. Parents often neglect to assess the benefits and
drawbacks of giving their kids devices, which can either be harmful or helpful depending on how
they are used. Having gadgets for youths can be advantageous since they can use them to express
their creativity through games on their phones or to stimulate their senses and imagination
through creative applications. Yet, if children use devices excessively or without sufficient
parental supervision, it may cause them to become dependent on them and perhaps develop an
addiction.

In this era, we can’t keep ourselves or our children away from these devices so we can try to
minimize the impact of these devices on our children. It’s really surprising a 3 year old baby can
and knows how to use a gadget, similar to how a kid knows to use a feeding bottle.

This study discusses the awareness of parents about the overuse of gadgets by their children lies
in the potential to promote healthy gadget use among children. By understanding parental
awareness and factors that influence it, appropriate strategies can be developed to limit excessive
gadget use by children. The study can help to identify the level of awareness among parents
regarding the potential negative impacts of excessive gadget use by their children and the factors
that influence parental awareness. Moreover, the study can help to identify the strategies that
parents use to limit their children’s gadget use and evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies.
This can provide insights into the most effective strategies that can be adopted by parents to limit
excessive gadget use by their children. Overall, the study can contribute to the promotion of
healthy gadget use among children, which can have a positive impact on their physical,
psychological, and social health. Additionally, this research can inform recommendations for
parents on appropriate gadget use and screen time limits for children.

2
Background of the Study

This study will focus on the negative impact of technology on children and it can address and to
give knowledge about the possible effects of technology usage, its impact and how it concerns
the society. Actually, this technology can cause bad effects on children. So this research aims to
investigate the children devoured by technology. Concerns over children's increased usage of
electronic gadgets like computers, tablets, and cellphones have grown in recent years. According
to studies, frequent and continuous use of these gadgets may cause vision problems, particularly
myopia or nearsightedness in youngsters. Although the precise mechanisms underlying this link
are not yet fully known, a number of ideas contend that elements including more close work, less
time spent outdoors, and exposure to blue light from electronic screens may all play a role in the
development of Myopia. Previous studies have shown that excessive screen time and the use of
gadgets before bed can interfere with sleep and cause behavioral problems in children. In
conclusion, excessive use of gadgets may affect children’s social skills, attention span, and
ability to learn and focus. Gadgets occupy kid’s minds. Leave child with a Smartphone, tablet
Xbox or any other handheld device he can spend hours or even weeks with it. So you don’t have
to worry about the child because there is no risk of getting injured or harmed by these gadgets.
Also don’t worry about any other major mess like painting a wall, disturbing others.

Technology has changed all that. Simply a Smartphone can keep a child busy for hours, whether
he is playing games or watching videos etc. Today, millions of children use computers on a daily
basis. Extensive viewing of the computer screen can lead to eye discomfort, fatigue, blurred
vision and headaches, dry eyes and other symptoms of eyestrain. These symptoms may be
caused by poor lighting, glare, an improper workstation set-up, vision problems of which the
person was not previously aware, or a combination of these factors. Children can experience
many of the same symptoms related to computer use as adults. Take note that once a child's
vision becomes hazy or disappears, it will be difficult for them to deal with until they are an
adult. One difficulty is when they lose their glasses.

3
Statement of the Problem

The study focused on how technology affects children; the negative effects of technology on
mental health and academic performance in children ages 3-9 will also be discussed in this study.
This research aims to investigate the possible negative effects of using gadgets or technology on
3 to 9 years old children.

Specifically, it aims to answer the following questions:

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the use of gadgets?

2. How does the excessive use of gadgets affect the health of children ages 3-9 years old?
3. How can parents promote the responsible use of gadgets?

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This study focused on the effect of technology on children’s eyesight ages 3-9 years old and to
guide parents for their children’s seek. The topic will also discuss the number of children who’s
involved in this kind of case. Also, it indicates how many children are already impacted by this
illness known as eye strain as a result of technology. Indications that a parent should act before
it's too late and children start wearing glasses.

This study also demonstrates a treatment for eye strain in children, as well as when parents
should move when a child with any of these retinal diseases should be regularly monitored by a
low vision optometrist. Finally, this research will concentrate on the harmful effects of
technology on children, and it will address and provide knowledge about the probable effects of
technology usage, its influence, and how it affects society.

4
Conceptual Framework

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

-Children ages 3-9 year -The instrument used in this To know the influence
old’s health
study is a questionnaire for of excessive use of
gadgets
-Too much used of gadgets collecting research data from affects the eyes of children’s
can cause bad effects to
the participants (children ages ages 3-9 years old.
their health
3-9 years old) of a study.
-Eyestrain caused by gadgets

The concept here is about the early exposure of children on gadgets because nowadays, our life
revolves in technology. Researchers want to know how many children are affected by excessive
use of gadgets. In this case, we can gather data or information to have knowledge about that
certain topic and promote the safe and healthy way to stop that kind of habit for children’s own
needs.

Significance of the Study

This study provides help with identifying and assessing the strategies used by parents to restrict
the usage of gadgets by their kids. So there are people who will benefit from it because of this.

For Children Ages 3-9 years old - This will help them know why it is so important for them to
take care of their eyesight. Have them know spending more time with their friends and family is
more fun than using their gadgets.

For Parents - To help them know what causes their children to have poor eyesight. To tell them
to have a quality time with their kids so that their eyes are not soaked in the gadget.

5
Definition of terms

The following words are defined for better understanding:

Devoured- to consume destructively, recklessly, or wantonly.

Excessive- going beyond a normal limit.

Myopia- is an eye condition that makes far-away objects look blurry.

Integral- very important or necessary.

Ubiquitous- present, appearing, or found everywhere.

Precise- marked by exactness and accuracy of expression or detail.

Interfere- prevent (a process or activity) from continuing or being carried out properly.

Utilized- make practical and effective use of.

Sparsely- with only a small number or amount of people or things.

Impacted- strongly affected by something.

References:

https:\/\/www.medanta.org\/author\/medanta\/#author. (2019, October 10). Health Hazards Of Electronic

Devices For Kids’ Eye Health. Medanta.
https://www.medanta.org/patient-education-blog/health-hazards-of-electronic-devices-for-kids-eye-health/

Zain, Z. M., Jasmani, F. N. N., Haris, N. A., & Nurudin, S. M. (2022). Gadgets and Their Impact
on Child Development. International Academic Symposium of Social Science 2022.
https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2022082006

6
Philadelphia, C. H. O. (2021, December 21). How Too Much Screen Time Affects Kids’ Eyes:
Tips to Prevent Eye Strain. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
https://www.chop.edu/news/health-tip/how-too-much-screen-time-affects-kids-eyes

Mesias, S. (2021, February 16). Ways to limit your children’s gadget use. World Vision
Philippines.
https://www.worldvision.org.ph/blog-for-children/ways-to-limit-your-childrens-gadget-use/

Sundus, M. (2017). The Impact of Using Gadgets on Children. Journal of Depression & Anxiety,
07(01).https://www.longdom.org/open-access/the-impact-of-using-gadgets-on-children-31330.ht
ml

NCBI - WWW Error Blocked Diagnostic. (n.d.).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2776336/