Que: Mobile phones have now taken over the place of children’s entertainment. Discuss its impact on children’s socialization.

According to McAfee’s Global Connected Family Study, smartphone usage among children aged 10-14 years is 76% worldwide, which can have significant impacts on children’s socialization. In India, the figure is 83%, and according to recent studies, smartphone usage among children under 13 years is linked to mental health problems. The reasons for this include factors such as working parents, not living with grandparents due to a broken family, a decline in the sense of community, inadequate development of child-support services, and excessive use of child-centric content like YouTube Kids.

• Main causes and their impact on children’s socialization:

• Decrease in personal relationships: Decrease in the important moments of hugging between parents and children leads to a lack of emotional connection, which affects the safety and well-being of children.

• Growing isolation: Lack of emotional support in personal relationships due to digital connections increases feelings of loneliness and isolation.

• Impaired personality development: Children’s personality, which is mainly developed through non-natural interactions in real life, is hampered.

• Reduced empathy and emotional intelligence: Screen time reduces social skills and empathy, which gives preference to weak and individualistic arguments.

• Risk of cyberbullying and inappropriate content: Introductions to strangers on mobile phones or excessive use of phones can put children in a vulnerable position against cyberbullying, inappropriate content or online threats (such as the Blue Whale Challenge), which can encourage suicidal thoughts and aggression in children. 85% of children in India have been victims of cyberbullying.

Thus, it is necessary to focus on personal relationships, extracurricular activities, and community activism to enhance children’s socialization. By balancing these strategies, children will be able to develop important social skills and build meaningful relationships.