‘Addiction to gadgets leads to aggression’

New Delhi: A recent study revealed that aggression is very common in children suffering from one or other form of gadget addiction. A study, ‘The World Unplugged Project,’ which was done on a group of 1,000 children, exposed disturbing revelations of withdrawal symptoms among 50 per cent participants.

According to the study, participants were asked to account their feelings while staying without any form of gadget or media for 24 hours. Many failed to complete the task without showing any withdrawal symptom like restlessness, irritability, loss of appetite, constant fretting, etc.

Dr Deepali Batra, a renowned clinical psychologist, director of PALS, and senior consultant at Max Hospital, said: “Results of gadget or ‘screen-addiction’ are generally known to impact psychological and physiological growth in children. Try to think of the last time your child or someone you know, in the age group of 4-14 years, threw a tantrum or was aggressive all because a restriction was imposed on internet, video game, or gadget access. Aggression, restlessness, lack of concentration, irritability, and reduced social interactions are all signs of addiction.”

Experts said that the connection between gadget addiction and impending psychological problems is imperative. Addiction in young age can harm overall mental health in a person and can cause deep seated psychological problems gradually.

Dr Batra advised that it is one’s responsibility to help children and adolescents learn responsible and safe use of gadgets from a very young age.

“Parents need to have a strong emotional connection, wherein their child feels comfortable in sharing their questions and concerns with them. Parents need to see and observe the behaviour of their child and it is necessary to find out the proper causal factors that are behind the change in a child’s behaviour. If a significant behavioural and emotional change is observed, it is advisable to take professional help,” Dr Batra added.

Clinical psychologists are researching this subject deeply and have come out with some unsettling insights. Gadget addiction, especially in children, causes a few common behavioural problems that can be associated with any other addiction. The withdrawal symptoms are quite similar too, thus establishing excessive use of technology as an addiction.