by Marie Kauna – EMTV Online, Port Moresby
As technology continues to advance and become more and more readily available to all, internet and technology related problems continue to increase. A study conducted by HomeHalo on British families has identified that families are having a combined eight million arguments a day over the use of digital gadgets.
While two thirds of those from the study have admitted that they struggled to make their children put their devices down, nine out of the 10 youngsters are using smartphones or tablets before they turn eight years of age.
One of the identified major causes of irritation facing many parents today is ignorance by children when they are online. Too often, children tend to ignore their parents when they are online as they become more and more addicted to smartphones and tablets.
This often leads to a breakdown in communication, and results in arguments between parents and their children taking place.
Psychologist Honey Langcater James said, “there is a real danger that excessive use of technology might replace the genuine communication and connections between family members and other key relationships”.
Excessive use of these digital gadgets and technology can have adverse impacts on a child’s development.
According to Louise Philips of HomeHalo, this is “a problem that is increasing and drawing in much younger children”.
