AS most parents with young children will agree, the easiest way to pacify a bawling child is to hand them a smartphone, tablet, or other digital device. But though this might ensure temporary calm, the long-term effects of this practice — particularly the unsupervised use of digital devices — can have negative consequences. According to a recent survey by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, 89pc of parents use digital gadgets to keep children occupied. Interestingly, 78pc of the children surveyed said they could not live without their devices. What is of particular concern is that around 22pc of respondents in the Middle East, Turkiye and the Africa area had not discussed internet safety with their children. While digital devices are now an essential part of life, unlimited exposure to these gadgets can have harmful consequences on the mental and physical health of impressionable young minds. As the numbers highlighted by the Kaspersky survey show, there needs to be a frank conversation between parents, experts, and children to ensure the health and safety of youngsters in the digital age.

Gadgets can be addictive, and as a Unicef report points out, children under three should not have access to such devices. Moreover, parents need to set limits on screen time and discourage their offspring from spending too much time online, while children’s cyber activities also need to be monitored to prevent them from accessing inappropriate, dangerous, or violent content. There are many predators lurking online, and parents need to remain vigilant about these threats. Locally, the PTA should carry out campaigns about digital safety geared towards how parents can protect children from online harm while promoting the healthy use of devices. Such messages can be amplified through online platforms popular in the country, so that parents know how to ensure the responsible use of gadgets. The messages should be in Urdu and regional languages to reach all areas of the country.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2025