“Apple should do more to curb growing smartphone addiction among children”, said two major investors in the iPhone maker who collectively control $2 billion worth of Apple shares on Monday in an open letter to the technology giant. They urged Apple to offer more choices and tools to help children fight addiction to its devices. Apple was not immediately available to comment on the letter.
The letter cited various studies and surveys on how the heavy usage of smartphones and social media negatively affects children’s mental and physical health. Examples include distractions by digital technologies in the classroom, a decreased ability of students to focus on educational tasks, and higher risks of suicide and depression.
The investors asked Apple to establish an expert committee including child development specialists. They also suggested enhancing mobile device software so parents have more options to protect their children’s health.
The broad range of research cited detailing the negative consequences of excessive smartphone use included:
- A study by the Center on Media and Child Health and the University of Alberta that found that 67% of the over 2,300 teachers surveyed observed that the number of students who are negatively distracted by digital technologies in the classroom is growing and 75% say students’ ability to focus on educational tasks has decreased.
- Research showing that students who are heavy users of social media have a 27% higher risk of depression, while those who exceed the average time spent playing sports, hanging out with friends, or doing homework have a much lower risk.
- A study by UCLA researchers that showed that after 5 days at a device-free outdoor camp, children performed far better on tests for empathy than a control group.
- An American Psychological Association survey that found that of 3,500 U.S. parents, 58% say they worry about the influence of social media on their child’s physical and mental health; 48% say regulating their child’s screen time is a "constant battle"; and 58% say they feel like their child is "attached" to their phone or tablet.
From USA Today
