Children and debate on phones by Joy Wisdom

Debate continues regarding the harm to young minds and brain formation from media and phone use. All predicted and restriction suggested, which was ignored and today our children feel the brunt of the ignorance of those who made the decisions over a decade ago.

Our children pay the price as phone scrolling, brainwashing becomes addictive. Resulting in brain overload from demand. Person naturally feels overwhelmed emotionally. Psychologically skewed living takes place with no clue of reality or fantasy.  

I once had a ten year old who told me he would die if he didn’t have his phone! 

The fast pace of scrolling is now expected, losing concentration, hyper behaviour is related to the faster pace. Disinterest follows if communication is not instant! Phones have replaced conversation, people sitting next to one another text or message instead of speaking. Thinking for self is being eradicated, losing mind qualities and mind strength …thinking for self replaced by a phone and today AI is in the picture too.

Chat rooms and etc., have been a boon for those who are lonely, isolated or shy. It has given a life line to communication with others. The down side virtual living takes place, relationships are online, human contact avoided, unknown. Bonding happens with equipment becomes their friend, mentor and move away from human connection. Behaviour moves to isolation, communication lost, individuals lose ability to interact with others when their world is their screen! Human behaviour is changed, locked into watching screens, awareness gone, spatial awareness is lost as mind is focused on screen instruction. Not isolated to children, all ages are affected including parents, grandparents.

Young minds are mailable and easily swayed. Content on phones give wrong impressions, false news. Content fed 24/7, can’t believe all that is provided by AI screens etc., Teens think they are mature; however the frontal cortex takes a few decades to reach human maturity, early 20s. And on average girls mature faster than boys. Hence impacts are even more staggering, with unregulated content filtered into general use. Appauling and shocking images are involved; shock hits many times a day from phone content. And minds are not mature enough to process or see bigger picture in safety or risk? Becoming mesmerised by content, literal beliefs, desensitised to shock, hormonally and mentally impacting even though not registered.

In 2014 my book mirror image I spoke about the critical times we lived and how the new craving for communication from phone and internet would leave a big impact upon children and their emotional, psychological health. Seeing predictions sadly manifesting. I grew up in an age where internet and phones did not exist, my brain is formed differently, I can think for myself, work things out independently. I learnt differently.

As a society, parent and teacher realise that not all new in technology is good, learn to take the good, and leave the problematic behind. Because technology is still in its infancy and mistakes are still in motion, learning to manage technology is also part of the picture. Just because we cannot see or touch it (like a car) use technology that helps run a car, however it is refined, glitches ironed out, safety protocols included. And need to look at technology in the same way, safety first.

AI and improvements in communication is evolving to make our lives better and does have a place in our world. It is a tool. Not God! Remove the brainwashing impacts with regulated use. Regulation and protection for our children (all ages) is required. Harm comes in different packages and safeguarding society is necessary for the innocent. 

Critical times are here. If regulation not implemented we who are more alert are failing in our duty to protect our children, grandchildren and future generations are going to feel the brunt with evolution stunted! A world of generations living from mental health, brain reducing in size from relying upon technology, not talking, dumb, communication only through pressing a button on a phone …. Robotic living…a scary thought!

Joy has a specialist background of 25 years of behavioural issues, ADHD, mind, emotional psychological etc. Author, educator and personal development mentor.

Founder of Allonus Ltd.            www.allonus.co.uk

Founder Joy Wisdom Trust www.joywisdomtrust.org