Pediatricians and psychiatrists have categorized Internet and electronic device addiction as an “emerging pediatric disease,” citing a four-year-old boy who is a heavy user of tablets and experiences withdrawal symptoms when not able to use the devices.
Taiwan Internet Addiction Prevention Association director-general Chang Li-jen (張立人), a psychiatrist, said children exposed to electronic devices at an early age are more prone to anxiety and depression, as the strong audio and video stimulation provided by the devices could affect their developing neural circuitry.
“Once children become addicted to the Internet or electronic gadgets, they could experience headaches, insomnia, blurry vision, or become suspicious and hostile,” Chang told a press conference in Taipei yesterday morning.
Chang said a four-year-old boy was brought to his outpatient clinic by his parents after his extensive use of smartphones and tablets caused him to become hyperactive.
The boy’s parents said that because the child often made a fuss to get attention, they used electronic devices to divert his attention and quiet him down, Chang said.
“Their approach soon backfired,” Chang said. “The boy was glued to the gadgets nearly eight hours a day and refused to eat or sleep.”
The four-year-old even exhibited something similar to withdrawal symptoms if the devices were taken away from him, Chang added.
Huang said the child’s symptoms diminished a month later after his parents limited the number of hours he could spend on electronic devices per day and increased the time he was outside.
Evolution of Taiwan Pediatrics Association director-general Huang Jing-long (黃璟隆) said that according to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education among 8,910 students last year, about 19 percent of junior-high school students, 15.9 percent of senior-high school students and 12.1 percent of elementary-school pupils were addicted to online games.
“It is advised that toddlers aged two and under be kept away from TVs, computers and electronic gadgets, while children of school age should spend less than two hours a day watching or using the devices,” Huang said.
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