Evaluating the Negative Impact of Electronic Device on School going Children

Shelly Rajput*

Department of Applied Sciences, Delhi Global Institute of Technology, Haryana, India.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: shelly.rajput@rediffmail.com

ABSTRACT:

The increasing dependence on electronic devices like mobile phones, tablets, headphones, laptops, and video games has raised concerns regarding their effects on human health. Children are particularly vulnerable, as they have developing organs, higher water content in their tissues and thinner skulls making them more susceptible to the effects of EMR and screen used. Prolong exposure to smart devices show significant changes in their physical and mental development. This study aimed to evaluate the possible association between electronic devices exposure and its effects on health, mental growth and behavior among school going children. The study indicates that excessive device use is associated with sleep disturbance, eye strain, anxiety, and behavior problems among children. The paper concludes with recommendation for parents, teachers, and policymakers to promote balance use of digital technology for its beneficial use among children.

KEYWORDS: Electronic devices, children’s health, anxiety.

INTRODUCTION:

In present era technology is easily accessible and essentially required for almost all aspects of daily life independently of age. Electronic devices like mobile phones, tablets, headphones, iPods, TV and stereo system are commonly used for communication, education, business and entertainment purposes. People spend most of their time on electronic gadgets and do not pay attention to their posture, screen brightness and distance of their screen from eye which eventually affect their vision, physical development, and mental health.

The covid-19 pandemic drastically increased the use of smart devices like mobile phone, tablet, laptop, computer to every age group from child of age 2 years to an adult. During pandemic parents and children stayed at home and online classes became the only option left for education. Children became free to use mobile phones, laptops, and other electronic gadgets. Even after the pandemic the habit of frequent device use has persisted. Children now rely on digital gadget for studying, social interaction and recreation. Many guardians are aware about the short term and long-term effects of theses gadgets on children’s mental and health development.

Some parents consider mobile phone and TV as a soothing device while crying and so kids become habitual to their use. Also, when parent use these digital devices frequently, they are unable to restrict their children. There are many other factors like a child- parent relationship, lack of quality time parents spends with their children, restriction in outdoor activities, learning objectives also affects the electronic devices use in children.

While these devices offer learning benefits their overuse can raise several health and behavioral challenges among children. As children grow the use of electronic devices also increase. Prolong exposure to electronic devices can affect vision, lead them to obesity, attention disorder and several other long-term effect on their physical and mental development. Many studies indicated the negative impact of prolonged exposure to electronic device on physical and mental growth of children. Sundus (2018) mentioned in his work that children between the ages of 6 month to 2 years spent more time on hand held smart devices experience speech delay. Screen time takes away the time of child which he /she can spend by communicating with people, that might delay speech and phrases to express ideas. Valentina et al. (2024) concluded that the prolong exposure to electronic devices has a significant negative impact on children aged 2 to 12 years leading to sleep disturbances, lower academic performance, eye strain etc. Najlaa et al. (2025) explained although digital devices enhanced the learning abilities of children, but they impact their real communication adversely.

NEGATIVE IMPACT OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES

When children spend more than 2 hours a day on their electronic device, they may experience headache, eye irritation, anxiety and poor behavior problem. Too much exposure to electronic devices can impact their physical and mental health, vision, and show problems in behavior. Some of them are highlighted below;

Vision Problems

The exposure to electronic devices among school going children aged 5 to 12 years is increasing, especially due to the widespread use of e-learning platforms. Prolong use of digital gadgets has been associated with a higher risk of developing myopia (near sightedness) among children. When children focus intensely on screen, their rate of eye blinking decreases which lead to dryness, irritation, itching, and redness of the eye. When the eye focus on close objects for too long, the eyeball can gradually elongate, making distant objects appear blurry. Moreover, LED screens used in computers, laptops, tablets and mobile phones emit a broad spectrum of light, including high energy visible blue light. Continuous exposure to this blue light may contribute to eye strain, headache and discomfort. Over time, it may contribute to retinal stress, potentially affecting long-term eye health among children. Young children are especially vulnerable because they are less likely to notice or communicate discomfort. Therefore, it is important to encourage healthy screen habits, such as taking regular breaks, ensuring adequate lightning while using screens, and maintaining an appropriate viewing distance. Such practices can help in protecting children’s vision and reduce the risk of eye- related problems.

Over Exposure to Electronic Screen Disrupts Sleep Habits

Easy access to electronic gadgets has significantly increased screen time among children in recent years. Devices like television, smart phone, tablet, laptop, and smart watch has become a regular part of daily activities, including study, entertainment and communication. However, the use of these electronic devices, especially during evening or right before bed time, can have a negative effect on children’s sleep patterns. Children may take longer to fall asleep, experience lighter or disturbed sleep, or wake up feeling tired and less refreshed. One of the major reasons for this is the blue light emitted from the screen of digital devices. Blue light exposure reduces the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps the body recognize when it is time to sleep. This disruption in the sleep- wake cycle (Circadian Rhythm) can interfere with the natural biological process that regulates rest.

Since children require more sleep than adults for proper physical growth, brain development, learning, and emotional balance, inadequate sleep caused by excessive screen exposure can lead to several health concerns. These include daytime sleepiness, irritability, reduced attention span, poor academic performance, and behavioral problems. Long -term sleep disturbances may also weaken immunity and increase the risk of lifestyle related issues as the child grows older. Therefore, limiting screen time, especially in the hour before bedtime, and encouraging relaxing activities such as reading, storytelling can help promote healthier sleep habits in children.

Anxiety among Children

Excessive screen time can also affect the emotional and behavioral well-being of children. When children spend a large amount of time in front of screen of digital device, they may become easily irritated and restless. The constant flow of bright colors, fast-moving images, and stimulating sounds can overstimulate the developing brain. This over stimulation may lead to increased anxiety, difficulty in calming down, and poor self-control. Children who are exposed to screens for long durations may also struggle to manage their emotions, resulting in mood swings and impulsive behavior.

Anxiety in children can manifest in various ways, such as nervousness, shakiness, shyness, fearfulness, and a fast heart rate. They may lose confidence, avoid social interaction, and become upset or angry over small situations. Such behavioral changes can affect their relationships with family members, teachers and friends. This may also interfere with their academic performance and social development. Encouraging outdoor play, face-to-face interactions, creative activities, and setting limits on screen use can help reduce anxiety and promote emotional well-being in children.

Attention Disruption and Depression

Electronic devices like smartphones, laptops, computers, and tablets make it harder for children to concentrate. The excessive use of these devices may contribute to hyperactivity disorder, with consequently result in problems like lack of attention, unable to focus, restlessness and easy distraction. These types of changes in behavior can cause problem at home as well as at school.

If children spend too much time using smart devices, their opportunities to communicate with their parents and engage in learning become limited. Exposure to such gadgets has been linked to developmental delays and impaired learning abilities. Excessive use of smart devices can also lead to depression and other mental health problems in children. Childhood depression affects every aspect of life, including academic performance. Several studies suggest that modern gadgets are not essential for children’s overall development.

DISCUSSION:

In the digital world electronic devices have become deeply integrated into children’s routines, influencing how they learn, communicate, and entertain themselves. On the positive side technology has opened doors to a wide range of educational opportunities. Through online classes, interactive learning platforms, and digital educational content, children can gain knowledge from any part of world. Access to global information helps them stay aware of world events, and creative applications encourage skill development. Additionally, communication apps and social networks allow children to stay connected with friend and relatives, helping them build social relationships even across long distances. Depending on the amount and nature of exposure these positive activities can become increasing health risks for children. Spending hours on screen may lead to eye strain, headaches, irritation and an increased risk of developing myopia. Continuous screen exposure before bed time can interfere with natural sleep patterns, making it harder for children to fall asleep and make them restless in daytime. Prolong exposure to screen can reduce attention span and contribute to anxiety. Also, children may also become socially withdrawn, preferring virtual interaction over face-to-face communication. Therefore, while electronic device provides valuable benefits for learning and social interaction, their use should be balanced. Encouraging controlled screen time, regular outdoor activities, and parental supervision can help children enjoy the advantages of technology.

CONCLUSION:

Electronic devices have both positive and negative effects on children’s physical and mental development. Smart devices are good if we use it with limiting exposure. Doubtlessly encouraging child to use it in educational or study purpose can change their lives by enhancing their skills. By restricting the amount of screen time on gadgets, let them play outside and by ensuring adequate sleepp can protect children from the adverse impacts of electronic devices. Spending quality time with children, encouraging them for physical activity, outdoor activities and by increasing awareness regarding screen exposure can reduce the harmful digital media habits and also reduce its health risks among children. Careful use of smart devices can be beneficial for children in present era.

REFERENCES:

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Received on 25.10.2025 Revised on 18.11.2025

Accepted on 25.11.2025 Published on 28.11.2025

Available online from December 31, 2025

Research J. Engineering and Tech. 2025; 16(4):167-170.

DOI: 10.52711/2321-581X.2025.00017

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Creative Commons License.