Gadget Addiction Threatens Indonesian Children

Gadgets, with their online connection and various features, are like a double-edged knife: they have numerous advantageous, but may also be dangerous for children. Many have suffered from gadget addiction and related mental disorders.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Children use gadgets in Cideng area, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (18/7/2018). The use of gadgets by children requires parental supervision, guidance and restrictions to prevent negative impacts from exposure to social media and online games.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Apart from their use as a communications tool for spreading information, multi-featured gadgets also facilitate children in accessing social media, downloading materials and playing games, including age-inappropriate services. The continuous use of gadgets may potentially disrupt their growth and lead to addiction.

The phenomenon of gadget addiction among children has been on the rise in the last five years. Despite the lack of exact figures and the number of children with symptoms of gadget addiction, many researches and surveys have revealed that child gadget addiction has reached a worrying level. Apart from being victims, children have also been actively involved in cases that are categorized as crimes.