The digital world has become a serious source of addiction. Among younger generations, dependence on gadgets is causing deep concern for teachers, doctors and parents alike.
The forecasts are far from encouraging: from vision problems and emotional disorders to antisocial behavior, muscle atrophy and obesity.
How realistic is it to protect children from gadgets? And how can parents possibly compete with modern technologies?
“First it was the laptop, then the tablet. Now I thought he’d grown up a bit, that we’d talk more – but instead he’s buried in his phone from head to toe,”
— says Nana Janashia, mother of two teenagers, speaking to Fortuna. She does not hide her distress and believes that new technologies have made her children antisocial.
This is just one of many similar cases where parents feel their children are “taken over” by devices. Often, they themselves contribute to the problem by purchasing tablets, computers and smartphones for their kids.
“Yes, I was the one who bought it. I wanted to surprise him for his birthday. Everyone else had one, so I wanted Gega to have one too. But ever since his father and I bought him the smartphone he wanted – quite an expensive one – he barely talks to us. He doesn’t interact with us at all. Now he wears headphones so he doesn’t even hear my voice.
Neither restrictions, nor assigning other tasks, nor taking away his phone or tablet has made any difference,”
— says Tamila Guruli.
In the era of modern technologies, even very young children interact with televisions and computers from an early age. Often, family members themselves encourage this by choosing screens as an easy solution and a quick way to keep children entertained.
Tamuna Beridze, mother of little Dachi, openly admits that she herself allows her son to watch his favorite cartoons and shows at any time of day.
She even likes the fact that, thanks to TV and YouTube, her child is now trying to speak in a foreign language.
Demographer Anzor Totadze, based on his research, found that young people do not use the internet for studying at all. Surveyed girls spend on average 9 hours and 45 minutes a day using new technologies; boys spend 10 hours and 20 minutes. Many of them go to bed very late, struggle to wake up in the morning and often skip school.
“Don’t Let Your Child Get Bored”
Are new technologies primarily an addiction, a learning tool, a form of entertainment, or a pathway to isolation?
Professor Nino Labartkava (TSU), a psychologist, told Fortuna that a child’s daily routine must be balanced with different activities, because many children end up spending time on computers exactly when adults are busy with other things.
“Many parents are strongly against giving their children a phone with lots of functions. But they should also think about how to keep their children engaged in diverse activities. If I get bored, I will naturally start looking for something to do.
There are programs that allow parents to see which websites their child visits and to block certain sites.
When communication between parent and child is open, if a child comes across something scary or unpleasant, they will naturally ask the person they trust.
Yes, these children were born in a technological era and for them all this feels normal. But there are still toys and games, too. We often just don’t offer these alternatives because giving them a device seems like the easiest solution,”
— says Nino Labartkava.
She offers several recommendations to help parents protect their children from becoming overly attached to gadgets:
- Children must know the time limit they are allowed to spend on the computer.
- Use computers for learning, with the help of apps (dictionaries and other educational tools).
- Don’t give your child the opportunity to get bored.
- Children should not feel emotionally abandoned or lonely in relation to adults.
- When a child comes home from school, in addition to asking what they did in class, ask:
Which websites did you visit today? Which ones did you like? What new information did you learn online?
The child should feel that you are their ally, that you are interested in this world too, and that if they encounter content they are not yet mature enough for, they can come to you. - The monitor of a school-age child’s computer should be placed so that others can also see the screen.
- The day should be balanced with different types of activities. There are many intellectual games, but children should not be left solely to those, either.
What Do Psychologists Recommend?
Whether, when and how to give gadgets to children is a hot topic on parenting forums. On the one hand, modern technologies are indispensable. On the other hand, everyone knows how quickly children can become addicted.
When it becomes necessary to take away smartphones and tablets, parents are immediately turned into “the enemy”.
Here’s what psychologists advise parents who want to minimize the harm from gadgets:
- Keep your child away from gadgets for as long as possible, especially at an early age.
- Carefully select games and applications.
- Don’t simply forbid gaming. Even better — play together and teach them how to limit their playing time.
- Offer real-life alternatives: situations, activities and games outside the digital world.
- Set a good example yourself — don’t spend endless hours on your own phone.
Phones, Students and School
Today’s children and teenagers are active users of mobile phones. Some argue that phones are necessary; others believe that they are not. Another ongoing debate concerns whether students should be allowed to take mobile phones to school.
Why is it unnecessary—and even harmful—to “chain” children to their phones? Psychologist Teo Gubianuri explained this to Fortuna:
“The main reason parents give a child a phone is that when the child is out of the house or at school, the parent wants to be able to contact them at any time. It makes them feel calm and in control, knowing where their child is and being able to reach them if something happens.
But school is not just about formal education. It’s also where children learn social skills—how to interact with others. If a young child in primary school is constantly in touch with a parent during class hours, it becomes difficult for them to socialize with classmates.
Instead of sharing their emotions and thoughts with peers and teachers, they share them with their parents. They ask their parents for help rather than learning to seek solutions on their own. The emotional bond with the parent becomes over-dependent; parental control becomes excessive. This leads to a form of negative attachment, which is ultimately harmful.
The reality in classrooms today is this: during lessons, students scroll through social media, upload photos and videos, like and comment, text friends. In adolescence, the desire to communicate with peers is particularly strong. In the past, this meant passing handwritten notes; now it’s messages. They also watch videos and films during lessons.
Whether mobiles should be banned in schools is a controversial issue. But the fact is, phones distract students during lessons, make it harder to concentrate and significantly reduce productivity.”
European Youth Is Turning Away from Smartphones
Across Europe, offline clubs are becoming increasingly popular among young people. Their concept is simple: no smartphones.
Instead of social media, these spaces offer books, board games and live conversation.
The first such club opened in Amsterdam; now similar venues can be found in London, Paris, Milan and Copenhagen. Some restaurants and clubs are also embracing the device-free idea, asking guests to leave their phones at home.
According to a study by the British Standards Institution (BSI), nearly 70% of young people aged 16–21 say they feel worse after spending time on social media. Half of respondents support the idea of a “digital curfew” — blocking access to certain apps and websites after 10 p.m. — and 46% say they would prefer a world where young people grow up without the internet.
How the World Is Fighting Gadget Addiction
In the Japanese city of Toyooka, local authorities introduced a regulation urging residents to limit their use of all digital devices — smartphones, tablets, game consoles and computers — to no more than two hours a day.
They also recommend that:
- Young children should not use smartphones after 9 p.m., and
- Teenagers should avoid them after 10 p.m.
There are no formal fines or punishments for ignoring these guidelines, but Japanese society is strongly influenced by social pressure and people traditionally tend to follow official recommendations.
In South Korea, a law banning the use of smartphones and other gadgets in schools nationwide will come into force in March 2026.
Australia has introduced a ban on social media use for children under 16: platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit and X must restrict new account creation for users below the permitted age. Violations may result in fines of up to 50 million dollars. The law comes into effect in December 2025. France is also considering a similar ban for teenagers under 15.
Why Is Excessive Screen Time Harmful?
Numerous studies have shown that excessive use of smartphones and other gadgets leads to physical and mental health problems. These include:
- Reduced vision
- Frequent headaches
- Sleep disturbances
- Depression and anxiety
- Dependence on social media approval (likes, comments, views)
WHO experts recommend:
- No screen time at all for children under 1 year old
- A maximum of one hour per day for children aged 1–5.
According to the journal BMC Medicine, just three weeks of reduced smartphone use leads to a 27% decrease in depressive symptoms.
Famous Parents Who Restrict Their Children’s Phone Use
To protect children from the “drug” of modern technology, we must give them other interests and help them understand that there is a rich and exciting life beyond smartphones, computers and tablets.
Actress Kate Winslet does not allow her children to use social media.
In the family of Steve Jobs, the creator of the iPhone and iPad, devices were strictly limited: iPods, iPads and iPhones were not freely used at home. Jobs said his children did not grow up using electronic gadgets.
The children of Bill Gates, once the richest person in the world, were not allowed to have mobile phones until the age of 14.
Balance, Not a Total Ban
One thing is clear: technological development has transformed both education and entertainment. What worked in the last century may now be completely ineffective. Simply leaving children with their grandparents’ or parents’ old toys is unlikely to be enough.
As psychologists emphasize, the goal is not to totally ban technology, but to maintain healthy boundaries and moderation.
