As heat drives kids indoors, how are parents dealing with dilemma of limiting their screen-time?

Caught between heat and screens, parents struggle to manage kids' phone time during the scorching summer.

BySumit Jha

Published May 21, 2023 | 10:00 AMUpdatedMay 21, 2023 | 10:00 AM

Parents tackle the challenge of limiting kids' phone time during summer break. (Creative Commons)

Keeping children indoors and engaged during the summer vacation is a hard task for many parents.

Vineeta Singh is one among them.

The rising temperature has left the mother worried. To shield her 14-year-old son Rehan from the scorching sun, she has instructed him to remain indoors at their residence at Nallagandla in Hyderabad.

“He is starting Class IX. Over the past few weeks, I have observed the temperature rising, and even after 6 pm, the heat is unbearable. So I asked him to not venture out as it might have an impact on his health,” Vineeta told South First.

The mother’s concern is not unfounded. The scorching summer sun has transformed the neighbourhood park into an ochre dust bowl.

While asking Rehan to stay indoors, Vineeta, apparently, did not foresee another worrisome problem.

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Kate Winslet’s concern, parents’ too!

Driven indoors by the merciless sun, Rehan found a way to keep himself engaged and entertained. He embraced the virtual world.

“He now has an excuse to use the phone more,” the worried mother said. She has now noticed a behavioural change in the adolescent.

“I was initially okay with Rehan using the phone since he was watching YouTube videos and playing games. But later I found him active on social media, using Snapchat and Instagram,” she said.

“The age restriction for social media is 13 and these days all kids know how to navigate social media. He has started exploring it,” Vineeta added.

The mother asked the boy to stop using the phone. Rehan did not heed her advice. “He snapped at me,” she said.

“I am working and have to be away. I also use social media and know how it impacts our mental well-being,” Vineeta explained.

Recently, she came across a video of actress Kate Winslet, who demanded action against harmful content on social media. “It hit me,” Vineeta said.

“For young people who have become addicted to social media and its darker sides: This does not need to be your life. To people in power and to people who can make a change: Please, criminalise harmful content. Please eradicate harmful content. We don’t want it. We want our children back,” the actress said in her acceptance speech at BAFTA Awards.

The parent’s dilemma

“On the one hand, I stopped him from going outdoors and on the hand, I am seeing him using the phone all day. He didn’t have interest in studies and asking him to stop using the phone leads to confrontation,” Vineeta is visibly worried.

She posted a message regarding this issue in a parent’s group on Telegram. She received much advice: Take Rehan to the mall, or the movies, or consult a psychiatrist.

“Many parents advised several things and I am looking for options that could be of help,” Vineeta added.

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The FOMO factor

Experts told South First that the usage of social media varies among teenagers, and different platforms may serve different purposes.

“Social media offers a space for teenagers to express themselves and shape their identities. They can share their thoughts, interests, talents, and creativity through posts, photos, videos, and stories. Social media platforms enable them to showcase their individuality and receive validation and recognition from their peers,” Hyderabad-based psychiatrist Dr Srinivas Naik said.

He added that the other reason is that they have FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out).

“The fear of missing out on social events, experiences, or trends motivates teenagers to use social media to stay connected and thereby be in the loop. They want to know what their friends are doing, and be part of conversations online,” Dr Naik said.

Teenagers tend to seek emotional support and validation online.

“They can share their thoughts, feelings, and challenges. Likes, comments on their posts contribute to a sense of validation and acceptance,” the psychiatrist added.

Also read: Rising heat triggers health concerns

Engineering perceptions

However, Dr Naik explained, social media could also heavily influence kids and teenagers’ self-perception and self-esteem.

“The curated nature of the content — such as carefully selected photos and reels — on these platforms can lead to social comparison and feelings of inadequacy. They develop unrealistic expectations about their appearance, popularity, and lifestyles, impacting their mental health,” Dr Naik said.

Excessive time spent on social media can contribute to feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

“Constant exposure to carefully curated images and idealised lifestyles may also contribute to a distorted sense of reality and lower self-esteem,” he said.

The abundance of information on social media — not all of it authentic or fact-checked — may overwhelm teenagers. They may struggle to differentiate between reliable sources and misinformation.

Social media platforms often collect personal information, leading to privacy concerns. They inadvertently share personal details or engage with random people online.

“The constant distractions and time spent on social media may result in reduced focus, increased procrastination, and decreased productivity. Sleep disruption caused by late-night social media browsing can also negatively affect academic achievement,” the doctor pointed out.

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Lasting effect

Recently, Anand Mahindra, the chairman of the Mahindra Group, took the initiative to create awareness among his followers about the consequences of excessive smartphone usage among children.

Mahindra shared a study by Sapien Labs and Krea University, Andhra Pradesh, which focused on the impact of smartphone usage on the mental health of young adults based on the age at which they first owned a smartphone.

Expressing concern, Mahindra tweeted: “This is incredibly disturbing. The research conducted by Sapien Labs and Krea University, AP, reveals that the age at which a child first possesses a smartphone has a lasting effect on their mental well-being in adulthood. Along with many others, I strongly urge parents to exercise caution and restraint.”

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The solution

Dr Naik opined that parents need not completely remove devices from the lives of these kids.

“This is part of living in the modern world. You just have to teach the kid to have healthy screen time,” he said.

Parents should have open and non-judgmental communication with their children about social media. Parents should actively monitor their children’s online activities, set boundaries, and discuss responsible usage.

Dr Naik added that children should be encouraged to set limits on their social media use, engage in offline activities, and develop a strong sense of self-worth beyond social media validation.

He also added that there should be an award, “not literal award but some sort of award where you ask your children to do some other activities and in response to that you provide them with something… something as small as ice cream or taking them for movies”.

Parents should be positive role models by being responsible social media users themselves.

“Show your child how to interact respectfully online, prioritise offline activities, and balance screentime with other hobbies and responsibilities,” Dr Naik said.

He added that the parents’ goal should be to guide and support their children in developing responsible digital habits and ensuring their safety while navigating the online world.