Proactively limit smartphone use to protect children's mental health

This is the result of the latest survey by research company GWI, based on data from more than 20,000 teenagers and parents in 18 countries, published by The Guardian on July 10.

Accordingly, the rate of children aged 12 to 15 who have temporarily stopped using smartphones, tablets or other internet-connected devices has increased from 18% to 40% in just the past 3 years. Experts say this is a sign that the younger generation is gradually forming the habit of self-control instead of being completely dependent on parental regulations.

Professor Sonia Livingstone, Director of the Centre for Children’s Digital Futures at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), said the findings were consistent with a number of recent studies her team has conducted. “Children have been receiving messages from their parents, the media and their own experiences that excessive use of social media is not always good for their mental health,” said Livingstone.

According to her, many children have proactively tried different ways to minimize negative impacts such as pausing or deleting social networking applications, limiting access to negative content, and seeking healthier online experiences. A small number have even chosen to stop using social networks completely for a period of time to focus on outdoor activities or real-life interactions.

Daisy Greenwell, co-founder of Smartphone Free Childhood, says more and more teens are questioning what it means to grow up “connected.” “We hear from kids all the time about how exhausted they feel because of the pressure to be available and responsive 24/7. Taking a break from social media is no longer just a break, it’s an act of resistance, an affirmation of their right to protect their mental health,” Greenwell says.

This is also reflected in Ofcom figures. The 2024 report found that a third of eight- to 17-year-olds felt they were spending too much time in front of screens. Meanwhile, 47% of 16- to 24-year-olds had turned off notifications and turned on “Do Not Disturb” mode on social media apps – a significant increase from 40% the year before.

Another poll found that nearly half of young people would prefer to live in a world without the Internet, or support regulations on screen time. Many in the 18-25 age group also said they would limit their children’s access to smartphones until they were older, rather than letting them use them too early, as their generation did.

However, experts also note that self-regulation of digital habits cannot completely replace the role of the family. Professor David Ellis (University of Bath) said that support tools such as time limits or warnings on social networking platforms are only supplementary, but long-term effectiveness is not always guaranteed. "It is important that parents, schools and communities accompany children, encourage them to use technology wisely, while balancing physical activity and real-life social interactions," Mr. Ellis emphasized.

Additionally, research from GWI also shows that social media addiction is among the top three concerns of parents, alongside climate change and economic security. Notably, up to 8% of parents said they became stricter about limiting device time after watching documentaries reflecting the dark side of Internet abuse.

Experts say that in the context of increasingly popular smart devices, it is a good sign that children are proactively adjusting their usage habits. However, it is necessary to continue to encourage initiatives to educate digital skills and emotional management skills so that children can protect their mental health in a sustainable way.

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