"Time Bombs" in Iraqi children's hands: health and academic institutions sound alarm
Shafaq News/ Health and academicinstitutions across Iraq are raising urgent warnings about the growing use ofmobile phones and electronic devices among children, particularly those undersix. Labeled as "time bombs," these devices are linked to a rise inhealth issues such as strabismus and poor cognitive performance, with expertswarning of potential long-term societal consequences, including familybreakdowns and developmental disorders.
Medical Warnings
On August 20, Dr. Walid HamidJassim, Director of Ibn Al-Haytham Eye Hospital, revealed to Shafaq News thatthere had been a 50% increase in cases of strabismus and refractive errors inchildren under six. He explained, "While there are no precise statisticson the number of affected children, the cases have doubled compared to previousyears, based on observations from the hospital's strabismus unit, the only oneof its kind in Iraq, at Ibn Al-Haytham Eye Hospital."
Dr. Jassim attributed this rise tothe excessive use of mobile phones and electronic devices, often given tochildren by their families at an early age. He added, "The negativeimpacts on children include reduced physical activity, obesity, decreasedcognitive performance, and an increase in autism cases as children becomedetached from the real world."
He further explained that certaintypes of strabismus worsen with device use due to the strain on the eyemuscles. In some instances, latent strabismus in children becomes visible dueto prolonged use of these devices. He also noted additional adverse effects foradults, such as dry eyes, muscle spasms, and other related issues.
In a previous statement to ShafaqNews, ophthalmologist Dr. Mohammed Hamza highlighted the detrimental effects ofelectronic devices on eye health. "Prolonged use of devices at distancesshorter than 35 centimeters leads to chronic dryness, corneal swelling,redness, and frequent eye infections. It also increases the risk of internalstrabismus due to extended focus on a close point," he said.
Dr. Hamza recommended that childrenunder ten should limit their use of smart devices to no more than one hour perday, split between morning and evening. He advised using distant screens, suchas televisions placed three meters away, for educational purposes or games. Forchildren over ten, usage should not exceed two hours per day, based onnecessity.
Warn of Growing Risks for Children
According to UNICEF statistics, morethan 175,000 children access the internet for the first time eachday—equivalent to a new child every half second. The UN agency dedicated tochild welfare has cautioned that while digital access offers numerous opportunitiesand benefits, it also exposes children to a wide array of risks and harms.These include access to harmful content, sexual exploitation and abuse,cyberbullying, and the misuse of their personal information.
A report released on May 1,commissioned by French President Emmanuel Macron, also raised alarms aboutchildren's use of digital devices. The report emphasized that children shouldnot be allowed to use smartphones until the age of 13, and access to traditionalsocial media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat should beprohibited until they turn 18.
The report, described as"strongly worded," stressed the need to protect children from thetech industry's profit-driven strategies to capture and exploit theirattention. These strategies employ various cognitive biases to keep childrenengaged with screens, control their behavior, and monetize their time spentonline.
Additionally, the report recommendedthat children under the age of three should not be exposed to screens,including television. It also advised that no child under 11 should have aphone, and any device given to children between the ages of 11 and 13 should berestricted from internet access. The minimum age for children to have asmartphone with internet connectivity, the report concluded, should be 13.
A Double-Edged Sword
In an interview with Shafaq News,social researcher Samar Al-Faili described mobile phones and electronic devicesas a "double-edged sword." She explained, "These devices canenhance children's intelligence and foster creativity in certain areas. On theother hand, children are exposed to content that may not be appropriate fortheir age."
Al-Faili emphasized that familiesbear much responsibility due to their lack of attention and awareness, allowingchildren to spend long hours in front of screens. "There is no harm inchildren using these devices and social media, but it must be under parentalsupervision and limited to one or two hours daily," she noted,acknowledging the positive aspects, such as children learning to draw orimproving their English skills through these platforms.
However, Al-Faili warned of thedangers posed by electronic games, stating that they can lead to addiction anddamage children's eyesight if parents do not intervene. "A child's visioncan weaken or even deteriorate entirely. Reports also highlight other harms,including issues with hand and finger movement due to prolonged gamingaddiction, which is extremely dangerous for children," she added.
Social Disasters Due to Children'sMobile Game Addiction
Academic researcher Dr. Rafi MuaidAbdullah warned of severe social consequences from children's obsession withmobile games.
In an interview with Shafaq News, heexplained, "We are facing significant social risks for families due tochildren's excessive use of mobile devices," he stated.
Dr. Abdullah pointed out that somemothers neglect their children by focusing on social media, beauty centers, andonline shopping, leaving them with mobile phones for extended periods withoutsupervision. "The first issue these children will face, given theirunregulated screen time, is autism," he cautioned.
He shared a personal experienceinvolving a colleague who runs a center for autism treatment, confirming thatthere has been a noticeable increase in autism cases among children linked toexcessive use of mobile devices and electronic gadgets.
Dr. Abdullah stressed that the harmdoesn't only affect the child but also disrupts social dynamics within thefamily. "These issues can create tension between parents, often leading toaccusations over the lack of child supervision. In some cases, this canescalate to divorce and family breakdown," he explained.
He concluded by noting that thestrain on relationships between spouses often begins before and continues aftera child is diagnosed, highlighting that these "social disasters" arerarely acknowledged until they cause irreparable damage.
Mental Strabismus
Dr. Ahmed Al-Dhahabi, a member ofthe Psychological Research Center at the University of Baghdad, revealed in aninterview with Shafaq News that the university introduced a course four yearsago for its master's and PhD students on Internet Psychology. This courseexplores the medical harms of the internet on children, such as spinaldeformities from prolonged sitting and the inability to develop a strongpersonality or interact with society effectively.
Al-Dhahabi emphasized, "Thereis a real need to educate parents before educating children. At thePsychological Research Center, we conduct intelligence tests for children,particularly from elementary through middle school, and we found that their intelligencelevels were very disappointing due to internet addiction."
He added that the medical effects onchildren include red eyes, spinal deformities, and another alarming trend:children who spend long hours on tablets and mobile phones are eitherunderweight or obese, as many spend more than ten hours a day on the internet."Mental strabismus parallels visual strabismus," he explained, citingdata from intelligence assessments conducted at the center.
The academic expert underscored theimportance of setting rules to prevent children from overexposure to theinternet and social media. "Parents must establish a schedule for turningthe internet on and off, rather than leaving it open constantly, as manychildren stay awake until morning without their parents' knowledge," hesaid. He also stressed the need for continuous communication between parentsand children to ensure proper values are instilled and children's ideas areheard.
