KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 — A recent global survey revealed that Malaysians spend almost half of their waking hours on electronic devices.
The 2024 Electronics Hub report ranked Malaysians as having the second-highest screen time in Asia and the eighth-highest in the world.
This report is not surprising.
In 2018, Limelight Networks ranked Malaysians as the most digitally dependent nation, reporting that 69% of Malaysians have no intention of giving up their mobile phone, even for a day.
But Dr Prem Kumar Shanmugam, founder and chief executive officer of Solace Asia and adjunct professor, said electronics addiction was now becoming an epidemic among young children.
“Unfortunately, mobile phones have become the most convenient device for raising children.
“Every time you give a child a mobile phone while they’re having a tantrum, you are conditioning that child to respond to that stimulus.
“Over time, children will start throwing tantrums on purpose just to get their hands on the phone, which starts a vicious cycle of addiction,” he said.
Dr Prem said addiction is made up of six components: salience (when the addiction becomes most important to the addict), mood changes, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, conflict and finally relapse.
The human brain has an average concentration span of about 40 minutes, but when it becomes overstimulated, it secretes large amounts of dopamine.
Dopamine is a feel-good neurotransmitter produced in the brain that makes you feel good.
“After a while, your body becomes tolerant to dopamine.
“When electronic devices can no longer provide the same stimulation, people turn to substances of abuse to satisfy their dopamine cravings,” he said.
Dr Prem said social media platforms also use the dopamine rush to keep users glued to their sites.
“Social networking sites notify you every time your post gets a like, giving you a dopamine hit. The more likes you get, the more you want.
“It’s similar to a gambling addiction, where you have the urge to chase your losses and get caught in an addictive loop.
“This reward cycle makes it easy for young children and adolescents, whose brains are not yet mature, to become addicted,” he said.
Dr Prem also pointed out a worrying trend that many young people suffering from digital addiction are exhibiting symptoms similar to mental illnesses.
Overstimulation of the brain causes a surge of dopamine, according to Dr Prem. — Photo courtesy of Solace Asia
Overstimulation of the brain causes a surge of dopamine, according to Dr Prem. — Photo courtesy of Solace Asia
Time to talk again
“We don’t talk to our kids, the devices talk to them,” said Dr Prem, urging parents to talk to their children to help them break their addiction to electronic devices.
“Keeping your phone away from the dinner table while eating is a great first step.
“Parents and other adults should be no exception, because children learn best by imitating those around them.”
“If your child suddenly becomes isolated or extremely withdrawn, don’t ignore the warning signs,” he says.
He said parents should start regulating screen time as soon as their children start using digital devices, limiting usage to around 40 to 45 minutes per day.
More importantly, Dr Prem warned parents not to let electronic devices take over their children’s lives.
“It scares me when I see parents attaching iPads to strollers to quiet their toddlers.
“It’s no different than smoking drugs in front of your kids every day. What do you think will happen over time?”
