Research conducted by the online safety charity, CyberSafeKids, reveals that over 25% of school-going children believe they are spending too much time on the internet, struggling to detach themselves from various games and apps. Over half of the children aged eight to 12 feel that their online time is excessive, with the figure climbing to nearly two-thirds among 12 to 14 year olds. A close to 40% of children aged 12 to 14 feel that they squander excessive time online.
CyberSafeKids, in response, encourages individuals to detach from the digital realm for a day, through CyberBreak, taking place from 5pm on a given Friday until 5pm on the 19th of October. The event aims to foster a healthy equilibrium between engagement in the physical and virtual world. Participants are urged to set aside their smart devices for the entirety of the event that is currently in its fifth year and has already received participation from over 45,000 individuals.
CyberSafeKids’ CEO, Alex Cooney, speaks on the advantages the digital world offers to our lives, but also acknowledges its potential for becoming overwhelming. The CyberBreak event, he explains, is designed to allow individuals some time to evaluate their online habits, establish a balance, and replace aimless online scrolling with quality family or personal time.
While most older children confess that their online engagements are largely beneficial, girls tend to narrate adverse experiences more frequently. A reported 18% of girls experience fatigue from being online against a 11% of boys, and 17% of girls experience jealousy as compared to merely 4% of boys. Girls also convey higher likelihoods of anxiety and fear after using the internet.
The effect of online interaction and social media on children’s mental health is now a subject of significant attention. Similarly, Stephen Donnelly, the health minister, had declared last month that children’s vulnerability to detrimental web content was a public health disaster in the making and advocated stronger laws to manage the situation.
In August, Norma Foley, the Education Minister, revealed plans for a ban on smartphones in secondary schools. This initiative is intended to address concerns about distractions and cyberbullying. Moreover, there have been calls to prohibit those below 16 from using social media. The Irish Medical Organisation supports restrictions on smartphone use by all children younger than 16.
Nonetheless, a study by CyberSafeKids complicates matters. The survey, administered to over 7,100 students from primary and secondary schools, underscores the complexities of implementing complete restrictions. Among 12 to 14-year-olds, 61% of respondents consider the internet a source of entertainment, and 58% claim it helps them feel connected to others.