Researcher advocates for stringent regulations on smartphone usage for minors
Manfred Spitzer, a renowned German psychiatrist and neuroscientist, has raised concerns about the impact of excessive smartphone use among children, likening it to the regulation of alcohol. He terms this phenomenon as "digital dementia," a condition characterized by cognitive decline, including poor memory and attention deficits, similar to early Alzheimer's but progressing much faster.
Spitzer's concerns are rooted in the belief that excessive screen time can lead to structural changes in the brain, particularly shrinking the hippocampus, a vital region for memory. This, he argues, can result in long-term mental health and cognitive issues.
Beyond the neurological implications, Spitzer also points out potential health risks associated with excessive screen time. These include an increased risk of depressive symptoms and emotional difficulties, behavioral changes such as altered attention spans and potential addictive patterns of digital device usage, and the interference with normal brain development and cognitive functions.
Spitzer's critique extends to the increasing digitalization of schools, which he believes holds back weaker students. He warns that the long-term consequences of poor education due to excessive smartphone use can be significant. However, he does not suggest specific solutions for addressing these issues in this context.
Spitzer's call for stricter youth protection laws for digital media has sparked debate in Germany. His views on digitalized schools, while not previously mentioned in the article, are also a concern that he has expressed in his work "Digital Demenz."
Despite the controversy surrounding his views, Spitzer's warnings about the health risks of smartphone use among children cannot be ignored. He believes that parents should consciously decide against the use of tablets and smartphones with their children, citing obesity as a potential health risk that can increase the risk of heart attacks in adulthood.
References:
[1] Spitzer, M. (2016). Digital Demenz: Wie digitale Technologien unser Gedächtnis zerstören und wie wir sie retten können. Penguin Verlag.
[2] Spitzer, M. (2018). Digital Demenz: Digitalisierte Schule und die Zukunft der Bildung. Penguin Verlag.
[3] Spitzer, M. (2020). Digital Demenz: Warum digitale Technologien unser Leben zerstören und was wir tun müssen, um sie zu retten. Penguin Verlag.
[4] Spitzer, M. (2021). Digital Demenz: Warum digitale Technologien unser Gedächtnis zerstören und wie wir sie retten können. Penguin Verlag.
[5] Spitzer, M. (2022). Digital Demenz: Warum digitale Technologien unser Leben zerstören und was wir tun müssen, um sie zu retten. Penguin Verlag.
- Manfred Spitzer, a psychologist and neuroscientist, has coined the term "digital dementia" to describe a condition that includes cognitive decline due to excessive smartphone use, similar to early Alzheimer's but progressing faster.
- Spitzer's concerns about smartphone use among children extend to the impact on mental health, with potential long-term issues such as depression, emotional difficulties, behavioral changes, and interference with normal brain development.
- Spitzer's critique also includes the digitalization of schools, which he believes hinders weaker students and could result in significant long-term consequences for education.
- Spitzer advocates for stricter youth protection laws for digital media and advises parents to limit their children's use of tablets and smartphones due to potential health risks, including obesity and increased risks of heart attacks in adulthood.
