Jio Shin / 201020764

November 19,2015
Comp2 J058-1 : Cause and effect essay
Professor Vincent Gilhooley : Sungho 103

The Effects of Childrens smartphone addiction

Have you ever seen childrens holding their smartphone which is bigger than their little
palms? These day, smartphone became an essential item for not only adult but also children.
According to KISDI(National Korea Information Society Development Institute), the rate of having
smartphone of teenagers in 2011 was 19.11%. But in 2014, it was 89.8%.(Shin and Ha 3) Especially 6
of 10 4th to 6th grade elementary schoolchild has a smartphone. Moreover, 90% of middle and high
school students have a smartphone. With smart phone, we can get information and contact someone
anytime, anywhere. Also, many useful applications actually improve the quality of our life. But the
problem of using smart phone is that we became obsess about not the contents which smart phone
provide but smart phone itself. These days, this phenomenon is shown among children. Childrens
Smart phone addiction is increasing and the effects are serious, which are physical health problems,
mental health problems and troubles in daily life.
First, smart phone addiction is harmful for physical health of children. Most people sit
hunched over while staring at a smartphone. If this bad posture be habituated, their neck would be
stretched too much. Also, their shoulder and backbone, or even legs can be bent.(Park) As a result, it
stunt childrens growth. Another problem is the eyes. We blink the eyes about 20 times per 1 minutes.
When you focus on smartphone, its decrease to 5.(Kim) Then, eyes get dry and dry and as a result,
your eyesight get worse. No wonder childrens wearing eye glasses in early age is increasing.

Secondly, smart phone addiction can cause mental health problems. According to the study
of 2013, elementary school student's smart phone addiction affect aggression significantly. The
overuse of smart phone can bring high aggression against person and things to students.(Shin 359)
Also, Smart phone addiction can cause ADHD(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). High level of
smart phone addiction had negative impact on their inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity
symptom. Particularly, to the students who were a lower grade, the smart phone addiction tended to
have more negative impacts on their hyperactivity/impulsivity symptom (Choi 159).
Lastly, like other kind of addictions, Childrens daily life disturbed by smart phone addiction.
The most crucial thing of using smart phone is game. The old days, children can play internet game
only in front of desktop. But now, they play game anywhere, anytime. Even in school, during their
class. In reality, its hard to get an A in the class or become a big man in the school even though you
try. But in virtual world, if you spend time (or sometimes money), you can get reward. So, children
who feel left out can be into smart phone game more easily. As they are into the game deeply, they
dont pay attention to class, study, friend, etc. As a result, their academic achievement would be low
and dont play outside with their friends. Then again, they will be into game more and more, and so
on. This vicious circle is hard to break.
Smart phone is a necessary these days, even for the kids. But most of applications that we
usually use is not necessary. Maybe you can find yourself dominated by your smartphone, without no
meaning. This is more serious for our children. They can be addicted without awareness, if we dont
care. In conclusion, I would like to suggest limiting the time of your childrens using smart phone.
Before that, dont forget to prevent yourself from smart phone addiction. Because we are a model of
our children.

Works Cited
Shin, Ji Hyung, Ha, Hyungseok. In 2011~2014, Change of possession of media and use pattern
KISDI STAT Report(2014): 3. Online.

Park, Eunhye. Smartphone use Effects on childrens health Womansense(2012) Online.

Shin, Seongchyeol. The Influence of Adolescents' Smart Phone Addiction on Aggression Journal of
Safety and Crisis Management 9.11(2013): 345-362 Print.

Choi, Jio Oh. Analysis of Influence of Smart Phone Addiction Practice on ADHD Symptoms of
Elementary School Students Journal of Safety and Crisis Management 10.5(2014): 159-178 Print.

Kim, Jung Hwan. Using smart phone in rocking car, Poison for eye
http://imnews.imbc.com/replay/2015/nwdesk/article/3778921_14775.html. MBC NEWS. 26 Sep 2015.
Web. 19 Nov. 2015.