An expert group appointed by the Spanish government has suggested that smartphones sold in the country should have health hazard labels. However, instead of printing warnings on the boxes, they propose issuing notifications on the smartphones — during the use of certain apps or services.
The experts’ findings are detailed in a 250-page report reviewed by phonearena. Other suggestions include a complete ban on digital devices for children under 3 years old and restricted use for children aged 3-6 years. Teenagers up to 16 years are recommended to use feature phones, and children up to 12 years should refrain from using social networks.
The group also proposes mandatory screening for children for excessive use of digital technologies during medical examinations.
Although these measures might seem excessive at first glance, numerous studies indicate a connection between excessive digital life and increased levels of depression, anxiety, and even eating disorders among young people.
A recent WHO report showed that one in ten teenagers has signs of addiction to social networks or online games, with girls suffering more than boys.
Meanwhile, Spain is not the only country trying to combat digital dangers for the youth. Australia, for example, recently banned the use of social networks for children under 16 years old.
TikTok, under pressure from authorities, has stated that it will limit beauty filters for teenagers, and Instagram launched accounts for teenagers that restrict messaging from unknown accounts and allow parents to monitor who their children are communicating with (without viewing the actual correspondence).
In Ukraine, there are no official bans on the use of digital devices or social networks for children. On the website of the educational ombudsman, there is a publication dedicated to this topic, concluding that “a ban on using gadgets in schools will still lead to its violation”.
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