Time for new-age health policy

The exponential growth in new media and the accessibility of social media and gaming sites to youngsters seem to be leading to unprecedented health consequences. The unbridled expansion with almost no controls has led to a situation where those even in the age group of four and thereabouts are not spared.  Doctors are reporting how they are getting patients aged four with back aches, stiffness of the neck and near-spondylitis conditions that until now occurred only in the elderly. They found that these children developed such ailments as they were constantly hunched over new-age gadgets, including mobile phones and tablets. 

In a study in the United States, children excessively into video games were seen to be prone to distraction and poor impulse control. What is worrying is that some children are so deeply addicted to video games that they ward off sleep and eating just to keep playing. This has a serious consequence especially at an age where sleep is extremely crucial and playing outdoors is a must for the holistic development of any child. The study found that the video game obsession also led to the enhancement of certain capabilities in the child, like the ability to think efficiently. But, the jury is out on whether, in the overall balance, this is worth the cost of losing out on certain other key positives traditionally seen in growing up children, like robust social relations and physical health.

A survey by ASSOCHAM on the exposure to the video site YouTube found that a large number of children in the age range of seven to 13 visited it – despite supposed restrictions on who can access it. In many cases, the children viewed the site with permission from parents. The conclusion was that excessive viewing of the site among children could lead to cyberbullying and online abuse. As time passes, it is but obvious that more and more children are bound to get hooked on to the Net and the attractions it has to offer. If not the Net, the proliferation of user-friendly gadgets that will suck
the time, energy and talents of children is another phenomenon that needs to be monitored closely.

Moribund institutions like the government will take a long time to recognise the fast-growing world of the Net, social media and video games. The state might be tempted to resort to bans and other undemocratic measures but that may not serve any purpose. The challenge is for the government to come up with a new-age health policy that proffers guidelines to deal with the negatives of such a growth. The effort will be worth it.