PETALING JAYA: Some 80% of Malaysian children face vision issues attributed to prolonged screen time during the Covid-19 lockdown, according to a 2022 study on refractive error and visual impairment in primary school pupils.
Some 60% of the children were diagnosed with myopia (short-sightedness), while 16% exhibited hyperopia (far-sightedness).
Notably, one in 10 Malaysian children faces major vision problems, with excessive use of digital devices identified as a key contributing factor.
In response to the findings, Early Childhood Care and Education Council founding president Datuk Dr Chiam Heng Keng said teaching children responsible smartphone usage can mitigate the risk of device overuse.
“Instead of completely stopping children from using smartphones, we should emphasise responsible habits from a young age,” she said.
A Unicef survey conducted in 2019 across four Asean countries, including Malaysia, revealed widespread smartphone ownership among young children and teenagers, even in rural areas.
A senior lecturer in Epidemiology and Public Health Medicine at a private university, Dr Anne Noor Sri Juwaneeta Jamaludin, said concerns are being raised about the increasing use of smartphones and its potential impact on the physical and mental health of children.
“Before deciding on the appropriate age for children to have smartphones, it is essential to consider their cognitive development.
“According to Jean Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development, children between seven and 11 years can grasp basic logical thinking and follow simple instructions, learning from their exposure to adult behaviour.
“However, abstract thinking, crucial for navigating complex situations like social media, typically develops from age 12 onwards, as per Piaget’s theory.”
Anne Noor said in recognising individual variations in cognitive development, parents should assess their children’s capabilities through daily interactions and observations.
She also said parents should introduce smartphones when they believe their children can understand basic usage, and facilitate communication for safety, such as during daily commutes.
“Clear guidelines and restrictions, especially on social media access, coupled with open communication, foster responsible smartphone behaviour.
“Signs of excessive use include lying, neglecting responsibilities and sleep disruptions,” she said.
“If addiction concerns arise, seeking help from mental health professionals, such as counsellors or psychologists, is crucial for early intervention.”
Prof Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, who is the chief innovation and enterprise officer at a private university, said introducing positive smartphone usage involves leveraging its tech features for lifestyle enhancement.
“Utilise the clock for alarms, employ the calendar for disciplined scheduling and incorporate mobile apps to monitor security. These can be integrated with a DevOps toolchain (tools and tech fostering collaboration across the entire software lifecycle).
“Apps like FamilyLink can define location settings on the go, illustrating how smartphones can be powerful tools for organised and secure day-to-day activities,” he said.
In terms of apps or platforms aimed at educating parents and children about digital responsibility, Vinesh said digital responsibility involves intellectual property, a code of conduct and social responsibility.
“Parents play a crucial role in fostering responsible digital citizens. The Digital Citizenship App by learning.com is a versatile tool offering videos, games and quizzes to educate children and young adults on online safety, cyberbullying and ethical online content use.
“Another app, Trace My Shadow, reveals users’ digital traces based on their device usage, enhancing awareness of online footprint,” he said.
Vinesh also suggested parents stay informed about children’s smartphone use by improving digital literacy, monitoring slang and engaging in social media.
“To foster continuous learning, parents should embrace a digital lifestyle, keep up with trends through reading, attend online seminars and understand platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
“Responsible digital citizenship is essential in navigating the diverse digital landscape,” he said.
