Early Smartphone use linked to poorer mental health in young adults: Study
A recent research study, published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, found that individuals who received smartphones before the age of 13 reported poorer mental health outcomes in early adulthood.
One of the study’s lead authors, Tara Thiagarajan informed in a report by ABC News, “The younger the child gets a smartphone, the more exposure to all this impacts them psychologically and shapes the way they think and view the world.
The study analysed responses from over 100,000 individuals aged 18 to 24, who answered questions related to their mental health, including experiences of aggression, detachment, hallucinations and suicidal thoughts.
Girls who had access to smartphones at ages 5 or 6 reported higher levels of suicidal thoughts, with 48% acknowledging severe ideation, compared to 28% among those who received phones at age 13 or later.31% of boys who used phones early in their lives had these thoughts, compared to 20% of those who received phones later. The report also mentions that early phone access can result in lower self-worth, reduced emotional resilience in girls and would decreased empathy and emotional stability in boys.
Experts involved in the study cited the heightened social media use, cyberbullying, disrupted sleep patterns and strained family relationships as contributing factors, urging parents to delay smartphone access until children are at least 14 years old and advised them to engage in discussions around responsible digital behaviour.
In guidance shared by the American Academy of Pediatrics, families are encouraged to adopt a framework known as the “5 C’s” to manage children’s media use: understanding the Child, assessing Content, fostering Calm, avoiding Crowding out other activities and maintaining open Communication.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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