In today’s world there are a lot of warning labels on different products. Yet there is one item that doesn’t have a warning label but should most definitely have one. This item can cause depression and anxiety. Using this product could lead to addiction. Plus, your sleep pattern might be affected by it. Any ideas on what it could be? If your guess was a smartphone, you are spot on. It is alarming to think about how many problems a smartphone can cause. When you stop and consider all the issues that can come with one, it might make you rethink how you approach smartphones for your kids.
What The Warning Label Would Say
If smartphones came with warning labels, there would probably be more safeguards in place to help families use them wisely. But we need phones to stay connected. So, unfortunately, while we may briefly think about the risks, most of the time we simply move forward with buying a smartphone anyway. Like I mentioned earlier, one warning would probably be about how smartphones can become addictive. For example, certain apps are designed to keep you using them for as long as possible. In a way, the longer you stay on your phone, the more the app makes you feel like you’re “winning”. That is where the addiction aspect comes into play.
In addition to addiction, smartphones can also contribute to anxiety and depression. Parents and kids constantly see other people posting the best parts of their lives online, which can lead to unhealthy comparisons and feelings that their lives don’t measure up. Depression starts to seep in, and you feel like your life is not that great. The more time you spend watching everyone else’s life online, the less time you spend fully living your own.
So how do we teach our kids boundaries when it comes to smartphones? One way is to be a good example and show your kids how you can have a healthy relationship with a smartphone. Another option is choosing a smartphone designed with healthier boundaries in mind, like the phones Troomi offers for kids.
Juggling Teaching Your Kids Tech While Being Safe
Troomi smartphones are designed to protect kids and help them thrive beyond the screen. Think of Troomi like bowling with bumpers for kids. When you took your kid bowling for the first time you set up bumpers to avoid the ball going into the gutters. With Troomi, your child can learn how to use a smartphone with built-in guardrails that help them start off right and build healthier digital habits.
You are able to teach your kids how to use a smartphone in a digital age, but you won’t expose them to all the things that other smartphones allow you to explore. Troomi offers the Troomi Safe Browser to help your child learn to use the Internet safely. This browser allows you to specify approved website domains, while all others remain entirely blocked for your child. In a perfect world smartphones would not need a warning label, but we don’t live in a perfect world. That is why so many parents and families trust Troomi when they look to purchase a smartphone for their child. For more information go to their website at troomi.com.
Please note: I am working with Troomi on a sponsored campaign. I am receiving payment for my work, but my thoughts are my own.