Prevalence, determinants and consequences of problematic smartphone use among preschoolers (3–5 years) from Dhaka, Bangladesh: A cross-sectional investigation

Problematic Smartphone Use Among Children Requires Immediate Attention

“…Dear Editor, Problematic smartphone use (PSU) has been becoming a challenging and emerging public health issue, and easy access to smartphones pushes the rate of PSU to upswing hastily. 1 Problematic smartphone use is a behavioral pattern characterized by individuals' inability to control their use of smartphones and this behavior is often driven by the release of dopamine in the brain which can reinforce the desire to use smartphones for extended periods of time. 1,2 As the electromagnetic wave of smartphones damage physical health as well as affects the psychological health of the users, PSU has some potential adverse health and behavioral risks.…”

“…The typical age of introduction to a smartphone is between three and five years. 1,3 Therefore, preschool children are more vulnerable to PSU because the age of introduction to the smartphone is a significant stage in the cognitive, linguistic, and psychosocial development of the children 4 and their immune system is in premature form. 1 Nowadays, all children use smartphones and nine out of ten children are suffering from PSU in Dhaka, Bangladesh.…”

“…1,3 Therefore, preschool children are more vulnerable to PSU because the age of introduction to the smartphone is a significant stage in the cognitive, linguistic, and psychosocial development of the children 4 and their immune system is in premature form. 1 Nowadays, all children use smartphones and nine out of ten children are suffering from PSU in Dhaka, Bangladesh. 1 The majority of children use smartphones mainly for watching cartoons or fiction, playing games, watching television/ videos, listening music, whereas very few children use them for academic purposes.…”

“…1 Nowadays, all children use smartphones and nine out of ten children are suffering from PSU in Dhaka, Bangladesh. 1 The majority of children use smartphones mainly for watching cartoons or fiction, playing games, watching television/ videos, listening music, whereas very few children use them for academic purposes. 1,3 Smartphone use for entertainment and non-academic purposes is the leading cause of PSU.…”

“…1 The majority of children use smartphones mainly for watching cartoons or fiction, playing games, watching television/ videos, listening music, whereas very few children use them for academic purposes. 1,3 Smartphone use for entertainment and non-academic purposes is the leading cause of PSU. 5,6 Parents allow their children to access smartphones because they want to keep them engaged while they work, pacify crying babies, and during feeding and sleeping time.…”