The smartphone epidemic. "It's as addictive as alcohol, cigarettes, or cocaine."

World Cell Phone Free Day was celebrated on July 15th. To mark the occasion, the Institute of Civil Affairs issued an open letter to parents, warning them of the detrimental impact of this device on the well-being of their children. "Smartphones are as addictive as alcohol, cigarettes, or cocaine," the Institute points out.

"World Mobile Phone Free Day is a good opportunity to turn off your smartphone and reflect on what Prof. Manfred Spitzer said," the Institute wrote in a statement sent to PAP.

As we read, "every day without a smartphone is a good day."

"The moment you give your child a phone, you'll be fighting every day—don't use it here, don't use it now, etc. That's why my recommendation to parents is—no smartphones until your child is thirteen or fourteen. Again, the longer you can postpone this moment, the better for your child. There's no other answer," ISO added.

The letter explained that Manfred Spitzer is a world-renowned German psychiatrist, psychologist, and neurodidactician. He is the author of three books, including "The Smartphone Epidemic: A Threat to Health, Education, and Society," "Digital Dementia: How We Are Depriving Ourselves and Our Children of Mind," and "Cyber Illness: How Digital Life Is Ruining Our Health."

Rafał Górski, president of the board of the Institute of Civil Affairs, which runs the "Save the Children!" campaign, warned that myopia, excess weight, sleep disorders, posture problems, pre-diabetes, and road accidents – "these are just some of the threats to your child related to excessive phone use."

He also pointed out that, in addition to physical problems, scientific research also points to dangers for children's mental health: anxiety, depression (including self-harm and suicidal thoughts), stress, attention disorders, increased aggressiveness and reduced ability to empathize with parents and friends.

"Importantly, a smartphone is harmful to a child's development, not only when they use it themselves, but also when their mother or father uses the smartphone while performing parental duties," the author emphasized.

He also noted that smartphones are as addictive as alcohol, cigarettes, or cocaine. "Children become more addicted than adults, and the effects of this addiction are much more dangerous and harmful," he wrote.

He also stated that for a child to develop properly, he needs millions of words spoken to him and tens of thousands of games played together with his parents – arranging blocks, painting pictures, reading together, singing songs, playing football.

Why don't parents do this? In response, Górski quoted the words of Denmark's Minister of Children and Education, Mattias Tesfaye, from 2024:

"We were far too naive and blinded by what the biggest tech companies had achieved, which in practice meant disrupting the learning process. I hope we stop handing out tablets to first-graders and instead give them pencils and teach them how to write letters."

The President of the Institute of Civil Affairs noted that the main beneficiaries of the lack of a phone ban in schools are big business, such as tech corporations: Tik Tok, Meta (Facebook, Instagram), Google (YouTube); smartphone manufacturers: Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi; and telecommunications companies: Play, Orange, Plus, T-Mobile.

“These corporations are making your child dependent on their products and services day after day,” he said.

He also recalled that Steve Jobs, the founder of the Apple brand, followed the iron rule of drug dealers: "Never take your own drugs." In an interview with The New York Times, Jobs said his children had never used an iPad before. "In our house, we limit our children's access to modern technology," he said.

"Experts have been pointing out for years that asking children who don't yet have the capacity for self-control to exercise self-control when using smartphones and social media, which are designed to be addictive, turns parents into police officers. It's also a source of frustration for everyone in the family, as it's an impossible task," the author of the article noted.

He appealed: "I encourage you to make World Cell Phone Free Day an opportunity for you and your child to have fun, reflect, and change." (PAP)

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