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New Delhi, 9 July 2026: At present, the impact of the digital revolution is not limited only to the youth and children, but even the elders and elders of the house are now spending hours in front of the smartphone screen, which is becoming a matter of concern. Generally, it is seen that the elders of parents above fifty years of age spend a major part of the day watching short videos i.e. reels on social media or playing online games like Ludo. On this subject, medical experts and psychiatrists say that smartphones can be useful to some extent as a tool to overcome loneliness, but when this activity becomes a 24-hour addiction, it invites serious physical and mental illnesses.

According to a renowned consultant psychiatrist, limiting the use of smartphones by children, such as talking to relatives over video calling, staying connected with friends through WhatsApp or learning a new useful application, helps in keeping their brain active. Especially for retired people who live alone at home, this technology is a great tool for social connection. But the problem arises when smartphones dominate their daily activities. When people give up their morning and evening walks to be busy with their phones, stop communicating with family members and sit in front of the screen till late at night, their health starts deteriorating.

• Excessive scrolling reduces physical exertion

Experts warn that excessive scrolling reduces physical exertion, which can lead to loss of concentration and irritability. Nowadays, there is a buzzword like ‘Digital Dementia’, which is not an official medical diagnosis, but it shows that due to excessive screen dependence, a person’s memory and ability to concentrate starts weakening. An even bigger threat is to the sleeping pattern of the elderly i.e. the process of sleep. The blue light emitted from smartphones reaches the brain through the eyes and reduces the production of ‘melatonin’ hormone responsible for sleep. As a result, elders either do not sleep or wake up frequently at night. In the long run, this problem of insomnia becomes the main cause of heart diseases and mental stress. Therefore, it is not wrong for children to use phones, but it is equally important that they exercise and lead a social life along with it.