Excessive use of gadgets without parental supervision is considered a serious threat to children’s growth and development. Parents and the wider community are therefore encouraged to establish clear limits on technology use to prevent excessive screen exposure from causing physical and mental health problems in the future.
Child therapy expert and holistic health practitioner Dr. R. Adj. Irma Indriyani said that unsupervised gadget use can affect various aspects of a child’s development.
“Using gadgets without parental supervision can affect a child’s development, both physically and mentally,” she said on Sunday, July 26, 2026.
According to Dr. Irma, one of the increasingly common consequences is a decline in children’s physical activity due to spending excessive amounts of time looking at screens.
This condition increases the risk of obesity because children become less physically active.
In addition, the habit of using smartphones while looking downward for extended periods may lead to posture problems, including scoliosis.
She also highlighted the growing number of young children who now require eyeglasses.
According to her, the condition is strongly suspected to be linked to prolonged exposure to blue light emitted by digital device screens.
“The growing number of young children who now have to wear glasses is strongly believed to be closely related to prolonged exposure to blue light radiation from smartphone screens,” she said.
Risk of Disrupting Mental and Social Development
Excessive gadget use is believed to affect not only physical health but also children’s psychological development.
Dr. Irma explained that one common symptom is tantrums when gadgets are taken away or screen time is restricted.
According to her, this occurs because a child’s brain continuously receives stimulation that provides instant gratification.
As a result, children may develop a dependency on gadgets and experience difficulty interacting with the people and environment around them.
“Children who are addicted to gadgets tend to isolate themselves and have difficulty socializing. The impact on their psychological development is extensive, which is why it must be addressed comprehensively,” she emphasized.
Supports Child Protection Regulations in the Digital Space
Dr. Irma welcomed the issuance of Government Regulation (PP) No. 17 of 2025 on TUNAS, which governs the management of electronic systems to protect children in the digital environment, including the use of social media, online games, and various other digital platforms.
According to her, the regulation demonstrates the government’s commitment to creating a safer digital ecosystem for children.
“The objective is clear—to ensure that children can grow and develop according to their developmental stages without excessive exposure to gadgets or age-inappropriate content,” she said.
However, she believes that regulations and public education alone are not sufficient to address gadget addiction among children.
For children who have already experienced negative effects, she said comprehensive rehabilitative treatment is necessary.
Dr. Irma explained that a combination of acupressure therapy and a holistic healthcare approach can serve as one method of recovery.
This integrated approach focuses not only on physical rehabilitation but also on gradually restoring children’s mental well-being, social skills, and overall productivity.
“Children who have been affected need rehabilitative treatment through a combination of acupressure therapy and a holistic approach. This integrated method is designed not only to restore physical health but also to improve children’s mental well-being, social development, and long-term productivity,” she added.
In closing, Dr. Irma called on the government, families, and all sectors of society—particularly in Cimahi City—to strengthen collaboration in protecting children from the negative impacts of excessive gadget use.
She said that the commemoration of National Children’s Day should serve as an important opportunity to raise awareness about the health and development of the nation’s younger generation.
“We hope that this National Children’s Day commemoration will become a starting point for all of us to work together in protecting the younger generation so that we can achieve a healthy, resilient, and high-quality Golden Indonesia,” she concluded.***
