Parents who can't tear their eyes away from their smartphones and gadgets are incapable of preventing their children from having accidents. Many times, smartphone addiction is also putting the user at risk especially when he/she is in public.
A new study by the Child Action Prevention Trust, the United Kingdom's leading charitable organization, found that a quarter of parents have been occupied with their smartphones when their child had an accident or almost had one, the Telegraph reported. For instance, when distracted with their smartphones parents are unable to see that their child has grabbed a hot drink or is putting a toxic material in their mouth.
On the other hand, 15 percent of young people have had accidents or nearly had one while engrossed in a smartphone. This includes crossing traffic without looking sideways.
In the U.K., one in three smartphone users checks his device within five minutes of waking up. A research done in the United States also found that 79 percent of adults use their smartphones within 15 minutes of waking up.
Benefits And Dangers Of Smartphones
Child Accident Prevention Trust Chief Executive Katrina Phillips said smartphones keep parents' busy lives and schedules organized; it also allows them to connect with their friends and family. However, too much smartphone usage can also endanger a user and his/her young children.
Phillips said accidents can happen in just a matter of seconds while parents are distracted with their smartphones. To prevent this, Phillips is encouraging parents to turn off their devices "at pressure points during the day" to ensure kids' safety, the Telegraph added.
Young People Are Aware Of Smartphone Risks
The Royal Automobile Association of South Australia, or RAA, surveyed 7,000 students and found that three out of five of them are aware of the dangers of smartphone distraction, but this doesn't deter them from using their gadgets excessively while they're out in public. RAA Manager Ben Haythorpe said young people's complacency is one of the factors to blame for this issue, according to ABC News.
Michael Cornish, an executive at the Motor Accident Commission, said young people are willing to take risks with their smartphone distraction because they didn't personally experience any accidents related to their gadget use. These people have been doing this habit for so long that they believe smartphone-related accidents will not happen to them.
The term "phubbing" has been coined as a combination of the words "phone" and "snubbing," CNTV wrote. Phubbing refers to individuals who lower their heads and turn their attention towards their gadgets, ignoring their surroundings and other people around them.
