IMA Serampore conducts awareness camp on excessive use of smartphones among students

The Serampore branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) conducted an awareness programme on the ill effects of excessive mobile phone use among students.

The programme highlighted that students, especially teenagers, are being affected in alarming numbers by sleep disorders, anxiety, headaches, weak eyesight, restlessness, and loss of concentration due to overuse of smartphones. Doctors at the programme pointed out that the addiction to smartphones is distracting even the studious students from their studies.

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Speaking on the subject, the president of IMA Serampore, Dr Pradeep Das cautioned both students and their parents on this social problem, stating that only if parents become disciplined in their own use of smartphones can they set an example for their school-going children. Dr Das mentioned that if parents change their habits on mobile phone use, they can guide and motivate their children towards the limited and reasonable use of smartphones.

Dr Das elaborated that excessive mobile phone use by students leads to poor academic focus, sleep disruption, and negative mental health impacts. Unmonitored screen time harms a student’s daily routine, brain development, and physical well-being, he mentioned.

The doctor mentioned that constant notifications shorten attention spans, making deep classroom concentration difficult.

Multitasking with a phone during study time hurts memory retention and test performance, he added, saying that relying on instant internet searches prevents students from developing independent problem-solving skills.

Speaking about the health and physical problems associated with excessive phone use he said that blue light from screens suppresses melatonin production, delaying bedtime and causing daytime tiredness.

Staring at small screens for hours causes dry eyes, blurred vision, and frequent headaches, causing eye strain.

The doctor cautioned that hunching over devices creates neck and shoulder pain, often called “text neck.”

Heavy social media use is linked to higher rates of anxiety, low mood, and loneliness, he said.

Mobile phone addiction among students causes serious mental and physical health issues, including anxiety, severe sleep loss, and poor concentration, the doctor said cautioning that overuse of screens damages both the body and the mind.

Dr Das mentioned that even students feel nervous or panicked when they do not have their phones.

Speaking about the mental toll on excessive use of social media, he said that spending too much time on phones can lead to low self-esteem and deep sadness.