A new nine-hour film, "Don't Look Down," produced by MullenLowe MENA in association with Fixby, a UAE-based organization, highlights the detrimental effects of excessive smartphone use on children and teenagers in the UAE.
The film reveals that young people in the UAE spend an average of nine hours and eighteen minutes daily on their devices, with 95% of smartphone users under 17 on TikTok. This excessive screen time is linked to mental health issues like aggression, ADHD, depression, and loneliness.
Fixby, which advocates for delaying social media access until age 16, emphasizes the importance of creating environments where children can thrive without constant device distractions. They recommend schools avoid requiring mobile phones in classrooms and instead utilize school-provided tablets for educational purposes.
Dr. Alison Burrows, an expert in screen time, stresses the need for parents to understand the impact of excessive smartphone use on their children's mental health, social development, and academic performance. She advocates for working together to help children lead healthier lives, free from the control of their devices.