Already over 90% of Polish children of school age have their own smartphone, and the youngest spend a fewer hours a day in front of the screens. More and more young people are experiencing the effects of digital overload: from problems with concentration and sleep to anxiety and depression.
The data is alarming! Smartphones and social media have become an integral part of the life of Polish children: the computer uses 44% of children aged 3-9 and 81% aged 10-15, and the smartphone uses 53% and 91% respectively. In total, children spend an average of 4 hours and 29 minutes a day online.
#ParentialChallenge
Therefore, the Institute for civilian Affairs together with Citizen Accelerator of Innovation invitation to participate in the challenge
#ParentialChallenge. This is simply a weekly action encouraging parents to share the limitation of telephone usage and spend more offline time with their children.
"They say that fighting technological giants and universal indifference is David's fight with Goliath. And they're right. But remember, in the end David won with the giant, and we have 1 advantage they must face: the voice of troubled parents.” – says Rafał Górski, president of the Institute of civilian Affairs.
Join the run and save children
Actions are part of “Save the Children!” campaign, led since 2020 by the Institute of civilian Affairs and Civic Accelerator of Innovation.
The run highlights the scale of kid dependence on digital devices and calls for systemic change:
- prohibiting the usage of smartphones in schools,
- the creation of a Digital Cork Fund financed by big-tech corporations for the prevention of addictions; and
- compulsory technology education for children and parents.
