Powerful wake-up call for smartphone addicts in Dubai

Dubai: Excessive use of the smartphone by children has raised grave concerns after the private screening of a section of a hard-hitting documentary in Dubai on Wednesday evening.

With the longest running time in the region’s history, the nine-hour film titled ‘Don’t Look Down’ was a powerful depiction of a critical issue: Smartphone addiction.

The concept of the film was developed by the communications network MullenLowe MENA, led by Chief Creative Officer Paul Banham and Creative Director Thomas Young, in collaboration with Daniel Herbert of Fixby, a secure phone storage provider aimed at reducing mobile phone distractions, and Dr. Alison Burrows, an expert on screen time, professor and parent coach.

“Millions of children spend their days scrolling their lives away on smartphones. Don’t Look Down serves as a wake-up call for parents, educators and the community, urging them to take action before it’s too late,” Young told Gulf News.

Dr. Burrows, who conducted a revealing study on the subject, said, “Social media addiction among children is a growing concern globally and is very much a concern in the UAE. Children are more exposed to screens and online platforms than ever before, which can lead to serious negative consequences if not managed properly by schools, parents and the wider community.”

She warned that, “Addiction to social media can hinder children’s social development and self-control, as well as reduce physical activity and sleep. Additionally, this can lead to serious mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, self-harm and sleep disorders. While social media can offer educational benefits and can be used as a platform for creativity and communication, unchecked, unlimited usage can create a sense of dependency, disrupting a child’s overall growth in very negative ways.”

Dr Burrows said “highly sophisticated algorithms have been designed to keep social media users, including children, hooked on their devices for as long as possible. The driving force behind this is simple: Attention equals profit.”

She claimed that, “The techniques used to keep children hooked include the infinite scroll and auto-play features. Social media platform users are continuously fed a stream of content. This makes it incredibly difficult for children to disengage — there’s always something new to watch, like, or comment on.”

According to her, “This leverages the brain’s natural desire for instant gratification, with the constant delivery of new content triggering dopamine releases, which keeps children hooked. These continuous dopamine releases interfere with brain development and can lead to negative consequences. By keeping kids scrolling and watching for longer periods, more data is collected about their interests and preferences. This data can then be used to fine-tune recommendations, which further increase engagement. It’s a terrible loop.”

Dr Burrows said the dangers of social media addiction are real. “Constant comparison with others on social media can lead to body image issues, feelings of inadequacy, and anxiety. Studies have shown a correlation between heavy social media usage and depression, anxiety, self-harm, and extreme dieting among teenagers, particularly girls.

“Excessive screen time, especially before bed, affects the quality and duration of sleep, which is crucial for a child’s development. There have been many cases where children’s academic performance and behavior have worsened due to a lack of sleep from late-night social media use. "

She added: “Social media platforms are breeding grounds for cyberbullying, which can have devastating effects on children’s mental health. In some tragic cases, it has led to self-harm or even suicide. Paradoxically, excessive time spent on social media can reduce face-to-face interactions, leading to loneliness and a lack of social skills. Research consistently confirms this.”

Meanwhile, Daniel Herbert, Managing Director of Fixby, which has been distributing “phone pouches” to students across several schools in the UAE, said, “As a group of educators and parents, we’ve all seen the growing challenge mobile phones pose in schools. They’re incredible tools, but during the school day, they often create distractions that disrupt focus, learning, and even social interactions, leaving no room for kids to enjoy being kids.

"The motivation behind introducing phone pouches in the UAE was simple: We wanted to create a solution that doesn’t just ban phones but manages them in a way that keeps students engaged and teachers in control of their classrooms.”

As he sees it, “It’s about balance—letting students keep their phones with them but ensuring they’re out of sight and out of mind until the end of the day. Seeing the positive impact this has had on learning environments has been incredibly rewarding.”

“Phone pouches provide a secure, easy-to-use storage solution designed for schools. Each student places their phone in the padded fabric pouch and locks it with the press of a button. The device remains inside the pouch, magnetically locked, until it is unlocked at an assigned unlocking station. This simple but effective approach ensures that phones don’t distract students during lessons, helping to create a focused learning environment with engaged students,” claimed Herbert.

According to him, research shows that it can take up to 20 minutes for a student to regain focus after an alert or vibration from their phone, and in an average 40-minute lesson, that can be a significant amount of lesson time lost. “The benefits go beyond just academic focus. Teachers report smoother classroom management, and parents love that their children can concentrate on building relationships and engaging in real-world experiences,” he claimed.

As a parent coach and screentime consultant, Dr Alison Burrows suggests a ‘4M Framework for Screentime’ to parents:

• Model - Children often mimic the behavior of adults. If parents demonstrate healthy screen time habits and prioritize offline activities, children are more likely to follow suit.

• Monitor - Parents should monitor their children’s online presence, ensuring they are not engaging in harmful activities such as cyberbullying or viewing.

• Moderate - Parents can moderate their child’s screen time by setting clear limits, creating tech-free zones, using parental control tools, and encouraging a balance of offline activities like sports or hobbies. Open communication about the reasons for these limits, leading by example, and offering rewards for responsible screen use can also help children develop healthier digital habits.

• Mentor - Mentoring children to use technology appropriately involves guiding them to make responsible choices about content, set healthy boundaries, and understand the impact of excessive screen time on their well-being and developing brain. Offer support through open communication and discuss the benefits and risks of digital tools, to help children develop a balanced relationship with technology.

She said, “Many apps now offer screen time tracking and limits. Using these tools can help children and parents stay aware of usage, curb excessive time spent online, and block their children from accessing harmful content. Make specific times for using screens, create a routine, and prevent mindless scrolling throughout the day.”

She also advised outdoor play, reading, sports, and other hobbies that require focus and real social interaction. “Encouraging regular breaks from screens, such as one day a week or during vacations, can help children reset and improve their mental well-being,” she said, adding, “Create a pact with other parents, such as a screen-free playdate pact. Also, many parents are coming together and banning smartphones until their children are older and not allowing social media until their children are 16. When parents do this together, kids are not singled out.”