Today, the prolonged use of mobile phones by children, especially those under the age of 12, has become a serious concern for families. Experts warn that this growing habit disrupts children’s concentration, learning, and social development. Many families worry about the psychological and behavioral effects they see taking shape in their children’s daily lives. Mobile phone addiction among children under 12 deeply affects mental health, attention span, and social interaction. When children spend long hours on their phones, they pay less attention to schoolwork, struggle to focus on activities, fall behind in social skills, and face increasing psychological challenges.
Families openly voice their concerns about the harmful effects of excessive mobile phone use. Many stress the need for safe and engaging spaces where children can play, explore, and enjoy themselves, rather than relying heavily on screens for entertainment.
Farkhunda Mohseni, a mother of three and a resident of Kabul, shares her experience: “My children spend two to three hours each day playing games and watching videos on their mobile phones. Because there are no proper places to play, no parks or recreational areas, they entertain themselves briefly and then quickly lose interest. To fill the empty time, they turn back to mobile games. Sometimes I notice that their focus on schoolwork fades, and their attention shifts almost entirely to the games.”
Teachers see the same patterns inside classrooms. Lina Taraki, a teacher at an educational center, explains: “Children who spend long hours with mobile phones and social media gradually lose their ability to concentrate. Their minds drift away from their main goals. Along with poor focus, they also lose interest in playing with friends and joining group activities.” She stresses that families must actively manage the time children spend on mobile phones. By prioritizing educational content, parents can play a key role in protecting children’s growth and learning from the negative effects of excessive screen use.
Nasir Ahmad Ahmadi, another resident of Kabul, describes a similar struggle at home: “My younger son is seven years old. After coming back from school, he spends about three to four hours on a mobile phone during his free time. After playing games or watching videos, his concentration drops, and he sometimes becomes aggressive. There are moments when he leaves his schoolwork unfinished. When I limit his phone use, he gets upset and starts crying. My biggest worry is that long hours on the phone will harm his social development, behavior, and mental health.”
Child psychologists also warn families about the serious consequences of excessive mobile phone use and urge them to take the issue seriously.
Rohina Erfani, a psychologist, explains: “Excessive mobile phone use can lead to anxiety, depression, sleep problems, reduced social interaction, and aggressive behavior in children. When children become restless or irritable without a phone, it may signal behavioral dependence. Over time, they lose the ability to control how long they use digital devices.”
She points to several causes behind this growing problem, including easy access to mobile phones and tablets, the strong appeal of games and social media, limited physical activity, weak social interaction, and the influence of parental behavior. She also highlights the lack of proper time management when educational and entertainment content mix. “In many cases, especially in countries like Afghanistan, parents lack awareness about the negative effects of mobile phones,” she says. “To keep their children calm for a short time, they hand them a phone or tablet without setting limits, often without realizing the long-term harm.”
Ms. Erfani also outlines ways to prevent the problem. “Parents should set clear limits on mobile phone use, stay involved with their children, and replace screen time with physical activity and social interaction,” she says. “Teaching media skills and digital literacy helps children develop a healthy and controlled relationship with technology.”
At the same time, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF advise that children under one year old should not be exposed to screens at all. They also recommend that children aged one to four should spend no more than one hour a day using mobile phones or tablets. Following these guidelines helps parents support safe and balanced growth in the digital age and reduces the harm caused by prolonged screen use.
In recent years, children’s use of mobile phones and tablets has increased sharply across the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF warn that children under five should have minimal exposure to screens, as prolonged use can threaten mental health and social development. Research shows that even children aged six to 12 can lose focus and learning ability when they become overly engaged with mobile phones or social media.
You can read the Persian version of this report here: