In 2050, 70% of children in Europe It is expected to show myopia due to continuous use of mobile phones, tablets and screens. This alarming element was presented by the Pediatrician and President of the Thessaloniki Medical Association, Nikos Nitsas, speaking at the event on “Effect of Gaming, Internet and Mobile on Children and Adolescents”, organized by IST as part of the 89th TIF. As he pointed out, the consequences of the long use of electronic devices are distinguished in two main categories: digital ocular fatigue, with symptoms such as dryness, tearing, stinging and headaches, and the rapid increase in myopia due to constant close -up. The absence of statutory preventive control in our country, he added, makes the problem even more intense.

Mr Nitsas also presented the new potential of medicine to limit myopia, such as special glasses, contact lenses and the use of low doses of atropine, which has been approved by the European Medicines Agency. He clarified, however, that the glasses for the so -called “blue radiation” have not, scientifically, proved effectively.

In addition, it recommended when using screens: breaks per 30 minutes for children and apply the 20-20-20-20 rule for adults, that is, every 20 minutes to look at 20 seconds to an object at a distance of 20 feet. It recommended that parents limit the use of mobile phones and tablets, often encourage breaks, keep at least 30 cm from the screen, and provide children with daily exposure to natural light.

Finally, he emphasized that the problem is not only medical but also social and added that it is sad to see children in a company, instead of talking to each other, to be immersed on the mobile. “Children are the mirror of the parents; if the parent spends all day with the mobile, he cannot ask his child to do differently,” he said in a sense that there are two applications of gov.gr that can be a useful tool for parental control.

100% of adolescents in Greece are abusing mobile, tablets and screens

In Greece, children use too much mobile, tablets and computers from a very young age, well beyond international safe exposure. The pediatrician/pediatrician and assistant professor of Pediatrics at the University of Ioannina, Efterpi Pavlidou, pointed out that already in infants of 12-24 months, 40-60% comes in contact with screens for 30-60 minutes a day, while children 2-6 years old. At ages 6-12, use goes up at 7-8 hours and in adolescence can reach up to 10 hours, with the percentage of adolescents abusing 100%.

However, according to the WHO Academy of Pediatrics, the safe report must be zero for infants 0-2 years, up to 1 hour daily for children 2-5 years (not every day and mainly for educational purposes), up to 2 hours for ages 6-12 and up to 3 hours for teenagers 12-18 years.

This abuse, according to Mrs Pavlidou, does not cause immediate developmental diseases, but can aggravate neurodevelopmental difficulties, such as distraction or autism spectrum. Continuous exposure to blue light disrupts sleep, while lack of interaction and natural play reduces synogenesis, critical to smooth neuro -development.

Mrs Pavlidou stressed that proper guidance, exposure limits, alternation of activities and encouraging natural play are essential for the healthy cognitive and emotional development of children.

New kinds of addiction on the internet

AUTH Psychiatrist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, George Floros, stressed that online activities that have more often negative consequences for children and adolescents have changed significantly in recent years. If earlier addiction was mainly found in electronic games, affecting boys more, social networks today take the first place, with increasing more girls affected. At the same time, he noted that continuous exposure to images, messages and beauty standards enhances insecurities around the body and identity, while hours in front of the screen often replace live socialization, play and school performance. He also said that there is a significant increase in online markets, where companies combine advertising, fashion, gambling and gaming, creating new forms of dependency.

Mr Floros emphasized that the internet and gaming industry uses algorithms and scroll techniques, similar to gambling, to keep children connected, increasing advertising revenue and online markets. Institutional initiatives are needed at European and national level to limit the harmful consequences and to protect the mental health of young people.