Analysis of the increase in technology addiction during the Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences in childhood

Abstract

Childhood is composed of biological and psychosocial transitions, which enable the acquisition of motor, cognitive, and affective-social domains of development. With the onset of the covid-19 pandemic in 2020 the WHO recommended that preventive measures be taken, such as closing schools as well as public places, a fact that culminated in distancing from friends and family. This has led to a greater proximity of children to technology, thus increasing their exposure to screens. According to the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, the use of television, tablets, and computers should be equivalent to the child's age, monitored by those responsible in order to avoid excessive use. In this context, the objective of this project was to analyze the technological addictions of 4th and 5th grade students from Elementary School I in the city of Votuporanga-SP, developed before and during the Pandemic by Covid-19, and its impacts on the children's mental health. The data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire designed to evaluate the behavior of the children regarding the use of technology and lifestyle habits, in a qualitative and quantitative way. Our results showed that the pandemic period favored a greater access to digital equipment by children, due to their use for school activities. The increased use of cell phones created the possibility of distraction with games, videos, and participation in social networks. However, they emphasized that they prefer games involving physical activity to simply using screens. We also observed that it is of fundamental importance that parents/guardians accompany the children in stimulating family interaction.