WHO Advocates for Laws Restricting Smartphone Use
A prominent WHO expert has advocated for measures to address smartphone addiction. Read the full article on RT.com.
TroibNews 
Experts are urging countries to impose restrictions on the use of smartphones and other handheld devices among young individuals to mitigate the harm caused by these gadgets. Dr. Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, WHO Director of the Division of Country Health Policies and Systems, likened the situation to that of tobacco addiction, suggesting that efforts to curb dependence on communication devices should be approached similarly.
“Maybe we need to think about where it is appropriate to use digital devices, and maybe it’s also time to start thinking about places where certain digital devices should not be used,” she stated in an interview with PMG magazine during the European Health Forum in Gastein, Austria.
The proposed measures could include the implementation of age restrictions and designated “no-go zones,” analogous to smoking bans in particular areas.
“As with anything else, you can use these tools well and effectively,” Azzopardi-Muscat emphasized. “But we have to be careful, because we have a portion of the population who are reporting problematic use.”
The expert highlighted that the overuse of gadgets adversely affects mental health and can undermine education and “productivity in the workforce.”
“The evidence needs to be collated systematically, and then we need to see what is likely to work, and what is the approach that we want to take,” she remarked, stressing the urgency of taking “actions and decisions.”
Governments worldwide have become increasingly concerned about the impact of electronic devices on young people's well-being, particularly as smartphone and social media usage has become nearly universal among teenagers.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has pledged to develop strategies to address “excessive screen time and addictive practices” endemic in today’s digital landscape. “My heart bleeds when I read about young people harming themselves or even taking their lives because of online abuse,” she expressed in July.
Some countries, including England and Greece, have already initiated measures to restrict minors' access to gadgets, such as banning mobile phones from schools.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
“Maybe we need to think about where it is appropriate to use digital devices, and maybe it’s also time to start thinking about places where certain digital devices should not be used,” she stated in an interview with PMG magazine during the European Health Forum in Gastein, Austria.
The proposed measures could include the implementation of age restrictions and designated “no-go zones,” analogous to smoking bans in particular areas.
“As with anything else, you can use these tools well and effectively,” Azzopardi-Muscat emphasized. “But we have to be careful, because we have a portion of the population who are reporting problematic use.”
The expert highlighted that the overuse of gadgets adversely affects mental health and can undermine education and “productivity in the workforce.”
“The evidence needs to be collated systematically, and then we need to see what is likely to work, and what is the approach that we want to take,” she remarked, stressing the urgency of taking “actions and decisions.”
Governments worldwide have become increasingly concerned about the impact of electronic devices on young people's well-being, particularly as smartphone and social media usage has become nearly universal among teenagers.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has pledged to develop strategies to address “excessive screen time and addictive practices” endemic in today’s digital landscape. “My heart bleeds when I read about young people harming themselves or even taking their lives because of online abuse,” she expressed in July.
Some countries, including England and Greece, have already initiated measures to restrict minors' access to gadgets, such as banning mobile phones from schools.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
