The Conceptual Model on Smart Phone Addiction among
Early Childhood
according to brain wave test. Furthermore, smart phone does
not fit early childhood development stage because it is a very
passive tool which you just sit down and absorb the
knowledge. The function of frontal lobe in brain which relates
to the ability to think, judge, and concentrate is damaged, so
that normal brain development is hindered.
Researchers have pointed out that the brain structure
becomes like 'popcorn brain', which is dull to reality. There
are research results that show smart phones cause Attention
Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Similarly,
according to a recent research about smart phone addiction
among adolescents by National Youth Policy Institute, one
out of three is at risk of addiction nationally. The same result
is found in ‘2012 Survey of Internet Addiction’ by Ministry of
Science, ICT and Future Planning, which shows the rate of
smart phone addiction among children reaching twice of
adults'.
Due to the advent of educational applications, according to
game auditing committee's research, the first average age to
start playing games has become lower from 2009 5 to 2012
4.8. Average number of playing games in a week is 3.7 from
age 3 to 9 and 3 from age 9 to 18. Also in physical aspect,
overuse of smart phone can cause VDT (Visual Display
Terminal) which makes young children to wear glasses.
Amount of physical exercise has also decreased which
interferes with physical growth and development. Mentally,
children with smart phone or game addiction are deprived of
the ability to sympathize with other children and become
aggressive which make them difficult to make friends. These
negative results imply that IT tools should not be used as
means to take care of children.
Therefore, in this study, conceptual framework comprised
of antecedents and consequences affecting smart phone
addiction among early childhood will be proposed.