THE PROBLEM OF GADGET ADDICTION AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUTH: SELECTED ASPECTS

Abstract

The relevance of the article’ topic is determined by the need to search for pedagogical (educational, upbringing) technologies, which will help reduce the negative impact of modern gadgets on the physical and psycho-emotional health of children and youth. The purpose of the scientific research is to analyze some literary sources, the authors of which represent the relevance of the problem of gadget addiction among children and youth, the essence of this problem and possible forms, methods and means of preventing gadget abuse. The following methods were used in the process of scientific research: source heuristics; comparison; method of knowledge system analysis; comparative method. The names of Ukrainian personalities (D. Vakulenko, D. Goshovska, Zh. Hunchevska, S. Dribas, M. Markovska, O. Petrunko, Y. Skvarka, K. Fuchs), who are researching the problem of human gadget addiction have been announced. It has been noted that the pedagogical segment of works on the relevant topic is increasingly filled with new topics. It is noted that the range of domestic works that systematically address the problem of gadget addiction among children and youth is very narrow, therefore, it is too early to talk about significant and conceptual research in this area of science. The conceptual tools used by researchers of the problem of gadget addiction are outlined, namely: «phonoholism», «gadget addiction», «internet addiction», «internet generation», «glass screen generation», «always-on generation», etc. A number of studies by foreign researchers (A. Hansen, M. Dembski, D. Drevit, N. Kardaras, G. Kasdepke, B. Kosmovska, Y. Miner, M. Soroka-Ossovska, D. Shapiro, N. Yavorska-Dukhlinska) related to the problem of preventing gadget addiction among children and adolescents were analyzed. Based on the study of the works of domestic and foreign researchers, some appropriate forms, methods, and means of preventing gadget abuse are presented, such as: «wooden boxes»; creating a map of joint family walks; «digital detox»; «traffic light therapy»; deleting mobile apps; turning off notifications; determining the time and place for using (not using) the phone; modeling «healthy» technology use - a positive example for parents; permanent improvement of parents’ competence regarding new mobile applications and the latest social media trends; conversations with the child about possible risks that may result from prolonged and uncontrolled use of gadgets. It was concluded that neither in Ukraine nor in foreign countries there are yet any systematic approaches to building the right relationships between children and youth with social networks, there are also no properly developed strategies for preventing gadget addiction among children and youth. A promising field for further directions of scientific research in the field of preventing gadget addiction among students has been identified.