Today’s digital babysitter may become tomorrow’s lifelong habit. – AI generated image
WALK into almost any restaurant today and a familiar scene unfolds. Families sit around a table, yet conversations are scarce. Couples share a meal, yet their attention is fixed elsewhere. Children, teenagers and adults alike stare intently at their smartphones, scrolling through social media, watching videos or responding to messages.
Ironically, people have never been more connected technologically, yet many appear increasingly disconnected from one another. I have witnessed this countless times at dining tables where everyone is physically present but mentally absent. Instead of sharing stories, exchanging ideas or simply enjoying each other’s company, conversations are interrupted by the constant pull of digital devices. The glow of smartphone screens illuminates faces that rarely look up.
The same behaviour can be seen almost everywhere. Walk through a shopping mall and we will find people navigating the crowd with their eyes fixed on their phones. Some scroll endlessly through social media while others are immersed in games or short videos, seemingly oblivious to those around them. We have become a society, perhaps even a nation, of scrollers and gamers. Such scenes raise an important question: Are we raising a generation addicted to screens?
Technology has undoubtedly transformed our lives for the better. Smartphones have placed the world’s knowledge at our fingertips. Communication across continents is instantaneous, students have access to educational resources that previous generations could only dream about, businesses operate more efficiently and information flows more freely than ever before. The challenge lies not in technology itself but in the way we use it and the extent to which it dominates our daily lives.
Many parents today face a dilemma. Smartphones and tablets are valuable tools for education, communication and entertainment. Yet they can just as easily become convenient digital babysitters. Children are exposed to screens at increasingly younger ages. It is now common to see toddlers watching videos during meals while shopping or travelling in cars. What begins as harmless entertainment can gradually become a habit, and eventually, a dependency.
The consequences extend well beyond family interactions. Excessive screen time affects attention spans, concentration and the ability to engage in meaningful face-to-face conversations. Many educators report that students struggle to remain focused for extended periods because they have become accustomed to the constant stimulation of short videos, instant notifications and endless scrolling.
Its impact is equally evident in education. In the past, students conducting research visited libraries, consulted multiple sources and evaluated information critically. The process demanded patience, analysis and independent thinking. Today, information can be retrieved within seconds through search engines and artificial intelligence. While this offers tremendous advantages, it also presents new challenges. Increasingly, students seek answers rather than understanding.
Assignments that once required careful research and critical thinking can now be completed by typing a prompt into an artificial intelligence platform. The issue is not artificial intelligence itself but the temptation to accept its responses without questioning their accuracy, reliability or relevance. Education is about learning the way to think, not merely finding answers.
Students who rely entirely on cut-and-paste solutions may enjoy short-term convenience but they risk losing the ability to analyse problems independently, evaluate evidence and develop original ideas. These competencies remain essential skills in a world where information is abundant but wisdom remains scarce.
The challenge extends beyond the classroom. Social media platforms are carefully designed to capture and retain attention. Every notification, like and recommendation is intended to keep users engaged, making many reach for their phones almost instinctively.
Moments that once invited reflection are now filled with scrolling. Waiting in line, sitting in a café or riding in a lift has become an opportunity to check a screen rather than observe the world around us. Gradually, we are losing the ability to be present in the moment.
Perhaps the greatest casualty of excessive screen use is conversation. Strong families are built by sharing experiences, discussing challenges and listening to one another. Yet these simple habits are increasingly displaced by screens competing for attention. In many homes, family members sit together in the same room while each occupies a different digital world.
The effects further extend to physical health. More screen time usually means less physical activity. Many young people spend hours each day watching videos, browsing social media or playing video games. The result is growing concern over obesity, poor posture, eye strain and increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Human beings are meant to move. Physical activity strengthens the body, improves cardiovascular health and enhances overall well-being.
This reality raises another question: When did esports become a sport? Esports undoubtedly demands skill, strategy, teamwork and mental agility. However, it differs fundamentally from traditional sports because it lacks the capacity to develop physical strength, endurance or fitness. This recognition reflects the need to distinguish screen-based competition from physical exercise rather than diminish esports. Young people still need opportunities to play outdoors, participate in sports and experience the physical, mental and social benefits of active living.
Technology should complement life rather than replace it. Smartphones, artificial intelligence and digital technologies will continue to shape our future. The challenge is to ensure that these tools remain under our control rather than the other way around.
Parents, educators and policymakers all have important roles to play. Families can establish screen-free periods during meals and family gatherings while schools should teach digital literacy alongside critical thinking. Malaysia’s ban on social media access for children under the age of 16, which took effect on 1 June 2026, is a timely measure to curb excessive screen time among young people. Although no law can replace responsible parenting or personal discipline, the policy sends a clear message that protecting children’s mental, emotional and social development is a shared responsibility. Students should learn not only the way to use artificial intelligence effectively but also the way to question, verify and evaluate the information it provides.
Young people equally need opportunities that screens are unable to provide. Sports, outdoor recreation, volunteering, reading, music, public speaking and community service all contribute to personal growth in ways that digital interactions fail to fully replicate. These experiences build confidence, resilience, empathy and interpersonal skills that no app can replace.
Technology has transformed society in remarkable ways, and its benefits are undeniable. Yet every generation faces the challenge of managing powerful new tools responsibly. The answer may lie in the everyday scenes unfolding around us, in restaurants, shopping malls, homes and public spaces, where one question remains: Are we raising a generation that controls technology or one controlled by it?
The answer depends on the choices we make today. Government policies such as restricting social media access for children can help but lasting change begins at home, in schools and within our communities. If we teach young people to think critically, communicate meaningfully and maintain a healthy balance between the digital and physical worlds, technology will remain a powerful servant rather than become a master. The future of the next generation may well depend on the choices we make today.
Dr Richard A. Gontusan is a Human Resource Skills Training and Investment Consultant. He writes on academic, economic, political and social issues. His views expressed in this article are not necessarily the views of The Borneo Post.
