A toddler who is possibly a little over a year old, was lounging in a chair. His eyes wide open as he stared at the tablet on the table in front of him, oblivious to the spoonfuls of food being fed to him.

"Must be cartoons," I thought to myself.

As I continued my observation, I realised the child's eyes hardly blinked and not a peep was heard from him.

Before such gadgets were introduced, mothers would engage their child's attention during feeding by talking to them or singing rhymes. How times have changed!

I also witnessed children in strollers transfixed on the screens of mobile phones or kids tablets. Clearly today's children have been exposed to some really expensive and sophisticated toys right from the start.

Back in the old days, children would sit contentedly with a pacifier, plastic item or box to keep them occupied.

In another scenario, two teenage girls were walking side by side but to the writer's amusement, both were in their own worlds with their mobile phones. They barely glanced each other as they took steps forward.


Nothing unusual

These scenarios may not be strange to most people. It happens everywhere, from restaurants to hospital waiting areas and the airport.

At the office, take a look around and see how many colleagues are hovering over their communication gadgets!

When there are mobile phones, there will also be selfies. A report in Washington recently revealed that the younger generation of today will take over 25,000 selfies in their life.

Some may find the figure hard to believe, but if we are to calculate the number of selfies posted by our friends daily, weekly, monthly and yearly, this figure is not far-fetched.

The selfie has now extended to the wefie, whereby more than once person is involved in the selfie act.


No longer a luxury

Mobile phones, which were once considered a luxury, are now essential. Everyone has one, even people in the low income group will have at least one per household.

In families that are more well off everyone will have at least a mobile phone, excluding tablets.

Some people have become so attached to their gadgets that they cannot leave the house without them and would turn back should they forget!

"It's difficult to be without a mobile phone," they would say.

That is how important mobile phones have become in our daily life.


Gadget generation

Besides mobile phones, there are a number of other gadgets that youths cannot bear to part with and take along wherever they go.

Laptops are essential to college and university students as it helps them to explore the internet, send e-mails and carry out research for assignments.

Tablets too have become indispensable. Not only can it access data and e-mails, but also allows users to read e-books, surf the web and play games.

For those who cannot live without music, an iPod is a perfect companion on the bus or train, while studying or exercising. Once the headphones are on the ears, it's like drifting into a different world.


Social effect

It is undeniable that electronic gadgets have their advantages. However, it also comes with negative effects.

It can also be said that people who spend too much time with such gadgets will lose their interpersonal communications skill.

There is a possibility that addiction to gadgets may contribute to the weakening of family bonds.

Imagine what would happen if a child is constantly dangled with a gadget to behave. Wouldn't the gadget mean more to the child than the parents? The child will no longer heed the voice of the mother or father, and take comfort in cartoon images and sounds that dance on the screen before the child.

Parents with teenagers should monitor how much is spent on top-up cards and phone bills, as well as how much time they spend locked up in their rooms busy with social media.

When they are out of the house they would only send an SMS or WhatsApp message to their parents instead of calling.

Each day the parents and children get distant, so who is to blame when the child is closer to their gadgets and friends?

Sorry to say, but aren't the parents the ones who allowed it to happen?

Weren't the parents who gave them gadgets on the pretext of love? Weren't the parents who failed to educate their children on how to use gadgets and set rules on its usage?

Now think about it again! – Melati Mohd Ariff

This commentary is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect Bernama’s stand or views on the matter.