Getting Rid of Mobile Addiction

Techniques to Get Rid of Mobile Addiction

Following are the different ways to eliminate the perplexity between using and abusing mobile phones. This will assist in clearing the fog on how to utilize the services provided by a mobile phone wisely without getting habituated to it.

Reinforcement-It is a stimulus which has the tendency to increase the possibility of a desired response.
Positive reinforcement-The child or even an adult can be given a reward or introduced with a favorable outcome whenever they stop fiddling with their cellphones. For example, ‘I will cook your favorite dish only when you will not use mobile phone for 1 hour’.
Negative reinforcement-The responses that lead to the avoidance of unfavorable consequences. Provide this form of reinforcement. For instance, if a mother says this to her child repeatedly, ‘Your eyesight will weaken if you will use cellphones for more than an hour everyday’. Through this the child can learn to use his mobile phone minimally.
Differential reinforcement-In this the positive reinforcement for the desirable behavior and negative reinforcement for the undesired behavior can be given simultaneously.
Partial reinforcement is the best form of reinforcement because it keeps the person curious to know ‘what next’ and ‘when’ he will be rewarded for his performance. This sustains his impulse and drives for further improvement.
Token Economy-The rewards in the form of cherished dishes, vacation or any other small outings can be arranged in return of the tokens collected by the child. For instance, the tokens can be given by the parent whenever the child uses mobile phones for only an hour each day. Hence, the tokens are or motivating the child for portraying desired behavior.
Symbol of leisure or spare time-Mobile phones should be avoided during the official work hours. As mobile phones should be operated when a person gets free from work to read the messages, notifications etc.
Introduction to mobile phones at an appropriate age – These days parents’ hand over the mobile phones to their infants whenever he/she cries or creates tantrums so that they can focus on their work. During this course they streamline their child in associating throwing of tantrums with attractive features of mobile phones. This poses danger for a child’s health and development. As hazardous radiations and chemical are released from the cellphones.
Give books, dictionaries, Rubik’s Cube, jigsaw puzzles to solve etc. to distract minds of children and even adults from cellphones. These activities keep them occupied and enhance their cognitive abilities as well.
Disseminating information in schools, offices, public places regarding the health hazards of the mobile phones. Educating and spreading awareness through posters, seminars can be of great support to reduce the use of mobile phones.