新华视点|“护娃神器”儿童电话手表真能放心护娃吗？

Core Viewpoint - The increasing functionality of children's smartwatches, originally designed for safety, has led to concerns about children's addiction to social features and inappropriate content, raising questions about the balance between safety and convenience [1][8]. Group 1: Social Dynamics and Behavioral Issues - Children are engaging in social comparisons through features like "likes" on their smartwatch profiles, which are seen as symbols of social status among peers [3][6]. - The design of these smartwatches encourages children to spend excessive time on them to earn points and rewards, leading to potential addiction and negative impacts on their social skills and emotional development [6][8]. - Parents report that their children are spending significant amounts of time, sometimes exceeding 10 hours a day, on these devices, focusing on accumulating points and social interactions [6]. Group 2: Safety and Security Concerns - The evolution of children's smartwatches has introduced risks related to information security, as some devices lack adequate safety features, making them vulnerable to data breaches [10]. - There are reports of children being exposed to inappropriate content through these devices, including explicit images and messages from unverified contacts [11]. - The presence of subscription services and in-app purchases has raised concerns about the potential for inducing children to spend money without parental consent [9]. Group 3: Regulatory and Parental Guidance - Experts emphasize the need for stricter regulations on children's electronic products, highlighting that companies should bear greater responsibility for the content provided to minors [19][20]. - Recent initiatives by regulatory bodies aim to address the issues surrounding children's use of smart devices, focusing on content safety and the prevention of addiction [19]. - Collaborative management between parents and schools is recommended to guide children in healthy social interactions and to establish effective rules for device usage [20].