Select Page

What are the dangers of screens and social media for children?

by | Identity Verification

minors identitty

Recently, I gave a talk to parents at my children’s school about the impact of screens, technology, and social media on children. It really made me reflect on the importance of strengthening identity verification processes to protect young people, as many of the dangers lurking online stem from fake accounts and false identities.

While my work at Mobbeel gave me the credibility to speak on the subject, I was also very aware of the many mistakes I make in my own daily life and how much there is still to learn.

I want to make one thing clear: technology itself is neither good nor bad—it all depends on how we use it.

This has led to two opposing viewpoints. One side advocates for stricter identity verification measures to enhance security, while the other prioritises personal freedom, arguing that government authorities are trying to control us and undermine our privacy.

As always, it’s a difficult debate. I believe the key lies in finding the right balance.

What Are the Risks of Excessive Screen Time and Technology Use for Children?

Technological dependence

App and social media designers use a range of techniques to keep children—and users in general—engaged. These techniques, rooted in behavioural economics, psychology, and neuroscience, are specifically designed to exploit the vulnerabilities of the human mind.

Picture this: you’re sitting on the sofa, taking a five-minute break, but the moment you pick up your phone… bam! You’re lost in an endless sea of posts, videos, and memes. Sound familiar? That’s no accident.

Free-to-play games and social media apps are built to keep you hooked. The longer you stay on them, the more ads they can show you—and the more money they make. It’s as simple as that. Their creators aren’t looking out for your well-being, or your child’s. Their only goal is profit, and to achieve that, they need to keep you glued to the screen.

One of their most effective tricks is infinite scrolling—you keep swiping down, but there’s never an end. There’s always something else waiting for you. You’ll see it on every social media platform: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook…

And if you do manage to pull yourself away, notifications are there to drag you back in. I once tried to “quit” Instagram by deleting the app. A few weeks later, I started getting email notifications—little hooks to lure me back. And they worked. Before I knew it, I was back, scrolling through my favourite social network on the web version instead.

A new like, a comment, an update—everything is designed to make you open the app again and again.

But the most addictive element of all is social validation. Have you ever felt a rush of happiness when your post gets loads of likes or positive comments? It’s like a little burst of instant gratification. Experts say this can make us dependent on external approval to feel good about ourselves. It all comes down to dopamine—the neurotransmitter that rewards us with pleasure when we receive immediate gratification. And once you start chasing that feeling, it’s hard to stop.

In the documentary The Social Dilemma, former Google ethicist Tristan Harris puts it bluntly: “We are training a generation that, when they feel lonely or uncomfortable, they turn to these ‘digital pacifiers’ to soothe themselves.” The problem? Over time, we lose the ability to deal with difficult emotions without a screen in front of us.

So next time you reach for your phone without thinking… maybe it’s time to ask yourself: who’s really in control—you or the app?

Impact on health and development

 

  • Psychological and cognitive problems

You don’t need me to tell you—anyone with children or who spends time around young kids knows exactly how screens and gaming consoles affect them.

I see it firsthand with my own son. The moment I take his console away, his mood shifts instantly—he becomes more irritable, frustrated, and restless.

Children today have far less patience, and screens, short-form videos, and social media are a big part of the reason. They’re constantly bombarded with fast, instant, and never-ending stimuli, so when they’re suddenly faced with the natural pace of the real world, they struggle to cope. Boredom is inevitable.

And don’t even get me started on modern books.

Try this: pick up a book from a series you read as a child and compare it to a current edition of the same one. Notice anything different? Today’s books rarely have paragraphs longer than two or three lines and are filled with illustrations. Give your child the old version, and chances are they’ll throw it straight back at you.

All of this inevitably leads to a decline in young people’s ability to focus, memorise, and retain information

The physical impact of excessive screen time on young people

It’s not just mental well-being that’s at risk—excessive use of technology can also take a toll on children’s physical health. In fact, for children under six, prolonged screen exposure has even been linked to changes in brain development.

Some of the potential consequences of too much screen time include:

  • Sleep disturbances
  • Nervous tics
  • Headaches
  • Vision problems
  • Musculoskeletal issues
  • Obesity
  • And more…

Accessing inappropriate content

Technology has unlocked endless opportunities, but it also exposes children to content that isn’t always age-appropriate. The internet doesn’t differentiate between adults and minors; it’s full of dark corners where young minds can stumble upon material that may impact their emotional and psychological development.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest risks:

Pornographic Content

Access to pornography is easier than ever. With a simple search or shared link, minors can easily come across explicit material that not only isn’t intended for them but can also distort their understanding of sexuality and relationships.

For this reason, the government is considering implementing systems that would verify the age of users wishing to visit adult websites.

We can all agree that sexual education should come from parents and schools, not from websites that often present an unrealistic and harmful portrayal of sex.

Online gambling and betting

Online betting platforms have turned the internet into a goldmine, and while many have age restrictions, minors can easily bypass them with false information. The risks here aren’t just financial loss but also the development of an addiction that could affect them for the rest of their lives. Problem gambling among young people is a growing concern, and online betting provides a dangerous gateway.

At Mobbeel, we work with many online gambling and betting companies on user verification processes to ensure that minors and individuals listed in gambling addiction databases cannot register.

Content with Offensive and Abusive Language

Children are exposed to insults, threats, and aggressive language on social media, online games, and streaming platforms. While it might initially seem harmless, the normalisation of this kind of communication can impact the way they interact with others and even influence their behaviour in the real world, when they engage with people face to face.

Forums and Websites Promoting Dangerous Behaviours

The internet hosts spaces that encourage extreme and harmful ideas.

There are communities and forums where young people support each other in their struggles with eating disorders, perpetuating dangerous conditions like anorexia or bulimia.

There are spaces that recruit followers for almost any cause—terrorism, racism, or even gender transition. Children and teenagers, in their search for identity and belonging, may find themselves caught up in these environments without fully realising the risks involved.

Video Games with Extreme Violence

Not all video games are harmful, but some contain graphic violence, torture, or cruel behaviour that could desensitise young minds.

Be Careful What Children Share!

The danger doesn’t just lie in what they consume, but also in what they share. The threat is two-way.

Our children may unknowingly share photos, personal data, or sensitive information without understanding the potential consequences for both themselves and their families.

Algorithms: polarisation and privacy

Polarisation of algorithms

As of today, although I suspect not for much longer, Google remains the world’s leading search engine.

I say “not for much longer” because trends are showing that we are increasingly using AI chatbots for all kinds of searches, leading to the rise of zero-click answers.

The second biggest search engine is YouTube.

Do you know which is the third largest search engine? … TikTok!

Our young people, our children, won’t turn to Google for information, nor will they compare news from different online newspapers. They won’t even watch the news on TV. Their primary and almost sole source of information will be AI chatbots and social media.

Contrary to what we all believe, TikTok is no longer just a social platform focused on entertainment for younger people. TikTok is a rapidly growing network that is now also used by adults of all ages. Moreover, its use, initially for fun, has expanded to include information and education.

But do you know what the problem with all this is? Exactly: we’re outsourcing the process of gathering information to the algorithm. We’ve moved from actively searching for information to passively receiving it, where an algorithm we don’t control decides what it should show us.

Information bubble!

 

Privacy and control of our data

Google stores an enormous amount of information and data on each of us – essentially a profile with all the searches we’ve made throughout our lives.

Furthermore, through various data collection mechanisms, the company knows where you’ve been, what you’ve searched for, which ads you’ve seen, what apps you use, which YouTube videos you watch, the events you’ve attended, the emails you send and receive, your photos, and even the information you’ve deleted.

And if this happens with Google, we can extend it to all social networks.

We’ve reached a point where tech companies know us better than we know ourselves, all in an effort to provide their clients with information to create highly targeted advertising.

Games: Addiction and Freebies

When something is free, it’s clear that you are the product.

Games with loot boxes, surprise boxes, packs, or envelopes that can be bought within the game without knowing what you’ll get, as well as those that include elements of chance like roulettes, create an addiction similar to what a gambling addict experiences when using a slot machine. We need to be very careful with these games because we could be creating tomorrow’s compulsive players.

In fact, there are already measures in place to regulate these mechanisms, and Spain is set to regulate the use of loot boxes in video games for minors.

Fake accounts and identity fraud

Identity verification in the Metaverse

The metaverse is a digital environment where interactions take place via avatars, which presents a major challenge when it comes to identity verification. How can we know who is truly behind an avatar? The lack of robust validation mechanisms can lead to impersonation and fraud.

In this context, it is essential to link a real identity to the avatar we use in the virtual world. One effective way to connect both identities—real and virtual—is by using digital onboarding technology to verify a person’s identity through their ID document and facial recognition.

By the way, in case you didn’t know, Fortnite and Roblox are metaverses. They are not decentralised metaverses because they are private and owned by companies, but they are still metaverses.

Identity validation in social media

Social media has historically been a breeding ground for fake accounts. This makes it easier to spread misinformation, commit fraud, and carry out anonymous harassment. Some countries are already implementing measures for users to verify their identity via official documents or biometric authentication.

Moreover, there is the danger of identity theft, where one user impersonates another on social media platforms.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is one of the biggest threats of the digital age. Insults, humiliation, defamation, and threats through social media, messaging apps like WhatsApp, or video games can have serious psychological consequences for minors.

Bullying has always existed, but in the digital world, the consequences can be far-reaching. The ease with which perpetrators can hide behind anonymous profiles makes the problem worse. That’s why it’s essential to educate children and teenagers about the responsible use of technology.

Grooming

Grooming is a form of abuse in which an adult pretends to be a minor to gain the trust of children and teenagers in order to exploit or manipulate them. This usually happens on social media, gaming platforms, and online chats. Identity verification and parental control play a key role in prevention, but it is also crucial to raise awareness among young people about the risks and the importance of not sharing personal information with strangers online.

Deepfakes

Deepfakes are videos, audios, or images manipulated using artificial intelligence to make someone appear to say or do something they never did. While this technology has legitimate uses, its malicious application can lead to misinformation, extortion, or defamation. Combatting deepfakes involves developing tools to detect manipulated content, as well as promoting critical thinking so users don’t fall for misinformation traps.

How can we protect minors online?

To protect children and minors on the internet, we can establish parental controls. These controls can be applied at various levels and in multiple ways:

  • At the application level (mobile, computer, or console). For example, Family Link.
  • At the operating system level (MAC, Windows) (screen time limits).
  • At the browser level (extensions, filters).
  • At the router level.
  • Blacklist/whitelist websites.
  • Keyword filters (“sex,” “porn,” etc.).

These controls are sufficient in most cases, but we must be aware that if a minor wants to bypass a parental control, they will find a way to do so. After all, you can’t fence in the entire world. Ultimately, education and awareness are the most powerful tools we have to protect minors.

Using proxies or VPNs to access content blocked in certain geographical areas, using incognito mode browsers, changing passwords, or even connecting to a neighbour’s Wi-Fi are just some of the techniques they might use to bypass these controls. We could delve deeper into these methods, but I’m sure you’ll agree with me that it’s better not to give them too many hints on how to “bypass” the controls, right?

Conclusion: solutions and practical tips for a healthy life

Our children are digital natives, and they have to grow up and develop in the era they’ve been born into. Therefore, the goal is not to become digital purists and eliminate any contact with mobile phones or computers, as technology is not inherently bad. The key is using it in the right way.

Some advice from experts includes:

  • Setting screen-free times, such as during meals or when spending family time together.
  • Disconnecting from technology and screens a couple of hours before bed.
  • Engaging in outdoor or offline activities: sports, reading, etc.
  • Educating and raising awareness about the dangers of sharing personal information online.

However, all these recommendations will be useless if we, as parents and role models, do not lead by example in our own homes.

As you can see, this is an issue that concerns us as a company. We could say that deepfakes or criminals hiding behind false identities are our Nemesis. We work tirelessly to prevent identity fraud and the abuse of children, but without proper education, all our efforts will be in vain.

Contact our team if you want to implement robust identity verification mechanisms in your organisation.

GUÍA

Identifica a tus usuarios mediante su cara

En esta dualidad analógico-digital, uno de los procesos que sigue siendo crucial para garantizar la seguridad es la verificación de identidad a través del reconocimiento facial. La cara, siendo el espejo del alma, proporciona una defensa única contra el fraude, aportando fiabilidad al proceso de identificación.

Descargar
What is driving licence verification?

What is driving licence verification?

We have all been stopped by the police at some point to ask for our driving licence while we were driving. That awkward moment when, even though you...