Youth Group Urges Families to Combat Smartphone Addiction During Chuseok Holiday
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – As the Chuseok holiday approaches, a leading youth organization is calling โon โคfamilies to proactively address growing concerns about smartphone addiction among young people, framing the break asโค a critical opportunity to rebuild familial โฃconnections and establish healthier digital habits. The initiative emphasizes a shift from restrictive control to empathetic engagement, backed by โฃresearch highlighting theโ psychological benefits of physical activity and open interaction.
The Chuseok holiday, traditionally a time for family reunions and shared experiences,โ presents a unique window to disrupt patterns ofโข excessive smartphone use. Experts note that nagging or outright bans often prove counterproductive, โฃdriving youth furtherโข into defensive behaviorโฃ and reliance onโค digital devices. Rather, the youthโฃ group advocates for a strategy centered on understanding why โyoung โpeopleโฃ are drawn to โtheir phones andโค fostering genuine connection through shared activities and dedicated conversation time.
The organization’s recommendations are โฃbuilt around three key principles. First, promoting physical activity โ- specifically suggestingโค family treks in parks or trails -โ to leverage theโ sun’s impact on sleep hormone secretion and alleviate potential depression. Second, prioritizing “emotional connection” through empathy rather thanโข reprimand. This includes actively inquiring about the content children enjoy online,even โขparticipatingโข with them,to demonstrate a desire to understand theirโ digital world. establishing dedicated “smartphone-free” time for open dialog about school,worries,and future aspirations,providing aโค sense of psychological stability andโ reducingโฃ feelings of loneliness that can contribute to โexcessive phone use.
Looking beyond the holiday, the group stresses the importance of translatingโข the โ”detox affect” into daily life. This involves collaborativelyโ maintaining agreed-upon rules -โ such as designated “smartphone collection times” and prohibiting use during meals – โand consistently offering engaging alternatives like family board game nights and weekend walks.
“chuseokโ offers a pause, โa chance to re-establish relationships and form healthy digital habits โfor children,” emphasized a spokespersonโข forโ the youth group. The organization hopes this holiday will be a turning point, breaking down “digital barriers” and fostering โข”true family connection” grounded in both scientific understandingโ andโ psychological insight.