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Gaming: another kind of addiction

Ellisa de Oliveira Brinkhoff

Social media can be addictive for children and adolescents but playing cell phone games can be too. While gaming can have positive aspects, it can also be harmful, like when it becomes a form of gambling.

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A young person lays on a bed in a darkened room, face lit by the screen of a phone

A young person lays on a bed in a darkened room, face lit by the screen of a phone

How harmful is social media for children?

How harmful is social media for children?

Children and adolescents spend hours on social media every day. It is often suspected that this has an impact on their mental health. But studies show a mixed picture.

A young man puts his mobile phone in a plastic pouch hanging on the wall of a classroom

A young man puts his mobile phone in a plastic pouch hanging on the wall of a classroom

Cell phone bans at school: how effective are they?

Cell phone bans at school: how effective are they?

An increasing number of schools worldwide are banning cell phones. Since the beginning of 2025, a new law in Brazil prohibits pupils from using smartphones during breaks or in class.

Two young children looking at a mobile phone

Two young children looking at a mobile phone

Cell phone bans for children and adolescents

Cell phone bans for children and adolescents

Parents are working together in Brazil to restrict access to cell phones to children over 14. The aim is to ensure that no one feels excluded. But studies show that smartphones can also have positive effects on children.

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