Kids need to be smarter than smartphones

Parents often complain about the junk that pops up in the form of game-related push notifications on smartphones on which their kids play video games.

In fact, anyone browsing a smartphone app is prompted to check out more of the same kind of information, often ad nauseam.

That happens because app developers make full use of algorithms to get more hits and reading counts, which in turn augment their data flow and commercial opportunities. In order to make more money, some app developers or owners tend to push entertainment and junk news to attract eyeballs and lure users to visit their pages.

However, this kind of "smartness" is bad for users, because the information sent this way is rarely of any educational value.

And while an adult might still be able to distinguish valuable information from junk, youngsters will not be able to do so. Once children get trapped in this "information cocoon", it can harm their learning process.

To prevent that from happening, market regulators need to strengthen supervision of app algorithms, and limit the number of "entertainment" push notifications. They could also improve the technology and require app developers to install modules preventing users from getting addicted to junk information.

Second, the laws must be improved so that smartphone apps do not continue helping advertisers to make profit by peddling junk. Although increased data flow is required to attract commercial advertisements, media outlets should not pursue profit at the cost of youngsters' mental growth. There is a need for some regulation in this field.

Third, children need to be taught how to distinguish junk from useful information.

For that to happen, both the schools and parents need to spend more time teaching them how to use apps to enhance their knowledge and avoid getting lost in the ocean of useless information.