Depok-Today, technology plays an important role in people’s lives, for example gadget technology is increasing day by day and is becoming popular in society. The technological features and facilities provided by gadgets make it easier and more attractive for people to use them every day. Various conveniences and attractive features make various groups of users, especially elementary school age children, become numerous and uncontrollable. One of the impacts caused by excessive use of devices is addiction to screens or known as screen dependency disorder (SDD). This disorder affects children’s brain function, so that children will experience low focus, sleep disturbances, and drastic mood changes. The results of data searches from the Department of Mental Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia and the National Central General Hospital, dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo in 2022 showed that 2,933 teenagers experienced internet addiction with an increase in the duration of use from 7.27 hours to 11.6 hours per day.
Responding to this problem, the Creative Business study program, Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia (UI), consisting of lecturers and students, created programs and education for elementary school age children in Depok, West Java in the form of community service regarding the dangers of using excessive gadgets on November 21, 2023.
(Photo: One of the community service activities is making handprints with paint)
Hasyim Asy’ari, M.Psi.T., head of service said that the community service activity aims to increase children’s knowledge of the impacts of excessive use of gadgets. According to him, “Activities will be carried out in several stages. Apart from providing education through training to children, assistance is also provided to teachers and parents after the children receive training. It is hoped that this activity will not only target the cognitive domain, but also give children the opportunity to change their habits through various alternative fun activities while at home besides playing with gadgets,” said Hasyim.
Before the community service was implemented, surveys and interviews were conducted with parents and teachers at elementary schools in Depok, to understand the more specific problems experienced by children. From the survey results, many children experience conditions due to excessive use of devices, such as mood swings, emotional instability, tantrums, decreased concentration, and physical complaints about the back of the neck and vision.
Therefore, the community service activity also created an intervention program using role-playing techniques, where students played several characters who told about the negative impacts of gadget addiction. Through this activity, children can easily understand the message conveyed. Students also created an educational campaign by putting handprints on banners and declaring an end to excessive use of gadgets.
(Photo: Handprints created by elementary school children in Depok)
Director of the UI Vocational Education Program, Padang Wicaksono, S.E., Ph.D, said that these community service activities are a forum for lecturers and students to get involved in the community and provide solutions to problems that are currently occurring. “I hope that these community service activities will not only provide insight and awareness to children, but also result in effective collaboration between schools and parents in supervising and controlling children’s use of devices at home,” said Padang.
