Introduction: Today, with the advancement of technology, many features are available to users. However, these possibilities come with some risks and threats. It is very important that users can benefit from the technology’s capabilities at the highest level while minimizing existing risks. In this regard, digital babysitting is a condition of environmental poverty that deprives young children of essential learning opportunities and interferes with their social interactions. In fact, digital babysitting refers to the constant use of digital devices to entertain or soothe children, which can replace human interactions and affect cognitive and emotional development. Research has also shown that digital babysitting can cause behaviors similar to those of people with autism spectrum disorder and deviations in the structure and functions of young children’s brains. Therefore, the present study aimed to analysis of the lived experiences of mothers with autistic children regarding the consequences of digital nannying.
Methods: The approach of the present research was qualitative and interpretive phenomenological. The target group included all mothers of children aged 5 to 12 with autism-like disorder in Yazd city in 2024-2025, of whom 9 were selected as samples through criterion-based purposive sampling and in compliance with the theoretical data saturation law. The research tool was a semi-structured in-depth interview. Initially, 7 participants were interviewed and saturation was achieved. For greater certainty, two other participants were interviewed again. To determine the validity of the data, the opinions of some qualitative researchers and research participants were reviewed and compared. Coding was also carried out and compared by the researcher and another expert in the qualitative field.
Results: Finally, mothers’ experienced perceptions were organized into 2 main themes (consequences and harms caused by digital babysitting on children and consequences and harms caused by digital babysitting on the family) and 18 sub-themes. In this regard, the harms of digital babysitting on children include vision problems, sleep problems, decreased physical health with unhealthy behavior, decreased attention to personal hygiene, aggression, decreased concentration and attention, decreased problem-solving ability, decreased duration of physical games, increased stress and anxiety, decreased life satisfaction, increased emotional dependence on digital devices instead of human communication, decreased academic performance, increased school absences, and decreased study time. On the other hand, the harms of digital babysitting on the family included a decrease in the quality of family communication, a decrease in the duration of family interactions, a decrease in social interactions, and an increase in isolation and loneliness. The results of the study of mothers’ perceptions showed that digital babysitting can have widespread effects on children’s physical and mental health and cause symptoms similar to mild autism spectrum disorder in their children.
Discussion: In order to reduce the negative effects of digital babysitting, it is recommended that parents increase their knowledge about the use of digital media, set appropriate rules and regulations for the use of these tools at home, and strengthen family interactions. Also, by creating more suitable environments and reducing work and daily stress, parents can help improve their own and their children’s conditions. Providing counseling and support services to parents can also be effective in better managing these challenges.