In recent years, with the increasingly convenient operation and use of smartphones, many elderly people have crossed the "digital divide" and become "silver haired people with lowered heads", and related health risks are becoming apparent. Experts remind that moderate use of mobile phones can help elderly people obtain information and enhance social skills. However, if used excessively for a long time, it may damage the eyes, neck, and other parts, disrupt daily routines, and affect physical and mental health. How to protect the physical and mental health of the elderly while enjoying digital convenience has become a new challenge that every family needs to face. Jiang Hua, deputy director of the Eyesight Treatment Center of Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, said that compared with young people, the "endurance" of the elderly with eyes is weaker, and staring at the mobile phone screen for a long time is more likely to induce or exacerbate some common eye diseases in the elderly. For elderly people, staring at their phones for a long time can easily lead to the 'willful development' of these diseases, which can have a serious impact on their visual function. Especially for some elderly people, they like to lie on their side or lie down to look at their phones. Jiang Hua said, "These seemingly 'comfortable' eye habits are actually more harmful to the eyes." These postures can easily make the distance between the eyes and the screen inconsistent, which actually increases the burden of eye adjustment. In addition, staring at a phone for a long time in a dark environment may induce angle closure glaucoma, leading to irreversible visual impairment. In addition to the impact on the eyes, elderly people may already have degenerative changes in their cervical and lumbar spine. Long term use of mobile phones with lowered heads can easily lead to or worsen cervical and lumbar spine related diseases. Yan Jun, Deputy Chief Physician of Orthopedics at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, said, "Maintaining a forward leaning posture on the neck for a long time increases the pressure on the cervical spine. Studies have shown that when the forward leaning angle of the head reaches 60 degrees, the pressure on the cervical spine can be several times higher than normal." For elderly people who are already prone to sleep disorders, the blue light emitted by mobile phone screens may inhibit melatonin secretion, which has a more significant impact on sleep. Long term sleep deprivation may trigger a chain reaction, such as memory loss, emotional fluctuations, and weakened immunity. The physiological discomfort that young people experience when using their phones for a long time can also occur in the elderly. But the difference is that older people have more fragile bodies, and the long-term harm of using mobile phones is like adding insult to injury to the body. ”Yan Jun said. Why are some elderly people prone to addiction to "swiping" their phones due to the neglected "psychological bill" of anxiety, tension, and loneliness? Yang Lejin, Deputy Director of the Department of Psychology at Shandong University Qilu Hospital, believes that short video platforms attract users to continue watching by continuously pushing personalized content. This mechanism is effective for any age group. Researchers have analyzed that the online behavior of elderly people is mainly focused on entertainment content and consumption. This is specifically reflected in activities such as watching short videos, reading novels, listening to audiobooks, watching emotional live streams, participating in various "rebates", and online shopping in live streaming rooms. In addition, elderly people have relatively ample time, but limited entertainment options and lack stable interest activities. Using mobile phones has become the most convenient and low-cost way of leisure; On the other hand, many elderly people have limited social channels and lack the companionship of family and friends. Using mobile phones can provide a sense of companionship and social participation to a certain extent. Clinical findings have shown that the intensity of internet addiction in some elderly people is greater than that in young people, and one important reason is the empty nest problem. They feel lonely in real life and receive less emotional support, and the internet provides an emotional compensation. In addition, the rapid development of society has also led to a decrease in participation among some elderly people, resulting in a strong sense of powerlessness. The internet can to some extent divert their attention. ”Yang Lejin said that some elderly people who spend a long time browsing short videos or information are prone to anxiety, tension, and other emotions due to information overload. How can elderly people integrate into the digital age in a healthier way? Smartphones and mobile Internet are profoundly changing lifestyle. How to protect the physical and mental health of the elderly while enjoying digital convenience has become a new challenge that every family needs to face. Expert advice: Firstly, children and family members should increase their time spent with the elderly. Encourage the elderly to participate in outdoor activities, community cultural and sports activities, or cultivate hobbies such as reading, calligraphy, and fitness, to help them enrich their offline lives. Secondly, children can help the elderly set their phone mode and disable some irrelevant push functions. Teach them to identify and distinguish some negative information. If there is a tendency towards bad behavior, intervention is necessary. Thirdly, it is recommended that elderly people use their mobile phones for no more than 4 hours a day and avoid prolonged and continuous viewing. You can follow the "20-20-20 rule", which means that every 20 minutes of using the electronic screen, look 20 meters away for at least 20 seconds to relax your eyes. Avoid turning off the lights while playing with your phone, and the screen brightness should match the ambient light. Once there is a decline in vision, eye pain, visual distortion, etc., medical examination should be sought in a timely manner. Fourthly, when elderly people use mobile phones, they should try to choose the correct sitting posture, have support for their back, and avoid leaning their neck forward or constantly lowering their head. It is not recommended to lie on your side or face down while scrolling through your phone. (Looking into the New Era)