The Influence of Gadget Use Interaction on Antisocial Behavior in Early Childhood

Abstract

This study aims to examine the influence of gadget use on the emergence of antisocial behavior in early childhood. The method used was a qualitative approach with bibliometric analysis of scientific articles indexed by Google Scholar between 2015 and 2025. Data was collected using the Publish or Perish (PoP) application and further analyzed using VOSviewer to map research trends, keyword relationships, and dominant study focuses. The analysis shows that excessive, passive, and unsupervised gadget use is associated with decreased social interaction in children, such as a lack of empathy, poor communication skills, a tendency to withdraw, and the emergence of aggressive and selfish behavior. On the other hand, controlled and supervised gadget use can have a positive impact on children's cognitive development and creativity. Therefore, an active role is needed from parents, educators, and the community in regulating the duration and patterns of gadget use to prevent the development of antisocial behavior in early childhood in the digital age.