We are living in a digital age, and we are all surrounded by screens most of the time, whether at work, school or at home. We feel that our productivity and accuracy has improved through the use of computers, cell phones and other digital equipment. Screen time is meant to describe the amount of time spent using a device with a screen, such as a smartphone, computer, TV, and video games consoles. There are four types of screen time: passive consumption [watching TV, reading, listening to music], interaction consumption [playing games], communication
, and content creation [digital art].
The first electronic screen was the cathode ray tube, invented in 1897 and commercialized in 1922. (“Screen time – Wikipedia”) It was the most popular choice for display screens until the rise of liquid crystal display screens in the 2000s, and screens are an essential part of everyday life since then. Earlier screens tend to put more strain on eyes as well as other effects until LCD screens came to the markets. These screens put less burden on eyes but due to increase in screen times that we saw in last decade the cumulative effect is still concerning especially in the growing kids and young adolescents.
Screen time has been seen to correlate with mental and physical harm in child development. The harmful health related effects of screen time are influenced by levels and content of exposure. More screen time has been linked with shorter sleep on set delays. When using any screen before bedtime, the blue light emitted disrupts the body’s natural melatonin hormone production, which is connected to the body’s circadian rhythm and is naturally responsive to light [blue light emission is what human circadian rhythm].
As well as negatively impacting the adult sleep cycle, using screens can also affect physical health. Obesity is a common result of spending great time on screens such as television, video games, a phone, or computer screens. If the amount of screen time adolescents spend was limited, the likelihood of obesity can be reduced. Sitting down to watch movies/cartoons, playing video games and surfing the internet, takes time away from physical activities, which leads to an increased risk of weight gain. Children who watch one or two hours of TV a day are more likely to be overweight, as compared to those who watch less than an hour a day.
Sleep can be heavily impacted by screen time and can lead to affecting one’s behavior and performance of the day. High levels of screen time can significantly affect mental health effects such as anxiety and depression. Adults who spend six hours or more on the screens are more likely to suffer from moderate to severe depression. Lack of sleep plays a major role in a healthy mindset and without proper rest, one’s mental health can degrade too.
An increase in screen time has been associated with negative cognitive outcome for children between 0 and 4 like experiencing a language delay. Toddlers with higher TV time also scored lower on school readiness tests, which measured vocabulary, number knowledge, and classroom engagement. Children who watched more TV were found to have less brain connectivity between language, visual and cognitive control regions of the brain than their peers who watch less TV. (“Screen time – Wikipedia”) Although exposure to educational content can have a very positive impact of improving cognition and help in memory, too much screen time can distract students from their assignments and schoolwork. It is important for parents to monitor and limit their child’s use of TV and especially the internet.
More screen time generally leads to less time spent in nature, therefore a weaker connection to it. Nature inspired activities decrease for youth with mental health issues became connected to higher screen time level. Digital technology emitted around 4% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions in the year 2019 and is expected to almost double by 2025. In 2019, the WHO came out with guidelines about media use for children under 5. From birth to age one, no sedentary screen time is recommended and from 2 and 4, no more than sixty minutes for screen time. American Academy of Pediatrics have introduced stricter guidelines [AAP] in 2016. From birth to 18 to 24 months, no screen times except for video chatting. From 18 to 24 months, limit screen time as much as possible, and from 2 years to 5 years limit screen time to sixty minutes a day.
Over the Covid period, the average daily screen used by children increased by more than an hour and twenty minutes, according to an analysis published in JAMA. Parents and caregivers amount of screen time as well as their stress levels during the pandemic were found to be associated with the duration of kids’ screen use. (“Kids’ average daily screen use increased by more than an hour and …”)
“With screens virtually everywhere, monitoring a child’s screen time can be challenging.” (“Screen time and children: How to guide your child – Drugs.com”) Some screen time can be educational and support children’s social development. To ensure quality screen time, you can preview programs, games, and apps before allowing your child to view or play for them. (“Zoiszuilen | How to monitor your childs screen time”) Ratings and reviews may help you do so, and watch, play, or use them with your child. Seek out interactive options that engage with your child, rather than those that require pushing, swiping and staring at a screen. Use parental controls to block or filter internet content and ask your child about what he or she is watching, so you can supervise his or her activities. For older children, create a technology free zone or times, such as during mealtime or a night a week. Discourage use of media entertainment during homework.
The right message would be interaction with screens in moderation, so that the screen time remains in the range of safe exposure, so the children, adults and elderly all remain safe and have good mental, physical and emotional health.