Harmful Screen Time

In today's age of technology, gadgets are ubiquitous. TVs, tablets and smartphones are in virtually everyone's hands, even children's. They have eased our lives in many ways, keeping us connected with relatives and friends far away and informed in real time, among many other uses. However, too much of a good thing can be a curse. Evidence is mounting that addiction to gadgets' screens can have a detrimental impact on the mental and physical health of those who excessively use them. And at particular risk are children. 

Around 90 per cent of your child's brain development is found to happen during the first five years of life, and screen time may pose a real danger to young brains. Research has shown that, when a child misses out on critical learning, especially during early childhood when the brain is rapidly growing, the damage done can be permanent in the form of delayed or impaired language skills, emotional regulation, empathy and social and interpersonal skills, among other vital skills innate to human beings. Children learn language through face-to-face interaction with parents and caregivers. Too much screen time robs them of such conversations, storytelling, and social interaction. What's more, when addicted to fast-paced digital content, children lose much-needed interest in slower content, reducing their precious attention spans.   

For older children and adolescents, social media has been linked to increased anxiety, stress, and lower self-esteem – factors known to lead many people to take extreme steps such as suicide. This may be the reason why Australia has outright banned the use of social media for under-16s, and other countries are mulling over following suit. The problem has reached crisis level in Nepal, too. According to an investigative story carried by this daily the other day, excessive use of mobile phones by today's children is shrinking their creativity. An overwhelming number of people, from young children to the elderly, are increasingly spending an inordinate amount of their time on screen. As parents get increasingly busier to meet the demands of modern life, it has become easier for them to give a mobile phone to their wards rather than spending quality time with them. 

This news should alarm us into doing something about it. What kind of society are we building when those with high hopes are themselves victims of addiction? As things stand, of course, we cannot envision an ideal society where every member is committed to living up to their responsibilities. There's universal agreement that the best way to solve a problem is to nip it in the bud before it escalates. The earlier we address this problem, the better. That said, screen time is not always harmful. Evidence suggests that it can be beneficial when kept within limits. Though it can never be a substitute for building real-life skills through direct in-person interaction and exposure, it, experts say, can be meaningfully useful during co-viewing slow, age-appropriate content under the guidance and supervision of guardians. Educational content, video calls with family, and supervised learning activities have been shown to enhance learning experience. The main concern, however, is excessive, unsupervised, or age-inappropriate screen use. 

Technology is meant to improve our lives. In no way should it rob children of the opportunities to develop crucial skills that define what it means to be human in later years.