Screen time has its benefits, but health experts suggest it should be limited
Screen time — it has become a necessity of modern culture, from business productivity to elementary school learning. And the last two years have only upped the ante, as screens became our solution to the need for social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Classes shifted to e-learning. Government meetings have been held via Zoom. And work-from-home initiatives made our screens the only face-to-face we got with some co-workers and clients. That is before we even factor in screen time for entertainment.
So, what does science say about all that time we are spending in front of screens?
The Mayo Clinic notes those answers can get complicated, because some screen time can be educational and support the social development of children. The trick is managing the screen time of children to avoid the problems it can pose. The Mayo Clinic says excessive screen time and programming of poor quality has been linked to obesity, inadequate sleep schedules, behavior problems, delays in language and social skills development, attention problems, and less time learning, among other concerns.
The clinic notes that the quality of media can be more important than the type of technology used or time spent on it. The clinic encourages parents to preview programs for quality, seek interactive options that engage the child, discuss what they’re watching, and avoid fast-paced programs children might have trouble understanding as well as apps with distracting or violent content.
Parents should also set limits for older children for reasonable use, according to the Mayo Clinic. The clinic recommends encouraging unplugged playtime, creating tech-free zones or times, discouraging entertainment screen time during homework, and keeping screens out of children’s bedrooms. The elimination of background television use is also recommended.
Mayo Clinic notes online relationships and social media have become a part of adolescent life, and experts say it is OK for teens to be part of those things as long as they understand appropriate behavior. Parents should explain concerns about sexting, cyberbullying and sharing personal information online.
Scripps notes the health risks of too much screen time are not solely childhood concerns. While more research focuses on the impact screen time has on children, Scripps says too much can put strain on the eyes, as well as result in headaches, neck, shoulder and back pain in adults. Henry Ford Health notes it can also lead to poor sleep because light tells the brain to stay awake and impedes winding down at night. Screen time also can turn into an addiction, with the smartphone offering a dopamine boost, according to the health care provider.
Scripps recommends adults reduce screen use by keeping track of the time (some smartphones now have functions to do just that), reducing time on video calls and virtual meetings, taking regular breaks from screen time to stretch and move around, avoiding meals in front of a screen, and keeping screens out of the bedroom. Henry Ford Health adds to turn off notifications to help avoid devices.
Stay Active
Children ages 8-18 spend, on average, 7.5 hours in front of a screen for entertainment alone each day, 4.5 of which are spent watching television, according to 2010 KFF data. That does not include time spent on computers at school or doing homework.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. And there is concern that time spent in front of screens is an opportunity lost when it comes to being physically active.
The CDC suggests limiting screen time for children to 1-2 hours per day and instead engaging in activities such as basketball, walking the dog, dancing, jumping rope, skateboarding, running, riding bicycles or doing yard work, pending age. Sports teams or clubs can increase physical activity along with social interactions, the CDC says. Parents are encouraged to remove television sets from the bedrooms of children.
The Mayo Clinic says unstructured playtime is more valuable for the developing brains of young children than electronic media. Children younger than 2 years old are more likely to learn when interacting with parents, siblings, other children and other adults, the Mayo Clinic notes.
After age 2, children may benefit more from programming with music, movement and stories, according to the Mayo Clinic, which adds that adults can help children understand how what they are seeing applies to real life. But the clinic cautions against replacing activities such as reading, playing or problem-solving with passive screen time.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says children younger than 18 months old should not engage in media use except for video chatting. And in the half year after that, it should be high-quality programming and used under supervision, AAP says. Children ages 2-5 years old should be limited to an hour of high-quality programming daily, according to the academy.