Madeeha Damoun

Screen Time: The New Addiction – Protecting Our Children’s Mental Health

In the current information technology age, electronic products can be seen everywhere. From smartphones to tablets, from laptops to gaming consoles, children are constantly exposed to digital devices..
While technology brings many advantages, it is important to pay attention to the potential dangers of over-reliance on screen time. Furthermore, Research has revealed alarming parallels’ between screen addiction and substance addiction, underscoring the need for mindful usage.

This blog post brings you the research, lists the hazards and concludes with some valuable tips for practising thoughtful screen use.

Lets first try to understand the science behind screen addiction

1. The Impact of Over-stimulation on the Frontal Cortex in the Brain

Studies of excessive screen time have demonstrated that the brain’s frontal cortex, which controls impulse control and decision-making, can be affected. Screens can cause this section in the brain to become sluggish due to being flooded with so many commands, just like drugs of abuse gradually slow down and finally stop stimulating it. Dr Peter Whybrow, the director of neuroscience at UCLA, called screens “electronic cocaine” for their powerful effect on the brain.

2. The Dopamine Connection

Technology is super-stimulating, causing the brain to release waves of dopamine. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter that responds to the pleasure response and causes one to crave more of it forever once they have experienced it, is crucial in addiction dynamics. Climbing levels of dopamine produced by screens are analogous to those experienced during sex. This makes it highly addictive. Little wonder children find it hard to quit screens and may become restless when their screen time is cut.

3. Psychological Effects

Excessive screen time is linked with a whole range of psychological issues. Screen use and sustained watching over a period of time have been associated in numerous reports from hospitals and clinics with significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety and aggression in children. Some children may develop psychotic-like characteristics, losing touch with reality, especially when they are in full flow of using immersion games.

Practical Tips for Managing Screen Time

1. Draw Boundries

More screen time than what is prescribed should be avoided. The American Academy of Pediatrics cautions against exposing children below the age of 1 to any screen other than for video calls. From the age of 2-5 years, it is best to restrict children’s television and internet activities to only 1 hour per day regardless of how good the content is. For older kids, ensure screen usage does not affect the time for sleeping or exercising. This is critical for wellbeing.

2. Encourage Other Activities

Make your children get off the couch and do something that does not involve any screens. Promote outdoor play, book reading, and other creative and socially favorable activities to the children. This kind of equilibrium between screen time and ‘off screen’ time can support more well-rounded development.

3. Set up screen-free zones

Some parts of the house are out of bounds for a screen, for example, meals and bed room. This helps curtail screen time and so helps make sure that screens do not interfere with meals or sleep

4. Lead by example

Some parts of the house are out of bounds for a screen, for example, meals and bed room. This helps curtail screen time and so helps make sure that screens do not interfere with meals or sleep. Be a role model.

5. Educate About Safe Internet/TV Use

Guide children on the dangers of the internet or TV viewing time and how to handle technology responsibly, including privacy-assuring habits. It further involves defining cyberbullying and knowing when to put the screen down often enough to imagine what other inhabitants of the screen might be saying or thinking.

6. Have a Digital Detox from Time to Time

From time to time, have a complete break from screens. This digital detox can help reset your child’s relationship with technology and reduce their dependency on it.

All in all, technology is an essential part of modern life but we must ensure that it is used carefully and thoughtfully when approaching this increasingly important area in which our greatest “assets” by far are children. By recognizing the problems associated with excessive screen time and finding practical ways to limit it, we can help our children avoid the hazards that are becoming increasingly common. Remember, not to scrap the screens altogether but establish a reasonable balance so children can gain from modern technology without falling into dependence on it.

References and Further Reading

1. The American Academy of Pediatrics: Media and Children

2. UCLA Seminar with Dr Peter Whybrow on Electronic Cocaine

3. National Institute on Drug Abuse: The Science of Addiction

4. Harvard Health Publications, The impact of screen time on health

5. Raising Children Network: Managing Screen Time

We hope that this blog post will educate and empower parents to foster healthier screen habits for their children by consulting authoritative sources and highlighting useful tips.