Screen Time: The Harsh Reality for Today's Kids warning-sign 🚜
Growing Use of Screens among Kids and Its Impacts - Soaring Screen Time's Impact on Kids: A Closer Look
Let's get real, kiddos are glued to screens at younger ages than ever before - be it for TikTok, online games, or virtual classrooms. And guess who's leading the pack? Yep, those rambunctious Germans! A new OECD study puts the spotlight on the nasty side-effects of excessive screen time, such as depression, unhealthy body image, and loneliness. But remember, it ain't always black and white.
Let's dive into the lowdown on screen time and its impact on health, focusing on the groups that feel the burn the most.
The Screening Spree
Our beloved kids are acquainted with screens from a tender age, and their screen time continues to skyrocket, according to the OECD. French seven to twelve-year-olds already rack up more than two hours a day on screens, while German fifteen-year-olds spend a whopping 48 hours a week, or almost seven hours a day!
Germany takes the crown when it comes to screen time amongst youth. A staggering 75% of fifteen-year-olds in Germany spend more than two hours a day in front of screens for entertainment, with only four of the 36 countries surveyed sporting higher averages, including Poland and Estonia.
The Federal Center for Health Education's advisory
Their prescription? Teenagers should limit their digital media use to no more than two hours a day. "The less screen time, the better.”
Media use kicked into overdrive during the pandemic, with football training, dance classes and other activities being nixed, leaving more time for screens. Shockingly, even after the pandemic, media usage dropped slightly, according to Postbank's digital study, but the long-term trend seems to be simply unstoppable.
Sleepless Nights: A Catch-22 Scenario
Although questions about the health consequences are still up in the air, one thing's for sure: high media consumption, particularly late at night, can disrupt sleep quality. "This creates a vicious cycle, as poor sleep in young people leads to increased fatigue, making them prefer passive activities like watching TV the next day," the study suggests.
Research shows that mental health in young people has taken a nosedive over the past fifteen years, a downward spiral that was further aggravated by the pandemic. This same period also saw a notable increase in media usage. While cause and effect might not be black and white, it's clear that negative effects can occur, such as exaggerated use, cyberbullying, and exposure to inappropriate content.
Warning Signs for the Brain
Joachim Türk, Vice President of the Children's Protection Association, sounds the alarm. He warns that excessive screen time can significantly disrupt children’s development. Toddlers, for instance, need tactile stimulation like touch, smell, and taste, to understand the world, and no screen can replicate that.
For older children and teenagers, there's a risk that they'll lose the ability to concentrate on one thing for a prolonged period, thanks to the distraction of TikToks and Reels.
In Germany, more than half of ten-year-olds already own a smartphone, with the proportion varying depending on social class and being significantly higher amongst certain groups. By the age of 15, almost all have their own device.
Not all Screen Time is Created Equal
Remember, some screen time can be educative and fun. E-books, for instance, can help kids learn. In fact, girls and wealthier youth seem to benefit more from these resources.
Simply switching screens off is not the answer, says Kai Hanke, CEO of the German Children's Aid Organization. "The research is crystal clear; the digital world holds immense potential for children." Media use provides crucial access to social experiences that can't be denied, he says. It's up to parents, schools, media, and legislation to create the right conditions for kids to make the most of this potential.
Berthold Koletzko, a pediatrician and chairman of the Foundation for Child Health, also advocates for creating safe, digital conditions. The debate about digital media's benefits vs. risks is not important. "We need binding standards for safe digital content, clear advertising restrictions, and increased risk awareness," he says. Meanwhile, educational institutions should champion media literacy and provide spaces for analog experiences.
A Growing Number of Resolutionaries
For the overview study, the OECD authors analyzed multiple surveys, including the latest PISA study from 2022. The 38 member countries of the organization span wide parts of Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
In Germany, more and more people are determined to spend less time on their phones. This is evident in a survey by the DAK about New Year's resolutions. Every third person wishes for more offline time, especially among the younger generation.
- The ECSC (European Centre for the Screening of Children's Advertising) could focus on promoting a healthy balance in the advertising of digital media to children, emphasizing the importance of limiting screen time in line with Europen recommendations.
- Health-and-wellness experts recommend implementing mindfulness and sleep hygiene practices, such as setting a bedtime routine and avoiding screens before sleep, to improve sleep quality and overall mental health in children.
- The National Employment Policy could take into account the impact of excessive screen time on the mental health of young people, considering potential career choices or skills training that align with the growing field of technology and media, such as coding, graphic design, or digital marketing.
- Fitness-and-exercise enthusiasts might encourage parent-child physical activities and outdoor adventures to counterbalance the sedentary nature of screen time, promoting a balanced digital-analog lifestyle.
- Mental-health professionals, working in collaboration with schools and social media platforms, can actively engage in combating cyberbullying, developing programs to promote positive mental health online, and ensuring the availability of resources to identify and support at-risk individuals.
