Blog #7: Screen Time
By: Emilia Krasowska
Screen time is an IOS feature that allows users and parents to limit how much time they or their children spend on certain apps or on their devices in general. There have been many studies that prove that children who are exposed to too much screen time are psychologically impacted by it.
According to a 2018 study, children who spend 2 hours in front of a screen daily experience lower test scores on language and thinking skills. Children who spend more than 7 hours in front of a screen experienced a thinning of the brain's cortex which affects critical thinking and reasoning.
Too much screen time does not only impact children but also adults. “The cravings for screen-related activities mimic those of drug addicts; long-term exposure to screens can damage the frontal lobe and other areas of the brain, which leads to reduced cognitive function.” In simple words, being on our phones, tablets, computers, or in front of our televisions, it produces dopamine which allows people to become addicted.
QUESTION: What are your opinions on regulating screen time for adolescents? Is it truly such a big issue? If you don’t mind sharing, what is your screen time?
Very interesting points, Emilia. I'm fascinated by the adolescent angle and can see how 'torn' parents are these days. On one hand, screen time is crucial to keeping kids engaged and busy (especially when parents are working from home). But we also know the 'zombification' that can happen when kids become dependent/addicted to the screen, as your post suggests. Yes, it truly is a big issue. But to deny our kids access to technology is also silly; it will be a huge part of their lives.
ReplyDeleteLike all areas of life, balance is key. My daily average is at 2 hours 48 minutes, and that's just the phone. I'm also on the computer all day. Who knows what this is doing to my eyes, let alone my frontal lobe :)
My personal opinion is that every person is different. We have to find ways to empower our kids, promote creativity, independence, critical thinking, problem solving, and a healthy sense of adventure. The device can't do those things, hence the 'problem.' I notice that more and more young people lack personal 'interests.' Things like music, art, hobbies, nature, science, and other external subjects enrich our lives and make life so much more interesting. I wish technology could replicate that!
I really feel like this issue is a parents issue to handle. I can totally see that screen time can big a huge issue depending on what kids are watching. My 4 year old niece is only allowed a little screen time and when she does get to watch tv or Youtube it’s always something educational. So she is not very addicted to technology, especially since her parents monitor what she watches.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I grew up watching videos on Youtube unmonitored by my parents and luckily I did watch a lot of constructive and educational videos. Although, I still did waste a lot of my childhood on the internet. I can admit I do have a little bit of an addiction to technology, but now technology is ingrained into our society so it would be a crutch to not be on the internet at some point of the day. I would say it is really on the person or parent to monitor themselves and how much time they spend in their freetime on technology. Some articles frame “screen time” as sort of a helpless scenario there’s nothing we can do about, which I strongly disagree with.
(My average screen time is just about 4 hrs, this does not count the amount of hours i’m on my laptop for school work.) -Sara Smolock
Yes, I definitely believe adoslensecne should have limited screen time, but sadly It really depends on the parents. I know a lot of parents just shove a screen in front of their kids to shut them up instead of actually trying to soothe them. On top of that, most parents don’t monitor their kids' activity online. When i was growing up my mom never really monitored what i did online or kept track of how much time i spent on the internet everyday. (Currently my screen time is 5 hours or more just on my phone everyday) Although at the same time, it's hard to just say “Oh people should try spending less time on their phone or computers, it's bad for their health” especially during covid since everyone works, goes to school and socializes online it’s nearly impossible to cut back on screen time. I realize it’s important, but in most cases a lot of adults and teens don’t have much of a choice right now.
ReplyDelete- Emily Smolock
There should be a limit limiting adolescent's screen time on social media or their phones in general. Most of us go hours on our phones without realizing how much time we've spent starring at our screen. It is imperative to limit screen time for adolescents, in my opinion, because it can be harmful to a child to be on their phones all the time. Adults have more control over the time they chose to spend on their phones, and it can be easier for them to limit their screen time. For adolescents, it is mostly up to their parents, and it can be important for their children to take part in outdoor activities, so they don't have to spend most of their time on their phones. Activities like sports can help or spending time with friends can also be beneficial; although this is easier said than done. My screen time is 3 hrs and has gone down a lot since the summer. In the summer, I used to be on my phone almost the whole day, which is embarrassing to admit. One day I got a notification that my screen time was up to 9hrs, and at that point, I made a mental note to limit the time I spent on my phone. Right now, it's very difficult for children and young adults to limit their screen time because we spend the majority of our time inside these days. Hopefully, we can all find the willpower to cut back on our screen time.
ReplyDeleteEveryday screen time is a big issue. Society is becoming addicted to all things technology. The fact that we consider it a lesser evil than the use of actual drugs doesn’t mean there aren’t any consequences to just sharing a screen. Just like everything else in the world technology can be used for both good and bad. However, there needs to be regulation of screen time for all ages. Regulating screen time can act as a reminder or alarm that we need to stop looking at screens and go do some productive activities. As time continues to move forward technology will continue to evolve. It will evolve in something bigger, better, faster and more. During this COVID situation it makes it even harder to limit our screen time due to the fact we can’t go outside and explore like we used to. But, also during COVID we have created even more creative aspects of activities to do inside. As we continue to move forward hopefully society will have developed a sense of control of their screen time.
ReplyDeleteExtensive amounts of screen time for adolescents and adults naturally produces negative consequences. The level of technological addiction present in our everyday lives is genuinely scary. My personal screen time per day is on average 5 hours and 30 minutes. However, especially during quarantine, my screen time reached an ultimate high of 13 hours. The living terms of a pandemic make those hours reasonable but on regular standards it screams the effects of addiction. Technology can have positive effects on the individuals who indulge but it has stripped our society of the meaningfulness of human interaction and experiences. There is a reason why there is a plethora of literature that portrays a futuristic setting where people exude zombie like traits and are specifically drawn to devices. It is a genuine possibility for our future at the rate that corporations are producing products at.
ReplyDeleteScreen time definitely needs to be regulated in general. With people spending more time inside due to quarantine they are going to be staring at screens more, usually in the form of phones, TVs, and computers. As someone who spends way too much time online, I try to take breaks every hour to get up, walk around, and stretch. Being sedentary for long amounts of time can have a lot of negative effects on the human body. Also the blue light from screens can lead to eye-strain, that will not only make your eyes dry but can make you have trouble focusing as well.
ReplyDelete-Devin Boone
I have noticed that in recent years, I can not function if I do not offer myself some phone or screen-related time. If I do not aimlessly scroll on Tik Tok for 20 minutes before or in the middle of school work, then I simply can not function. I've exceed the affects of digital devices on the brain as its probably developed into an addiction I'm not fully aware of. I think that with the accessibility of the internet, our world has fully immersed itself with digital information, and though it might be a good ecological solution, the psychological damage is hard to ignore. On average, my screen time is about 5 hours, and would probably be higher if I didn't have work. To be able to manage my screen time requires so much self control, but its a goal that I need to work on.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has been on the internet/using technology for a very long time and starting from a young age, I can definitely see why it's important to regulate screen time for adolescents. However, I don't think parents should restrict their children from using the internet/technology entirely. For many, it can be an escape and a way to recharge after a long day. Personally, I use things like YouTube and TikTok to unwind or relax after classes, or just when I've been stressed out and need a break. If the child is old enough and not really causing trouble, I don't really think it's a big issue. If they're on their phone and/or computer every waking moment, then the parents might want to intervene. Still, unnecessary restrictions could be doing more harm than good. Overall, if a serious issue arises, I understand the need for regulation.
ReplyDeleteCoincidentally, I don't have the screen time function set up on my phone, simply because I'd rather not see it. That might speak for itself, haha.
– Antonia Sussina.
I do believe that screen time is an issue with young adolescents because the focus becomes an alter way of living and people become too attached to what is in front of them. Constantly looking at a screen for a long time is not healthy for both your eyes and mind. Overtime, it can cause problems with sleeping, because one is so used to looking at a screen that your mind stays awake. Another struggle is disobedience, children will challenge their elders because they don't want it taken away. The IOS app allows parents to monitor both the content and time which can be beneficial to their children so that they can learn to not only respect but understand that there should be a balance in life and the virtual. My personal screen time is as basic as can be, the only real exposure to screen time for me is school related, or other important things. When I do watch platforms like YouTube, or use social media, it is only for a short amount of time. I don't agree with abusing it for too long because I feel it takes me away from what is truly real.
ReplyDeleteScreen time for young adolescents is a big issue because some teens get way too attached to their devices and it comes to a point where they get sucked into it, and it overwhelms them and takes them away from reality. Teens will prefer to be on their phones to not do work, or to not feel anything because it distracts them. Looking at a screen for hours on end can be harmful to their mental health as well as their physical health. I am guilty of always being on my phone and it is a huge distraction but I've gotten better at controlling my phone time and school work. My daily average is 11 hours most of it being on social media, but it used to be a whole lot worse.
ReplyDeleteI believe it is up to us to women are on screen time if we need it. For some people, their screen time is minimal, and they can keep it under control without any problem. At the same time, others seem to be addicted to their phones and will not be able to put them down. I think people need to regain their sense of willpower and try and help themselves. I do not believe that other people should limit others’ screen time and encourage them to fix their problems.
ReplyDelete-Anthony Villanella
Regulating screen time for adolescents is quite controversial than we think it is. Teenagers are growing up in a era of technology, and it has become their primary means of communication. I agree with the idea of parental controls on devices that are used by kids under 10. Since they do not understand majority of their actions. It is also a good time teach our kids about pros and cons of technology. By understanding the side effect of long term exposure to screens , they'll use their time wisely. But how are we supposed to reduce our screens time when everything in our life revolves around a screen. For example, daily zoom calls for classes. The screen time doesn't end there; sometimes it takes few hours to complete some of the assignments. I understand due to the current situations, we have to compromise. If we want to help students improve without effecting their brain and psychological health. We should reduces the excessive implementation of technologies, and integrate more hands on learning experience.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I love the way you wrote this!! I do not think this is a major issue, but it is defiantly important. If possible, I do think we should regulate screen time for adolescents. Especially due to the brain damage screen time does, it is important we regulate ourselves and the youth. My screen time is 6h 58m.
ReplyDeleteI feel the issue is based more on relativity. It's hard to grasp now in our current period because of covid-19. It would be that those statistics have risen due to the switch to the online format of school. Other kids may being have excessive screen time on their phones and other devices that need to be restricted, but for the educational usage, I think should be factored out. I believe parent's should restrict their children to screen, but only for recreational use.
ReplyDelete