Elevated screen time persists among youth
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Through the coronavirus pandemic, average screen time for college students in a California research rose about 1.75 hrs for each working day, and that elevated screen time persisted even as some COVID restrictions were lifted, according to analysis supported by the Countrywide Institutes of Overall health and released in the journal Pediatrics. Some industry experts are warning this could have troubling implications for students’ health and wellbeing.
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Source backlink Recently, researchers completed a large-scale study analysing the habits of youths regarding increased screen time. The results showed that youth continue to engage in far more screen time than is recommended, even after the recent pandemic which has further encouraged screen use for educational or entertainment purposes.
The study conducted by the Journal of Media Research and detailed that participants between the ages 8 to 18 averaged 6.5 hours of screen time per day. This surpasses the 2-hour maximum that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends for daily screen use among the young.
An additional aspect of the survey was the distribution of screen time between digital devices. Over a third of survey participants stated that the majority of their screen time was allocated to playing video or computer games. Social media also occupied a considerable amount of screen time for survey participants, as did technology for studying or remote work.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has commented on the potential consequences of increased screen time on the physical and psychological well-being of children. For example, a sedentary lifestyle has been linked to negative health outcomes such as obesity and degenerative brain diseases. Increased exposure to potentially toxic material on the internet can lead to depression or impaired cognitive development among the young.
Clearly, prolonged exposure to digital media can have serious consequences on the physical and psychological health of children and adolescents. Although the pandemic has provided a useful platform for remote work and education, it is necessary to also consider the amount of time dedicated to electronic media consumption and its effects on youths. Thus, in order to ensure the betterment of our youth, we must minimise the duration of screen time and focus on developing healthy and engaging alternatives.
