The Effects of Increased Screen Time on Kids: A Closer Look
The Impact of Increased Screen Time on Children's Development - Rising Screen Time's Impacts on Children's Development and Wellbeing
In today's digital age, kids are spending more and more time in front of screens—be it for gaming, learning, or social media. The youth of Germany stand out due to their intense screen usage. A new study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warns that this could lead to depression, unhealthy body images, and loneliness, although the findings aren't always clear. Let's break down the impact of screen time on children's health and who's at risk.
The Rise in Screen Time
Kids as young as toddlers already spend considerable time in front of screens. The screen time of 7-12-year-olds in France exceeds two hours daily, while German 15-year-olds log in approximately 7 hours daily, totalling close to 48 hours a week. German youth are among the heaviest users, with 75% of 15-year-olds spending more than two hours a day on screens for entertainment. Just four out of the 36 countries surveyed have higher values, including Poland and Estonia.
Experts suggest that media consumption surged during the pandemic due to cancelled activities like football training and dance courses which led to more screen time. Postbank's digital study showed a slight decrease in media usage in the months following, but the long-term trend remains stable.
Sleep Disruptions and a Vicious Cycle
Although many health implications are still under-researched, it's well-known that high media consumption, especially in the evening, can impair sleep quality. Poor sleep, in turn, can result in fatigue, enticing young people to engage in passive activities like watching TV the following day. Having digital devices like smartphones, computers, or TVs directly in the room can contribute to this issue.
The mental health of young people has significantly deteriorated over the past 15 years, as per the OECD study. This worsened during the pandemic, coinciding with a significant increase in media usage. While a causal link hasn’t been definitively proven, research suggests that negative effects can occur, such as excessive use, cyberbullying, or exposure to inappropriate content.
According to the OECD, problematic consumption can increase the risks of depression, anxiety, loneliness, school difficulties, body image problems, and sleep disorders, with girls often being more affected.
Warning Signals for the Brain
Dr. Joachim Türk, vice-president of the German Children's Fund, warns that spending too much time on devices can disrupt development. Young children, especially, need physical stimulation like touch, smell, and taste to understand the world. Even though digital devices may seem smart, they can't offer the same experience.
Older children and young people may lose the ability to focus on one task for an extended period as they navigate the whirlwind of TikToks and reels. In Germany, more than half of 10-year-olds already own their own smartphone, with the percentage varying depending on social class. By the age of 15, almost all have their own device.
Not Just Screen Time: Educational Value Matters
The authors of the study stress the importance of differentiating between types of screen time to make a fair judgment. Educational content, such as e-books, can support learning, especially for girls and better-off youth.
Kai Hanke, CEO of the German Children's Aid Organization, notes that the digital world holds immense potential for children. It offers crucial access to social participation which must not be denied. Instead, parents, schools, media, and lawmakers must create the conditions that allow children to harness this potential.
Berthold Koletzko, a pediatrician and chairman of the Foundation for Child Health, suggests focusing on establishing binding standards for safe digital content, clear advertising restrictions, and promoting media literacy. Educational institutions should create spaces free from phones and tablets that encourage analog experiences.
The Intention to Change Habits
The OECD authors analyzed several surveys, including the latest PISA study from 2022. The 38 nations of the organization, including large parts of Europe, Japan, and Israel, were examined.
Surprisingly, an increasing number of people in Germany are resolving to spend less time on their phones. This is evident in a survey by the DAK on New Year's resolutions. Every third person wishes for more time offline—especially among the younger generation, who express this wish more pronouncedly.
Enrichment Data
- Health Risks: Excessive screen time can cause obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, sleep problems, and myopia. It is also linked to developmental delays such as delayed language development, learning problems, and social-emotional delays.
- Recommendations: Age-specific guidelines suggest limiting screen time for children under 2 years old, encouraging educational content for children aged 2-5 years, and suggesting that teens spend no more than two hours with digital media.
- Pandemic Impact: The COVID-19 pandemic sped up the use of digital media among children worldwide, with remote learning, social isolation, and increased online entertainment during lockdowns serving as the main drivers. While specific data on Germany is limited, the increase in screen time during the pandemic likely exacerbated health concerns.
- The ECSC, in collaboration with educational institutions, could advocate for the development of health-and-wellness programs that emphasize mental health, part of an improved employment policy for teaching staff, to address the mental health decline in children and help them deal with the impacts of increased screen time.
- As technology continues to advance, science should focus on researching the effects of screen time on various aspects of children's health, including mental health, sleep patterns, and physical development, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the consequences and inform the creation of effective employment policies aimed at promoting healthier screen habits among youth.
