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Does Increased Screen Time Cause Health Hazards In Children?
Question: what is the average hours per day that is a teenager is on electronics and how does his affect their health? Thank you
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
It is estimated in the United States teens spend an average of 9 hours per day on screen time. This is per a 2015 report done by the non-profit group Common Sense Media.
Regarding the effects on adolescent health, anything over 4 hours is considered to be detrimental in many ways, according to a 2016 study done by the University of Oxford.
The study found that some use of electronics actually was beneficial in teens. For computers, the study found that benefits peaked at four hours and 17 minutes a day before starting to have negative effects. For smartphones it was two hours and for video games, one hour 40 minutes. The Oxford study, however, does not calculate the cumulative effect of using multiple devices.
In 2014, researchers in China concluded that too much time on the internet possibly caused brain shrinkage as measured by scans. I am not sure what to make of this particular study as I have not read it.
Excessive time on electronics can cause hyper-arousal (Electronic Screen Syndrome).
Multiple studies have shown that using electronics before bedtime disrupts sleep. And inadequate sleep can have ramifications including decreased energy and endurance, poor concentration and memory, irritability, depression, and if persistent, also effects on the immune system.
Increased screen time can negatively substitute for more healthy things that are being omitted which includes real life interactions with one's environment, interactions with people in person, and being outdoors or exercise.
As the current situation of teens (or anyone) having extensive exposure to electronics is unprecedented in previous generations, we don't have long term knowledge of what other effects increased relationships with electronics may have.
I hope this information answers your question.
"Where negative effects do exist, these are in fact quite weak, compared to other factors such as getting a decent night's sleep which have previously been shown to have an influence on well-being.
"Taken altogether then, the study shows that we need to drastically reconsider the way we think about screen time - there just isn't a simple negative correlation between using digital technology and wellbeing.
The research was published in the journal Psychological Science.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
It is estimated in the United States teens spend an average of 9 hours per day on screen time. This is per a 2015 report done by the non-profit group Common Sense Media.
Regarding the effects on adolescent health, anything over 4 hours is considered to be detrimental in many ways, according to a 2016 study done by the University of Oxford.
The study found that some use of electronics actually was beneficial in teens. For computers, the study found that benefits peaked at four hours and 17 minutes a day before starting to have negative effects. For smartphones it was two hours and for video games, one hour 40 minutes. The Oxford study, however, does not calculate the cumulative effect of using multiple devices.
In 2014, researchers in China concluded that too much time on the internet possibly caused brain shrinkage as measured by scans. I am not sure what to make of this particular study as I have not read it.
Excessive time on electronics can cause hyper-arousal (Electronic Screen Syndrome).
Multiple studies have shown that using electronics before bedtime disrupts sleep. And inadequate sleep can have ramifications including decreased energy and endurance, poor concentration and memory, irritability, depression, and if persistent, also effects on the immune system.
Increased screen time can negatively substitute for more healthy things that are being omitted which includes real life interactions with one's environment, interactions with people in person, and being outdoors or exercise.
As the current situation of teens (or anyone) having extensive exposure to electronics is unprecedented in previous generations, we don't have long term knowledge of what other effects increased relationships with electronics may have.
I hope this information answers your question.
"Where negative effects do exist, these are in fact quite weak, compared to other factors such as getting a decent night's sleep which have previously been shown to have an influence on well-being.
"Taken altogether then, the study shows that we need to drastically reconsider the way we think about screen time - there just isn't a simple negative correlation between using digital technology and wellbeing.
The research was published in the journal Psychological Science.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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