SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Children can be easily influenced by what they see and hear on the television and internet. Here are the risks posed by five screen types.
1. Television
Passively watching TV can lead to a sedentary lifestyle and contribute to health problems such as obesity, which is on the rise in young children, according to SingHealth.
Watching too much TV can also expose children to age-inappropriate or violent content, which may negatively influence their behaviour and emotional development.
The fast-paced visuals common in TV programmes can shorten attention spans and make it harder for children to engage with slower, more thoughtful activities like reading.
2. Smartphones
Excessive use of smartphones, including social media and gaming apps, can lead to phone addiction and reduce face-to-face social interactions important for the development of social skills.
Social media can lead to negative self-comparisons and lower self-esteem, according to Compass, a British charity providing health and well-being services. Social media also increases the risk of cyber bullying and exposure to inappropriate online interactions.
Whether it’s a mobile phone or other devices, screen time before bed can throw off sleep patterns, as blue light emitted interferes with production of the sleep hormone, melatonin.
3. Tablets
Passive use of tablets, such as for watching videos, can hinder creativity and imaginative play.
Using tablets and smartphones as a go-to tactic to soothe upset children could also reduce opportunities for young children to practise emotional coping skills and lead to increased difficulty controlling their emotions down the road, suggests a 2022 Michigan Medicine study.
This could manifest as rapid mood shifts and heightened impulsivity. The bright colours and fast-paced app-switching on a tablet can also overstimulate children’s brains, making it harder for them to focus on non-digital activities.
4. Computers
Computers are widely used for schoolwork, gaming and internet browsing, but long hours in front of a computer screen often results in eye strain, headaches and reduced physical activity.
The vast access to the internet increases the risk of exposure to harmful or inappropriate content.
Using the internet and playing video games for long periods can affect brain development, especially in language skills and concentration abilities, according to a 2022 study published in the National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health, which is based in the United States.
5. Virtual reality headsets
Virtual reality gaming can induce nausea and eye strain, as well as blind children to real-world obstacles, according to a 2022 report by Common Sense Media, an American non-profit providing entertainment and technology recommendations to families.
Children may be exposed to sexually explicit content and abusive language, as well as other psychological risks such as addiction, increased aggression and dissociation from reality. - The Straits Times/ANN
