In his interaction with ‘exam warriors’ at the seventh edition of ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ held in New Delhi last week, PM Narendra Modi reiterated the harm caused by the excessive usage of electronic devices and advised students to reduce their screen time.
“Excess of everything is bad. I use mobile phones only when required. Try reducing your screen time,” Modi said.
The PM also suggested that family members must be aware of the passwords of the mobile phones of their children. “Using gadgets should be accompanied by time-tracking tools and applications. Ensure that your gadgets have apps that keep track of your screen time… We should have the wisdom to use technology positively,” he added.
According to a survey by Happinetz, an Internet filtering device maker, as much as 42% of children under the age of 12 years spend an average of two to four hours daily glued to their smartphones or tablets. Those in the higher age bracket dedicate up to 47% of their day to screens, the survey revealed.
No wonder, excessive screen usage, whether on mobile phones, tablets, computers or even smartwatches and particularly among kids, has become a cause of concern. According to a survey by Baatu Tech, a smart parent solutions company, 95% of Indian parents are deeply concerned about screen addiction among children, while 80% and 70% expressed worries regarding gaming addiction and adult content consumption, respectively.
For Mahima Bhasin, excessive e-device usage has become the biggest torture of her life. If her toddler watches Cartoon Network on television continuously for up to six hours, the older one, who is aged 10 years, likes to swipe Instagram Reels on her mother’s mobile phone. “Even if TV and mobile phones are important mediums of entertainment, it has become more like an addiction for my children, and this non-stop usage doesn’t seem to end,” rues Bhasin, a homemaker based in Gurugram.
How much is too much?
According to research, toddlers in the age group of 0 to 5 years, who viewed screens for more than four hours a day suffered from ‘sensory-motor and socio-affective deprivation’. As a result, they tend to affect their cognitive abilities, linguistic development and social skills.
Dr Manish Mannan, HOD, pediatrics and neonatology, Paras Health, says: “Repeated exposure to screens during one’s crucial developmental years may hinder learning by limiting real-world experiences like hyperactivity, inability to focus and concentrate, lack interest in physical activities, excessively invested in the virtual world, irritability, shorter attention span, frequent mood swings.”
Such kids are susceptible to lack of real-world interaction. “When children spend excessive time on screens, they miss out on essential social interactions, physical activities, and hands-on learning experiences. Parents must prioritise their child’s growth and development in the first three crucial years of his or her life,” says Dr Mannan.
Early childhood is a crucial period for brain development. Excessive screen time during this phase can impede the development of essential skills. “Youngsters under the age of 5 years frequently pick up language by imitating the lip movements of others in their environment. When children mimic the speech of animated TV characters or others from the digital world, they may occasionally be affected by severe developmental problems, such as delays in speech development,” adds Dr Mannan.
Similarly, Dr Praveen Khilnani, chairman, pediatrics, pediatric pulmonology and pediatric critical care paediatrics, Medanta, Gurugram, blames the prolonged exposure to digital devices, social isolation and the shift to online learning during lockdowns for the current health crisis. “The shift to online education led to increased screen time, which impacted children’s behavioural patterns. At the same time, isolation measures prevented children from engaging in regular social interactions, affecting their social skills and emotional well-being,” he adds.
In many cases, the excessive use of screen time can be detrimental and bring in a set of behavioural patterns commonly observed in children, also termed as virtual autism which refers to those who excessively immerse in virtual environments, such as video games, social media, and other digital platforms. “Insufficient parental guidance and monitoring of digital activities can exacerbate the impact of virtual autism. Without appropriate boundaries, children may find themselves navigating the digital landscape without the necessary support and context to develop a healthy balance between virtual and real-world interactions,” says Dr Rahul Nagpal, director and HOD, paediatrics and neonatology, Fortis, Vasant Kunj.
As per Dr Shreya Dubey, consultant, paediatrics and neonatology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, studies indicate that increased screen time is associated with melanopsin-communicating neurons and decreased gamma-aminobutyric acid neurotransmitter, which leads to decreased mental and linguistic development. “With too much exposure to screens, even the light-dark cycles that support the brain’s production of melatonin and dopamine and improve a child’s knowledge of their relationship to self and others can be disrupted,” says Dubey.
How to deal with it
Children under the age of 18 months should avoid screens. Those between the ages of 2 and 5 years should only engage in high-quality screen time for an hour each day. By combining screen time with other positive activities, parents can promote a healthy environment by encouraging children’s discovery and confidence-building in a variety of real-world activities.
For teenagers, excessive screen usage is linked to an increased risk of depression and other mental health problems. “Prolonged screen time, especially on social media platforms, can affect perceptions of reality, leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem,” says Dr Achal Bhagat, senior consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals.
Parents and guardians have an important role in helping children form strong offline connections, cultivate face-to-face conversations, and participate in extracurricular activities. “Emphasising the significance of regular sleep with a tech-free bedtime ritual can help teenagers maintain a happy mental state,” adds Dr Bhagat.
Dr Khilnani of Medanta advises reduction of screen time, and encouragement of alternative activities, such as outdoor play, creative hobbies and interactive learning methods. “Also, encourage safe social interactions with peers, family and community activities to promote social skills and emotional well-being,” he adds.