Is your kid addicted to his/her phone, tablet, laptop etc? Do they prefer screen time over going out and playing with their friends, or getting some fresh air? While a few minutes of screen time everyday is unlikely to have any long term effects, repeated screen time can wreak havoc on your child's mood, mental health, sleep patterns, and overall well-being. Let's take a look..
How bad is screen time?
According to neuroscientists, research shows that frequent and long screen use during adolescence is linked to changes in brain function, especially in areas responsible for attention, impulse control, and planning. Teenagers especially, who are addicted to their devices struggle with cognitive control systems, making it harder for them to focus and regulate their behavior. This is because screen activities, like gaming or social media, provide altered brain development over time, since they drastically reduce a kid's attention span.
Impact on mental health
Excessive screen time is strongly connected to increased anxiety, depression, and stress among teens. Constant notifications and the pressure to stay connected can cause feelings of worry FOMO (fear of missing out) Social media also plays a role by exposing teens to the larger than life, and often pretentious images and lifestyles, which can lower self-esteem and increase sadness. Not only this, dopamine release from screen use can lead to irritability and mood swings, because of the brain being forced to work overtime, without catching a break.
Sleep disturbances
One of the most immediate effects of screen use is on sleep. Electronic devices emit blue light that suppresses melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate sleep. Teens who use screens before bed tend to fall asleep later, sleep fewer hours, and experience poorer sleep quality. This, in turn, leads to daytime tiredness, difficulty concentrating, and can pave way to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Having devices in the bedroom or using them in the dark further harms sleep patterns.
A vicious cycle
Screen time, mental health, and sleep problems often run parallel to each other. Poor sleep can increase anxiety and depression, which in turn may lead to more screen use as a coping mechanism. This creates a harmful cycle that can be hard to break. Experts emphasize the importance of setting healthy screen habits early to prevent long-term effects on teens’ mood and overall well-being.
What can parents do?
Limit screen use, especially in the hour before bedtime. (do not open it for negotiation, or use it like a "treat" for a job well done)
Encourage regular sleep routines and keep devices out of bedrooms at night.
Promote physical activity and face-to-face social interactions to balance screen time.
Help teens understand the impact of screens on their brain and mood.
Monitor for signs of screen overload, such as irritability, withdrawal, and poor sleep.
How bad is screen time?
According to neuroscientists, research shows that frequent and long screen use during adolescence is linked to changes in brain function, especially in areas responsible for attention, impulse control, and planning. Teenagers especially, who are addicted to their devices struggle with cognitive control systems, making it harder for them to focus and regulate their behavior. This is because screen activities, like gaming or social media, provide altered brain development over time, since they drastically reduce a kid's attention span.
Impact on mental health
Excessive screen time is strongly connected to increased anxiety, depression, and stress among teens. Constant notifications and the pressure to stay connected can cause feelings of worry FOMO (fear of missing out) Social media also plays a role by exposing teens to the larger than life, and often pretentious images and lifestyles, which can lower self-esteem and increase sadness. Not only this, dopamine release from screen use can lead to irritability and mood swings, because of the brain being forced to work overtime, without catching a break.
Sleep disturbances
One of the most immediate effects of screen use is on sleep. Electronic devices emit blue light that suppresses melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate sleep. Teens who use screens before bed tend to fall asleep later, sleep fewer hours, and experience poorer sleep quality. This, in turn, leads to daytime tiredness, difficulty concentrating, and can pave way to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Having devices in the bedroom or using them in the dark further harms sleep patterns.
A vicious cycle
Screen time, mental health, and sleep problems often run parallel to each other. Poor sleep can increase anxiety and depression, which in turn may lead to more screen use as a coping mechanism. This creates a harmful cycle that can be hard to break. Experts emphasize the importance of setting healthy screen habits early to prevent long-term effects on teens’ mood and overall well-being.
What can parents do?
Limit screen use, especially in the hour before bedtime. (do not open it for negotiation, or use it like a "treat" for a job well done)
Encourage regular sleep routines and keep devices out of bedrooms at night.
Promote physical activity and face-to-face social interactions to balance screen time.
Help teens understand the impact of screens on their brain and mood.
Monitor for signs of screen overload, such as irritability, withdrawal, and poor sleep.
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