How screen use can create a vicious cycle for some children and teens
PARIS : It has long been known that screens are harmful to children. Excessive exposure has been linked to cognitive development delays, as well as learning, language and memory disorders. In adolescents, excessive screen use may cause manic symptoms, such as mood disorders and sleep disturbances.
But a new Australian meta-analysis highlights a lesser-known problem: excessive screen use can exacerbate socioemotional problems in children, such as anxiety, depression, hyperactivity and aggression – in turn driving them to screens to cope with these issues. This vicious circle mainly affects children aged six to 10 and seems to be more prevalent in boys than in girls.
Conducted by researchers at the University of Queensland, the findings, published in the journal Psychological Bulletin, examined around 100 studies involving more than 292,000 children from around the world. Most of the cases included in this study were conducted in the United States (41 studies), Canada (13), Australia (11), Germany, and the Netherlands (7 each).
The researchers found that video games are associated with higher risks of developing behavioral disorders compared to other screen-based content, including those intended for educational or recreational purposes.
'As a kid I loved video games – they give you a challenge and powerful feedback when you're doing a good job. For this reason, games are particularly tempting for children having problems and especially hard to get children away from,' said study senior author Michael Noetel, quoted in a news release.
While it's true that some video games have an educational dimension – some of them have even been recognised as a vehicle for mental well-being among teenagers – excessive use can be counterproductive.
'Parents and policymakers have long debated whether screens cause problems, or whether children with problems were simply drawn to screens,' the news release notes.
'Our review shows it's both,' Noetel revealed. 'If we only address one side of the equation – cutting down on screen time but overlooking anxiety or aggression that leads kids to screens – we risk leaving children stuck in a cycle.'
However, the researcher tempers this by pointing out that the emotional and behavioral disorders mentioned can also be explained by other factors, such as exposure to alcohol and/or drugs.
The '3-6-9-12 rule'
In France, some health professionals now recommend keeping children under six away from screens entirely, which is three years longer than the current official recommendations.
To help parents limit their children's screen time, French pediatrician Serge Tisseron has invented the '3-6-9-12 rule', designed according to children's age and stage of cognitive development. The rules are as follows:
no screens before the age of 3;
no personal consoles before age 6;
no internet before age 9; and
no internet without supervision before age 12.
Other initiatives have recently emerged to encourage children and teens to 'detox' from digital devices, such as the challenge of spending 10 days without using any screens at all, in favour of activities that promote relaxation and creativity.
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