The effects of screen overexposure
JOHANNESBURG - A study by the South African Society of Psychiatrists shows that adults spend almost 10 hours per day on smartphones and other devices.
READ: Dutch suggest social media ban for under-15s
Children who emulate this behaviour are 70-percent more likely to experience suicidal thoughts or engage in suicidal behaviours compared to those with limited screen time.
Excessive consumption of low-quality online content leads to "brain rot".
Dr Melané van Zyl, a psychiatrist, explained the dangers of excessive screen time on children's mental health.
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eNCA
a day ago
- eNCA
The effects of screen overexposure
JOHANNESBURG - A study by the South African Society of Psychiatrists shows that adults spend almost 10 hours per day on smartphones and other devices. READ: Dutch suggest social media ban for under-15s Children who emulate this behaviour are 70-percent more likely to experience suicidal thoughts or engage in suicidal behaviours compared to those with limited screen time. Excessive consumption of low-quality online content leads to "brain rot". Dr Melané van Zyl, a psychiatrist, explained the dangers of excessive screen time on children's mental health.
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Children's mental health harmed by excessive screen time: help for parents
South Africans spend more time on screens than almost any other nation and the obsession is fuelling a mental health crisis among children and adolescents, warns the South African Society of Psychiatrists (Sasop). Globally, excessive screen use has become so widespread that 'brain-rot' — a term used to capture concerns about the effect of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media — was named the Oxford Dictionary's Word of the Year. The effect on children is alarmingly evident, the society said. Adolescents who spend more than five hours per day on digital devices are 70% more likely to have suicidal thoughts or actions than those who spend less than an hour a day. Even adolescents with moderate screen time of 4-6 hours per day are more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression than those with two hours less screen time per day. A study in 14 countries reviewing children from pre-primary to high school found mobile phones consistently distracted pupils from learning. Simply having a phone nearby, especially with notifications coming through, is enough to break their attention. Another study showed that once distracted, it can take up to 20 minutes for children to refocus.
eNCA
5 days ago
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Dutch suggest social media ban for under-15s
AMSTERDAM - The Dutch government on Tuesday advised parents to forbid children under 15 from using social media apps like TikTok and Snapchat, the latest country to propose curbs over mental health concerns. The advice, which is non-binding, comes after Australia and New Zealand proposed social media bans for under-16s, and several European countries have issued similar guidelines. "Intensive screen and social media use can be bad for the (mental) health and development of children," said the Dutch ministry for health, wellbeing and sport. "Think of sleeping problems, panic attacks, depressive symptoms, reduced concentration and a negative self-image." The ministry distinguished between smartphone use, messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Signal, and social media apps like TikTok. Children younger than their last year of primary school (typically 11 or 12) should not be allowed a smartphone, the government advised. From secondary school (age 12 or 13), message apps should be permitted but no social media apps before 15, according to the guidelines. "A step-by-step approach helps: first learn to communicate via chat, then get acquainted with social media," said the government. The ministry also issued guidelines on screen time: none at all before the age of two, while children over 12 should not be in front of a screen for more than three hours. Healthy screen use is more than just time limits, the government said. "It's also about balancing screen time with other activities, using media together, and fostering positive online experiences." The advice brings the Netherlands into line with other age guidelines in Europe, said the government. Backed by France and Spain, Greece has spearheaded a proposal for how the European Union should limit children's use of online platforms. France, Greece and Denmark believe there should be a ban on social media for under-15s, while Spain has suggested a ban for under-16s. In the Netherlands, a children's advocacy group said earlier this month the "unchecked expansion" of social media platforms is driving an unprecedented global mental health crisis in kids and teens. The KidsRights report said what it termed "problematic" social media use was on the rise, with a direct link between heavy internet use and suicide attempts. However, blanket bans are not the answer, the group warned.
