Latest news with #screenTime
News24
7 hours ago
- Health
- News24
Rethinking screen time: Are we modelling healthy habits for our kids?
Noel Hendrickson, Getty Images South Africans rank among the highest in global screen time usage, with adults averaging nearly 10 hours daily on devices, raising concerns about the impact on children observing these habits. Experts warn of the mental, emotional, and physical risks excessive screen time poses, from anxiety to poor academic performance. By making small lifestyle changes, such as having device-free family time and using built-in screen-time tools, parents can lead by example and promote a healthier, more balanced approach to technology. South Africa has earned a dubious distinction: its citizens spend more time glued to screens than most other nations. With the average South African adult devoting a staggering nine hours and 37 minutes daily to smartphones, nearly a third of their waking hours, it's clear we're in the grip of a digital addiction. But as parents scroll through social media (which alone consumes 22% of daily usage), what lessons are we teaching our children about healthy technology use? The disturbing cost of screen obsession The SA Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) warns that our screen addiction is fuelling a mental health crisis among young people. The statistics paint a troubling picture: - Adolescents spending more than five hours daily on devices are 70% more likely to have suicidal thoughts than those with less than an hour of screen time. - Even moderate use (four to six hours) increases risks of anxiety and depression compared to peers with just two hours less exposure. - Studies across 14 countries found cellphones consistently disrupt learning - with notifications alone requiring up to 20 minutes for children to refocus. Psychiatrist Professor Renata Schoeman explains the ripple effects: Excessive screen time links to depression, anxiety, poor sleep, declining academic performance, social withdrawal, and exposure to harmful content like cyberbullying or eating disorder promotion. Physical consequences include obesity, eye strain, and poor posture. Parents' confessions: Holding a mirror to our habits Before reading SASOP's findings, I started to think about what my phone usage looks like to my four-year-old after she chastised her father for always being on his phone. After reading SASOP's warning, I wondered about my own usage stats. According to the dashboard in my device's Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls centre, I spend four to five hours on my phone daily. Screenshot Screenshot Screenshot I contacted other South African parents about their screen habits for this piece. Here's what they shared: Khaya (8h25m): Acknowledges work demands that necessitate usage but vows to be more present. Tinashe (eight to 10 hours): Admits his daughter associates him with his computer. Marilynn (5h45m): Calls her usage 'excessive' and feels guilty. Iavan (5h50m): Justifies nighttime scrolling as 'downtime'. Lerato (7h40m): Shares devices with kids watching YouTube. Hein (10h20m): Acknowledges that his screen time doesn't set a healthy example. Their honesty reminds me of an uncomfortable truth: children learn by observation. 'I don't think it's the healthiest example because my daughter associates me with my computer a lot, however I do try and manage her screen time and encourage breaks for outdoor time or other activities. Sometimes I'll switch everything off and leave music in the background,' says Tinashe. Lerato's screen time. As Schoeman notes: 'We cannot expect children to moderate screen time when they see adults constantly glued to phones.' Practical tools for change The solution isn't shaming ourselves and others or abandoning screens but finding balance. Both Apple and Android devices offer built-in tools: - Screen Time Tracking (iOS/Android): Shows daily/weekly usage per app. - App Limits: Set daily caps on usage for specific apps. - Downtime/Focus Mode: Blocks non-essential apps during set hours. - Bedtime Mode: Silences notifications and grays out screens. - Do Not Disturb: Pauses alerts during family time or work. Schoeman also recommends: - No screens under age two; less than one hour for ages two to five; less than two hours for older kids. - Device-free meals and bedrooms. - Modelling breaks and offline activities. - Overnight device custody for teens. Small changes, big impact As Lerato discovered, simple swaps, like outdoor chores with kids, can reshape family habits. Reflecting on her goals, Marilynn says: 'Ideally, I'd like to take that number down to two hours or so. With all the research around the negative impacts of increased screen time, I feel quite guilty that I'm not setting a better example and do hope to do better.' 'Children don't need perfection,' reminds Schoeman, 'they need consistency.' Putting phones away at dinner or disabling notifications during homework sends powerful messages. With South Africa's screen stats among the world's highest, I find it ironic that we must not forget that our children are watching (us). The question of what our solution to the crisis highlighted by SASOP isn't just about their screen time but ours, too. As the parents, we spoke to demonstrate that awareness is the first step toward change. What will your screen time teach your child today? - To check your screen time on an Android device, open your settings and scroll to Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls or a similar setting. You can find your screen time report on an Apple device in your control centre.
The National
15 hours ago
- Health
- The National
More than a third of children spend over seven hours a day on screens, UAE study finds
More than one third of children in the UAE spend over seven hours each weekday on screens, according to new research. The findings, published as schools in the country take tougher action to restrict mobile phone use, also highlighted a link between the excessive use of electronic devices and a lack of exercise. Carried out by University of Sharjah and American University of Beirut, the research reported that 37.7 per cent of students spent more than seven hours on screens each weekday, outside of lessons. 'High screen time was associated with lower physical activity levels, as 68.8 per cent of children who exceeded seven hours of screen time did not participate in any physical activity,' the study said, referring to time outside of lessons during the school week. Based on data about mobile phone, laptop, television and tablet use submitted by parents of 300 children in the UAE aged from four to 17, the paper also found that screen time increased with age. What can parents do? The findings highlighted, the researchers said, 'the need for families to take proactive measures to limit screen time and encourage more physical activity in their children'. 'Parents should be encouraged to set clear limits on screen time and promote alternative activities, such as sports, outdoor play and family outings,' the researchers said. With more than six in 10 children eating sweets while using screens, the researchers said that 'addressing dietary habits is crucial'. The new paper is titled, 'Assessing the effect of screen time on physical activity in children based on parent-reported data: a cross-sectional study,' and is published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science. Aine McGlue, head of secondary at the British International School Abu Dhabi, said that previous research showed that today's children were less active than young people from previous generations. 'So much of it is caused by inappropriate use of digital media,' she said. 'To expect a child to have the social and emotional maturity to detach themselves from a phone is unreasonable … Schools have to take a proactive stance.' In August, at the start of the 2024/25 academic year, BISAD, a Nord Anglia school, introduced a ban on mobile phone use by pupils during school hours. It is one of many UAE schools to have brought in such restrictions. Ms McGlue said that the policy was 'quite contentious at first', but parents were invited to coffee mornings during which the rule was explained, with the school highlighting research around the link between reduced screen time and improved mental and physical health. The rationale was also explained to pupils. 'Kids need to know that we're not implementing this as a punishment: there's research and evidence behind this to say this is in their best interests,' Ms McGlue said. 'The policy is clear: if you're seen with your phone, the phone is confiscated. If your phone is taken a second time, it's the parents' responsibility to come in and get the phone themselves.' Alternatives to screen time By, for example, installing table tennis tables, the school has given students additional things to do outside of lessons, instead of using phones, she said. 'At lunchtime, when kids might be feeling a little unsure about how they're going to use this time, they're actually out now playing football, they're out playing basketball,' Ms McGlue said. 'We've set up open mic sessions so that kids can creatively perform using their music skills. They have an audience around the things that they're doing.' Research from many other nations has highlighted the potential harms linked to excessive use of screen devices. In a study based on data from New Zealand, Dr Ladan Hashemi, of City St George's, part of the University of London, found that when families had stricter rules about using screens when children were of pre-school age, obesity rates were lower later on in childhood. Dr Hashemi told The National that excessive screen time, poor diet, lack of physical activity and poor sleep were all linked. Using screens too often can, for example, encourage unhealthy snacking, while late-night screen use can disrupt sleep. 'Families who had better regulation around the use of screen devices, their children were more likely to have better sleep, longer sleep, and they were less likely to spend time on screen devices, which means they have more time for physical activity. These are strong contributors to reducing childhood obesity,' Dr Hashemi said. She said that for school-age children, less than two hours per day on screens was widely recommended – but also that parents should set an example. 'You can't just tell children to abandon devices if you as a parent are spending too much time on screens. You need, as a parent, to set an example as a role model,' she said. Dr Hashemi said that parents may 'use screen devices as a babysitter' to occupy their children, so cutting down on screen time meant that parents should provide alternative things to do. 'If you restrict the children's screen time, you need to give them more means to spend their time – family time, activity time, school-based activities, community-based activities,' she said. The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends that for children aged two to five, non-educational screen time should be limited to about one hour per weekday and three hours per day at weekends. For children aged six and older, the academy recommends that parents 'encourage healthy habits and limit activities that include screens'. Screens should be turned off during family meals and outings, the academy suggests, and turned off and removed from bedrooms at least half an hour before lights out. In March, the UAE's first digital detox clinic for children has opened in Abu Dhabi offering a programme to address the growing problem of screen addiction in young people.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
5 Surprising Ways Too Much Screen Time Impacts Your Brain
Excessive screen time can impact brain health and productivity, making intentional breaks more ... More important than ever. The average American now spends 12 hours and 36 minutes staring at screens every day, with approximately 104 million people exposed to excessive screen time of seven or more hours daily. While we often focus on physical symptoms like eye strain and neck pain, neuroscience research reveals that excessive screen time is literally reshaping our brains in surprising ways. "The negative effects of screen time are insidious because you can't see what's happening in your brain as you're staring at the screen," explains Maris Loeffler, member of the Stanford Lifestyle Medicine Cognitive Enhancement pillar. "If you scrolled on your phone in bed for an hour just one morning, the negative impacts would be minimal. But if it becomes a habit, day after day, month after month, this behavior can take a toll." Here are five scientifically-backed ways excessive screen time is impacting your brain, along with actionable workplace strategies to protect your mental acuity. One of the most astonishing discoveries in recent neuroscience research is that excessive screen time can lead to physical changes in the brain's structure. Studies show that in adults aged 18-25, excessive screen time can cause thinning of the cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer responsible for essential brain functions like memory and problem-solving. Your cerebral cortex is your brain's command center, orchestrating everything from complex reasoning to creative thinking. When this region becomes thinner due to excessive screen exposure, it can impact your ability to focus, make decisions and process information effectively. Implement the 20-20-20 rule recommended by The American Academy of Ophthalmology throughout your workday. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Schedule this as recurring calendar reminders if needed. Additionally, negotiate "cortex recovery" breaks with your employer. Brief 10- to 15-minute breaks every two hours can boost productivity. Use these breaks for activities like brainstorming sessions, walking meetings or reviewing printed materials rather than staying glued to your monitor. Gray matter is your brain's essential tissue responsible for everything from movement to emotions. While gray matter naturally decreases with age, research indicates that adults who engage in excessive screen time have significantly lower gray matter volume compared to their peers. This premature shrinkage is concerning because gray matter houses the majority of your brain's neuronal cell bodies. When you lose gray matter volume ahead of schedule, you're accelerating cognitive aging, which can impact your memory, emotional regulation and overall mental sharpness. To protect and build your gray matter at work, consider these neuroscience-backed strategies: • Take walking meetings: Replace video calls with phone calls while walking, or suggest walking discussions for one-on-one meetings to combine exercise with collaboration. • Prioritize in-person interactions: Choose face-to-face conversations over Slack messages when possible, attend networking events and participate in team-building activities. • Engage in professional development: Attend workshops, take online courses during designated learning time or join professional associations that require active participation and new skill development. The blue light emitted by screens doesn't just strain your eyes; it also affects your sleep. Research demonstrates that screen light can delay the release of melatonin from the brain's pineal gland, disrupting the body's natural circadian rhythm and making it difficult to fall asleep and achieve restorative sleep cycles. When your circadian rhythm is consistently disrupted, it creates a series of problems that neuroscience research has linked to impaired cognitive performance. Poor sleep quality impairs memory consolidation, reduces cognitive performance and can even contribute to mood disorders and anxiety. To protect your sleep and circadian rhythm: • Set clear boundaries: Negotiate with your employer to avoid late-night emails and establish "off-hours" communication policies. • Use protective technology: If you must work late, use blue light-blocking glasses or enable night mode on all devices. • Create a shutdown ritual: Physically close your laptop, turn off notifications and transition to non-screen activities like reviewing tomorrow's priorities on paper. • Propose flexible hours: Consider work schedules that align with your natural circadian rhythm for peak performance. "One of the biggest issues with picking up the phone right away in the morning is that when you have an object close to your face, it's registered as a threat," explains Loeffler. "You wouldn't want to wake up and look a bear in the face every morning. On a physiological level, it's the same thing." When you immediately reach for your phone upon waking and dive into emails, you jolt your nervous system and trigger a fight-or-flight response before you're fully awake. This creates a pattern where your brain defaults to hypervigilance and anxiety throughout the day, making it harder to relax, focus and think clearly. Implement a screen-free first hour of your day. Instead of checking emails immediately, start with activities that regulate your nervous system, like exercise, meditation or preparing a healthy breakfast. Arrive at work early to settle in without the immediate pressure of emails and notifications. Use this time to plan your day, organize your workspace or have informal conversations with colleagues. This approach helps you start work from a calm, focused state rather than reactive stress mode. Research indicates that adults who watch television for five hours or more daily may have an increased risk of developing diseases like dementia, stroke or Parkinson's. This connection likely stems from the combination of factors we've already discussed: reduced gray matter, disrupted sleep patterns, chronic stress activation and the sedentary lifestyle that often accompanies excessive screen time. When these factors compound over years or decades, they can accelerate cognitive decline and increase vulnerability to serious neurological conditions. Take a comprehensive approach to brain health in your professional life: • Seek cognitive challenges: Volunteer for projects requiring strategic thinking, problem-solving and creative solutions, or lead cross-functional teams and mentor colleagues. • Champion workplace wellness: Propose initiatives like lunchtime walking groups, meditation sessions or stress management workshops incorporating neuroscience-based techniques. • Advocate for health support: Push for ergonomic workstations and regular health screenings through your employee benefits. Remember that your brain is remarkably adaptable. By taking control of your screen time and protecting your cognitive health, you can actually rewire your brain's neural pathways, reduce the risk of mental decline and create a healthier relationship with technology that advances rather than hinders your professional success.
News24
2 days ago
- Health
- News24
3 reasons why you should trade screen-time for cuddles with your little one
In the fast paced world of modern day parenting, screens can feel like a lifeline, especially when baby is fussy, restless, or wide-eyed at 3 am. But stepping away from scrolling has surprising benefits for both you and your little one. Your voice, your expressions, and your undivided attention are powerful tools that shape your baby's brain, helping them feel safe, seen, and ready to learn. Lizeth Kruger, Clinic Executive at Dis-Chem Baby City, shares into three major developmental concerns linked to screen time, how it affects your baby, and why it isn't a substitute for engagement. Speech delay When babies spend too much time in front of screens, whether it's cartoons or nursery rhymes, they miss out on essential face-to-face interactions that are crucial for language development. Babies learn to speak by hearing real voices, watching lips move, and receiving immediate feedback when they mimic or try to form words, something a screen simply can't provide. Talking to your baby, even if they can't talk back yet, lays the foundation for communication. Narrating your day, singing songs, reading books, and using eye contact, gestures, and facial expressions all play a vital role in helping your baby learn language. These interactions not only support their language skills but also strengthen your bond. It also helps you better understand your baby's cues, laying the groundwork for a deeper emotional connection. Every conversation, no matter how small, supports your baby's development and deepens your connection. Overstimulation Screen content is designed to grab attention - flashing lights, rapid scene changes, loud music and bright colours. For a baby's developing nervous system, that kind of stimulation can easily become overwhelming. In contrast, real-world play moves at a slower, more natural pace. Soft toys, blocks and exploring textures allow your baby to engage on their own terms. This helps them learn to focus and regulate emotions, leading to fewer meltdowns and a more predictable, peaceful daily rhythm. For mums, that means less stress and more space to enjoy the quiet, meaningful moments of everyday life. Read more | Winter care tips for your child's braided crown Poor social skills When babies spend too much time in front of screens, they miss out on essential opportunities for social learning, such as observing facial expressions, hearing tone of voice, and experiencing the natural back-and-forth of real-life interactions, all of which are crucial for developing emotional intelligence and forming social bonds. In addition according to a UNICEF article Babies need humans not screens article, young children need their dose of boredom. It teaches them how to cope with frustration and control their impulses. If young children are constantly being stimulated by screens, they forget how to rely on themselves or others for entertainment. Spending time with people, whether it's mum, siblings or other children helps build empathy and confidence. Simple games like peekaboo, pulling faces and responding to their cues teach your baby how relationships work. These moments also bring a lot of joy. Watching your baby smile, respond to your voice or reach out for a cuddle is not only developmentally important, but emotionally rewarding too. I would add a para about reading books and using educational toys to boost cognitive and emotional development 'Your presence, expressions and engagement are more powerful than any screen,' says Kruger. 'Just as your love shapes their early world, so does the care you provide by staying informed and proactive about their cognitive, emotional and social development, which are critical skills that every child needs in order to thrive at home and at school.'
New York Times
3 days ago
- General
- New York Times
The Smartphones Haven't Defeated Us. Yet.
Since the dawn of the television age, parents have struggled to limit or guide their children's screen time. But with the arrival of smartphones that can — and do — go everywhere and with social media apps that teenagers now use for an average of five hours every day, many parents feel a sense of resignation. The struggle has been lost. Parents who try to delay giving a smartphone until high school or social media until 16 know that they'll face the plaintive cry from their children: 'But I'm the only one!' To better understand the tensions over technology playing out in American families, we worked with the Harris Poll to conduct two surveys. As we reported last year, our survey of 1,006 members of Gen Z found that many young people feel trapped — tethered to digital products like TikTok and Snapchat. Nearly half of all participants expressed regret about having access to many of the most popular social media platforms. Here we present the second part of our investigation: a nationally representative survey of 1,013 parents who have children under 18. The overall picture isn't any better. We find widespread feelings of entrapment and regret. Many parents gave their children smartphones and social media access early in their lives — yet many wish that social media had never been invented, and overwhelmingly they support new social norms and policies that would protect kids from online harms. In our survey, 55 percent report that their children began to use a smartphone as a primary user by the age of 12, and 61 percent say the same for a tablet. Share of children with device, by age group 75% 67% 61% 65% Tablet 49% 55% 50 Smartphone 28% 25 26% 10% 5-year-olds and younger 6- to 9- year-olds 10- to 12- year-olds 13- to 17- year-olds Share of children, by age group 75% 67% 61% 65% 55% 49% 50 Tablet Smartphone 28% 25 26% 10% 5-year-olds and younger 6- to 9-year-olds 10- to 12-year-olds 13- to 17-year-olds Source: Harris Poll 'When I think about my child's experience growing up, I wish ___ had never been invented' 25 50% Mature online content 72% Guns 62 TikTok 62 X / Twitter 62 Snapchat 60 Alcohol 57 Instagram 56 Social media 55 Facebook 53 ChatGPT 45 Messaging apps 44 Smartphones 38 YouTube 34 Video games 33 Location sharing tools 26 Streaming services 20 Basic mobile phones 20 Large vehicles 19 Television 17 Newspapers 15 Radio 14 Bicycles 9 25 50% Mature online content 72% Guns 62 TikTok 62 X / Twitter 62 Snapchat 60 Alcohol 57 Instagram 56 Social media 55 Facebook 53 ChatGPT 45 Messaging apps 44 Smartphones 38 YouTube 34 Video games 33 Location sharing tools 26 Streaming services 20 Basic mobile phones 20 Large vehicles 19 Television 17 Newspapers 15% Radio 14% Bicycles 9% Source: Harris Poll Parents restricting their child's access to smartphones until they are around 14 years old Strongly support Somewhat support Strongly oppose Neither 33% 32 22 9 Somewhat oppose Parents restricting their child's access to social media until at least age 16 40 33 19 6 A law raising the minimum age for social media use to 16 from 13 39 31 20 8 Schools enforcing a bell-to-bell 'phone-free' policy 33 30 16 13 8 Parents restricting their child's access to smartphones until they are around 14 years old Strongly support Somewhat support Neither Strongly oppose 33% 32 22 9 Somewhat oppose Parents restricting their child's access to social media until at least age 16 40 33 19 6 A law raising the minimum age for social media use to 16 from 13 39 31 20 8 Schools enforcing a bell-to-bell 'phone-free' policy 33 30 16 13 8 Source: Harris Poll Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
