Latest news with #screenaddiction
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Parents, You're Focusing on the Wrong Part of Your Kid's Screen Use
When it comes to monitoring kids and technology, parents are all doing the best we can. Especially in the summertime when rules fly out the window. However, a new study found that parents may actually be worried about the wrong thing when it comes to kids and screens. A study published June 18 in JAMA, a journal of the American Medical Association, found that the amount of time kids spent on social media, mobile phones, and video games wasn't linked to more internalized symptoms of mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Surprisingly, it also wasn't associated with externalized symptoms of mental health problems like rule breaking, aggression, suicidal behaviors, or suicidal ideation. This sounds good right? The problem is, researchers found that screen addiction was linked to both internal and external symptoms of mental health problems. More from SheKnows PopSockets Partnered With This Celeb-Loved Jewelry Brand to Drop Beach-Chic Limited-Edition Accessories There is a difference; a subtle distinction with big consequences. Yunyu Xiao, lead study author and an assistant professor in the department of population health sciences and department of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, explained addiction as 'excessive use' that interferes with home responsibilities, schoolwork or other activities, per CNN. 'They find a craving for it and cannot stop using it,' he explained. The study found one in two of the young people in the study were on a 'high trajectory of addictive use' for mobile phones, while over 40 percent were on the same path for video games. For the kids with high or increasing use of social media and mobile phones, they were two to three times more likely to engage in suicidal behavior and suicidal ideations than kids on the lower trajectory. These kids also had increased risk of symptoms of mental health problems, with a high use of video games associated with a greater risk of symptoms of mental health problems, suicidal behaviors, and suicidal ideation. It's absolutely heartbreaking! And teens know they need help. In Feb. 2025, SheKnows spoke with teens in New York City about their phone use, and the results were concerning. One 16-year-old named Annabella told us that she spends 12 hours on her phone. 'My friends are on it [their phones], I feel like I couldn't get off it or certain apps, I don't know — I'm just, like, addicted,' Annabella admitted. The Anxious Generation author Jonathan Haidt recommends not giving your child a phone until high school, not allowing social media until 16, and encouraging real-world independence and risk-taking in kids. Ariana Hoet, Ph.D., executive clinical director of children's mental health organization On Our Sleeves, previously told SheKnows that she recommends designated screen-free times every day: during dinner, for example, and powering phones down a couple of hours before bedtime. You should also talk about screens as a family. 'You can talk about what social media platforms you're going to use. Who do you follow? What do you post? And then most importantly, when are the screen-free times? What are other activities you're doing? Who do you go to if you're worried about something?' Dr. Hoet told us. 'You also need to establish the consequences: what happens if these rules are broken?' Dr. Becky Kennedy, psychologist, author, and mom of three previously told SheKnows that screen time isn't inherently bad for kids. It all depends on what the screen time is being used for and if your kids have a healthy balance. She suggests parents define screen time boundaries in advance, encourage kids to learn on their screen before playing, and anticipate the meltdowns around screen time by setting firm boundaries about when to put it up at the end of the day. 'To me, if you're a parent who's just struggling with screen time with your kid, you're probably doing it right. It's a tool we need to use,' she told us. 'It's something I don't think parents need to feel guilty about. It's just something parents need to have a level of mindfulness about relative to making sure we're setting up our home today for success — but that we're also setting up our kids for success long-term.' Look out for these signs that your child might be addicted to cell phones or video games, per the Mayo Clinic: Intense urges for screen time or video games that block out other thoughts. Cutting back on social or recreational activities because of preference for screen time or video games. Feeling irritable, anxiety, or anger when forced to stop playing, even for brief periods of time. Lying to others about the extent of their use. Needing more screen time over time to get the same level of enjoyment. Neglecting their appearance, including lack of interest in grooming or clothing. If you think your child is developing a phone or video game addiction, call their pediatrician and/or therapist for help managing their addiction in a screen-heavy of SheKnows Tween & Teen Slang 2025: A Definitive Guide to 'What the Hellyante' Your Kid Is Saying Right Now Celebrity Parents Who Are So Proud of Their LGBTQ Kids Recent Baby & Toddler Product Recalls Every Parent and Caregiver Should Know About
News24
2 days ago
- Health
- News24
Is your child's screen time creating a mental health problem? Experts weigh in
In a country where adults spend nearly a third of their waking hours scrolling through smartphones, South African children are silently suffering the consequences of our collective screen addiction. The South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) is sounding the alarm on what has become a genuine mental health crisis among the nation's youth. The concern has grown so widespread that 'brain-rot'—the term describing the impact of consuming excessive low-quality online content—was recently crowned Oxford Dictionary's Word of the Year. For South African families, this isn't just a clever phrase but a daily reality with serious implications. The numbers tell a troubling story Research reveals a direct connection between screen time and mental well-being. Adolescents spending more than five hours daily on digital devices are 70% more likely to experience suicidal thoughts or actions compared to those with less than an hour of daily screen time. Even moderate usage (4-6 hours daily) significantly increases symptoms of anxiety and depression. South African adults are setting a problematic example, averaging 9 hours and 37 minutes daily on smartphones. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok consume more than 22% of this time. 'If we as adults are addicted, how can they not be?' questions Prof. Renata Schoeman, psychiatrist and SASOP member. 'We cannot expect children to moderate their screen time when they see adults constantly glued to their phones. Children learn by observing. If we don't model healthy digital behaviour, we are silently endorsing screen addiction.' Read more | 3 reasons why you should trade screen-time for cuddles with your little one Beyond mental health: The full impact The consequences extend beyond mental health concerns. Studies across 14 countries found that mobile phones consistently distract students from learning. Even having a phone nearby with notifications interrupts concentration, and once distracted, children may need up to 20 minutes to refocus. Professor Schoeman outlines several specific mental health impacts linked to excessive screen use: Increased risk of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem Disrupted sleep, especially when screens are used before bedtime Declining academic performance due to concentration issues and reduced motivation Social withdrawal as digital interactions replace face-to-face connections Exposure to harmful content including cyber-bullying and messages promoting disordered eating Physical health also suffers, with screen-addicted children experiencing higher rates of obesity, headaches, eye strain, and poor posture. Finding balance in a digital world Despite these concerns, SASOP isn't advocating for complete digital abstinence. 'It's not about banning screens, it's about balance,' explains Prof. Schoeman. 'There's a big difference between a family movie night and hours of unmonitored scrolling or gaming. The key is to be mindful, involved and consistent.' Read more | Boys in Crisis | A look behind why boy children are 'left' behind in society For parents seeking guidance, Prof. Schoeman offers practical recommendations: Age-appropriate limits: no screens for children under 2 years; maximum 1 hour for ages 2-5; ideally no more than 2 hours daily for older children Prioritise offline activities, particularly outdoors, to support overall wellbeing Model responsible habits by taking breaks and switching off devices during meals and before bedtime Establish device-free zones and times, especially during family meals Take overnight custody of children's devices to ensure proper sleep 'Children don't need perfection from their parents, they need consistency,' Prof. Schoeman emphasises. 'Small, daily changes like putting your phone away at dinner sends a powerful message. And right now, our children need that message more than ever.' In a nation where digital devices have become extensions of ourselves, the most valuable gift we can offer the next generation might be teaching them when—and how—to disconnect.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Health
- New York Times
Real Risk to Youth Mental Health Is ‘Addictive Use,' Not Screen Time Alone, Study Finds
As Americans scramble to respond to rising rates of suicidal behavior among youth, many policymakers have locked in on an alarming metric: the number of hours a day that American children spend glued to a glowing screen. But a study published on Wednesday in the medical journal JAMA, which followed more than 4,000 children across the country, arrived at a surprising conclusion: Longer screen time at age 10 was not associated with higher rates of suicidal behavior four years later. Instead, the authors found, the children at higher risk for suicidal behaviors were those who told researchers their use of technology had become 'addictive' — that they had trouble putting it down, or felt the need to use it more and more. Some children exhibited addictive behavior even if their screen time was relatively low, they said. The researchers found addictive behavior to be very common among children — especially in their use of mobile phones, where nearly half had high addictive use. By age 14, children with high or increasing addictive behavior were two to three times as likely as other children to have thoughts of suicide or to harm themselves, the study found. 'This is the first study to identify that addictive use is important, and is actually the root cause, instead of time,' said Yunyu Xiao, an assistant professor of psychiatry and population health sciences at Weill Cornell Medical College and the study's lead author. Addictive behavior may be more difficult to control during childhood, before the prefrontal cortex, which acts as a brake on impulsivity, is fully developed. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Independent
06-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Playgrounds ‘left to rot' as children stay indoors instead
A cross-party group of MPs are advocating for the protection of playgrounds across England, warning against the risk of them being "left to rot" and children becoming overly reliant on screens. The MPs are backing plans to ensure local councils maintain play parks effectively. They also propose that housing developers be mandated to include "high quality, accessible, inclusive" play areas in new housing developments. The amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill is scheduled for consideration in the Commons on Monday. To date, 49 MPs from Labour, the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats, and independent members have expressed their support for the amendment, which seeks to introduce a "play sufficiency duty" in England. Similar measures are already in place in Scotland and Wales, requiring councils to regularly evaluate the adequacy of playgrounds and play facilities in their respective areas. The amendment, introduced by Labour MP Tom Hayes, would also 'require new developments to provide high-quality, accessible, inclusive play opportunities which incorporate natural features and are integrated within broader public spaces', and could see councils withhold planning permission if new estates lead to a net loss of play areas. Mr Hayes, the MP for Bournemouth East, told the PA news agency: 'When playgrounds are left to rot, and we have the power to put things right, what message is that sending to families? 'New Clause 82 is a common-sense, no-cost way to protect the play spaces we have today and ensure developments in the future focus on children. 'England must join Scotland and Wales in providing a play sufficiency duty, and my amendment does just that.' In January, the Labour MP led a Westminster Hall debate on playgrounds, where he emphasised the importance of play to children's development and said the Government need to be on the 'side of playing children', as well as the 'side of working people' . The debate was the first of its kind in seven years, he said, and the longest in 17 years, when a national play strategy was introduced by the previous Labour government. Mr Hayes added: 'Children sitting GCSEs this year weren't even alive the last time a government, a Labour government, produced a national play strategy and funded playgrounds. 'Today children end up indoors, glued to screens because they don't have safe play spaces. For families on tight budgets, paying for indoor play isn't an option. 'They're left with bare patches of tarmac where a climbing frame should be, or rusted swing frames that only remind them of what used to be. 'Children growing up in cramped flats rely on playgrounds. My amendment supports their right to play and provides inclusive play areas for children with special educational needs and disabilities, too.'
The Guardian
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Worried about your screen-addicted kids? Sign them up to linear TV summer camp: the Stephen Collins cartoon
Worried about your screen-addicted kids? Sign them up to linear TV summer camp: the Stephen Collins cartoon
