Are we breeding a generation of screen junkies?

New research suggests unhealthy screen time habits start much earlier than you think

Our children are spending an increasing amount of time on their digital devices. On average, British children have their first Internet experience at five and by seven own their own phone. Children refusing to put down their phones is a common flashpoint in many homes, with a third of British children aged 12 to 15 admitting they do not have a good balance between screen time and other activities.

The problem is more severe in the US, with children as young as 13 being treated for digital technology addiction. Over the past eight years, one digital rehab centre located near Seattle has provided residential “intensive recovery programs” for young kids who have trouble curbing their use of electronic devices. This is because mobile devices are so engaging that they counter any other instincts a child has to explore and socially interact with the world. It’s perhaps no surprise that three-quarters of British kids are spending less time outdoors than prison inmates.

Despite repeated warnings from public health experts, research looking into the addictive nature of digital media is limited. Until recently most research focused on video game addiction. Based on available data, the American Psychiatric Association has introduced a new diagnosis, Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). IGD symptoms include many of the addictive behaviours associated with impulse control problems such as excessive time spent online, inability to control use, and dramatic loss of interest in other social activities.

To find out whether these symptoms can be accurately applied to digital media, a team of researchers at Central Michigan University studied levels of digital dependency in preadolescent children (aged 4 to 11) and whether excess use was linked to other childhood problems. The trial applied a long and short version of the Problematic Media Use Measure (PMUM) to map children’s symptoms of addictive habits in line with IGD diagnosis. Some of the short form items included:

• It is hard for my child to stop using screen media
• When my child has had a bad day, screen media seems to be the only thing that helps him/her feel better
• My child’s screen media use causes problems for the family.
• The amount of time my child wants to use screen media keeps increasing.
• My child sneaks using screen media

Researchers recruited 291 mothers of preadolescent children (mean age of seven years), because mothers are more likely to monitor and restrict media use. Mothers were then asked to say when their kids got their first device, how long they use them and for what purpose (e.g., playing games, watching videos). They were also asked about whether their kid’s emotional and psychosocial states appeared to be dysfunctional.

Results linked high levels of screen time with psychological and behavioural problems, such as aggressive and hyperactive behaviour and social problems with other children. Findings add weight to a growing body of evidence that shows chronic computer use ruins lives by disrupting brain function. While more research is needed to confirm results, it’s clear that parents need to seriously monitor their children’s media consumption habits.

So what should parents do? Psychiatrist Richard Graham, who runs a specialist technology addiction clinic at the Nightingale Hospital in London, says parents need to examine their kid’s behaviour and ask simple questions like: “Is excess screen time preventing them from doing other activities… is it stopping them from attending school or being social… and are they in danger of losing their ability to control habits?” Parents also need to lead by example and limit their own use of digital devices and replace tech-time with valuable outdoor activities. Graham argues:

“There’s something about those outdoor, immersive experiences that really helps tech-addicted children. Even just going swimming, going to a football match, or going to the cinema can have a positive effect.”

With more engaging digital experiences around the corner (in the form of virtual and augmented reality) it’s time the technology sector started to invest serious energy in establishing ethical guidelines. So that the technologies of tomorrow are designed to bring out the best in our kids.