It is no exaggeration to say there have been many negative effects due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the consequences of COVID such as sickness, death, and unemployment are the immediate ones that come to mind, there is a repercussion that is not quite as blatant. With schools transitioning to online learning and parents resorting to more screen time to cope. There has been a significant increase in the amount of time a child uses an electronic device. The outcomes are damaging. Let’s examine the impact of unlimited screen time below.
In 2019, adolescents spent 3.8 hours per day on a device, and in just a year, that number has more than doubled to 7.7 hours per day. Most teens feel addicted to their phones with 78% stating they feel the urge to check their devices at least once an hour.
With more time spent online, the content children are accessing is broader and often, more inappropriate. 7 in 10 children have accidentally come across harmful content online. This accidental exposure to inappropriate content, such as pornography, can have long-term consequences, including increased odds of teen pregnancy, greater risk of depression as well as forming violent opinions towards women. 84% of parents are worried about their child’s safety online.
Teens who use social media more than 3 hours per day are at a heightened risk of mental health issues. While social media is designed to connect individuals, it can also have isolating effects. Persistent use of social media can negatively affect one’s mental health, especially for young people who are already impressionable. Lowered self-esteem, diminished body image as well as feelings of loneliness are all documented adverse consequences of using social media. Online bullying has also risen drastically, as 90% of teens believe online harassment is commonplace.
With all these concerns, a family may ponder how best to foster a home with internet access that is safe for their family. Establishing age-appropriate rules and helping children understand why the rules are important can help protect children from harmful content. Some commonly recommended rules include reminding children not to share personal information online, not friending strangers, and keeping gaming chat room conversations solely on the game itself. Parents also have the option to set up parental controls to protect devices.
It would be naïve to believe the internet is going to change. If anything, it will continue to evolve and the access to content will be quicker and larger. With this increase in capability, it is crucial to remember the internet is not innately bad. Talking to children about technology’s role in the world and the power it has to influence our lives for the better is paramount. It is not about keeping the internet away from children but rather providing children with the tools and knowledge on how best to thoughtfully navigate it.
Source: Canopy.us
