Looking back at how information technology has evolved during the last three decades some general aspects stand out: Devices shrink; all seems computer-related; print is optional; mobile devices are everywhere; and all kinds of data are available through a screen.
The last point gets this blog started since hardly a day goes by without one looking at a screen. The Guardian’s article about children’s screen time questions initiatives for guidelines to moderate the exposure of children to digital screens (Etchells et al., 2017). The questioning targets the lack of support to sustain the claims of impacts on human behaviour and development upon which the initiatives are based.
Technology has been a tremendous enabler for humankind long enough to the extent that -should the hazards be true, there should be plenty of cases reported on health damages like those claimed by the initiatives’ supporters. In the absence of such evidences I am inclined to think that the alarming arguments should be softened until there is substantiated proof, which coincides with the authors’ position.
Besides, having a career in Information Technology and working in the field for a number of years, should allow me to attest the harmless nature of digital technology. But considering that I first came in contact with mobile devices as a young adult, I do not qualify as a survivor of the perils claimed by the authors’ opponents.
In order to complement my pseudo-late entrance to the mobile device arena, I resort to another article titled “Seven fears and the science of how mobile technologies may be influencing adolescents in the digital age”, George and Odgers (2015) after researching the seven fears of their research concluded: 1. Online mirrors offline; and 2. The individual’s characteristics offline predict the individual’s ventures online.
The combination of the two articles lead me to conclude that, on one hand in order to say that mobile devices are harmful to children scientific proof shall be stated (e.g. neurology studies). And on the other, the characteristics of a person dictate to a great extent what the conduct of the online avatar will be. Which points to the very origin: the family, because it is in the family where the core values of the individual are created and developed.
In sum, taking care of values the family instils them in the child, thus he or she shall become a balanced responsible individual. Granting the neurological studies prove no harm, the child will surpass the mobile devices challenge to further grow into adulthood, and have an exciting and fulfilling life increasingly driven by technology. Make it so.
References
Etchells, P., et al. (2017). Screen time guidelines should be built on evidence, not hype. The Guardian. January 6, 2017.
George, M.J., and Odgers, C.L. (2015). Seven fears and the science of how mobile technologies may be influencing adolescents in the digital age. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2015 Nov; 10(6): 832–851.
doi: 10.1177/1745691615596788
Pictures retrieved from Creative Commons website.
When studies state that exposure to screens or digital devices is harmful to children, much like the inconclusive scientific evidence, I am left wondering what factors are they specifically measuring and concluding evidence on? Does the increased exposure to digital products mean that kids are less physically active? Does it in fact affect and negatively impact their vision?
Another article I found relating to this is:
Savina, E., Mills, J., Atwood, K., & Cha, J. (2017). Digital media and youth: A primer for school psychologists. Contemporary School Psychology : The Official Journal of the California Association of School Psychologists, 21(1), 80-91. doi:10.1007/s40688-017-0119-0
Hello Laura,
I share the doubts you mention. Thanks for the article. The vast majority of the publications I have read on the subject compare children screen time amongst their families’ socio-economic brackets, children’s age groups, school grades, households’ environments, and the like. I have not found a research that measures the effects, if any, at the moment of the exposure. Nonetheless, there are risks that are true like texting while driving.
Thank you for reading my blog, cheers!