"SCREEN TIME" IS MORE THAN SETTING LIMITS

We live in a world rich in multimedia content (or saturated with media, depending on your point of view) and it is not difficult to meet worried parents about the way in which their children interact with new technologies. Lately there is a lot of talk about “screen time” control, especially during the holiday months when children have more free time.

I have spent most of my career studying children and online safety and many parents ask me the recommended amount of time for the use of display devices. My answer? There is much more information about the consumption of digital content than what experts think about the daily limits of its use.

Limiting screen time

The idea of limiting the time spent in front of a screen gained strength in 1999, when the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that parents avoid using smartphones, tablets, computers and television for children under two years of age, as well as limit its use to no more than two hours for children over two years old, increasing time with age.

Although the American Academy of Pediatrics softened these indications in 2016 (policies were increased to include the use of positive digital media and propose plans for multimedia content in the family), the main idea that time in front of screens should be reduced It has barely changed.

In Babies and more Less screen time, more physical activity and better sleep: new WHO recommendations for babies and children Parents should stop wondering about the amount of time and focus more on the content, context and connections that children make .

These basic instructions for parents may have their charm, but recommendations on screen time limits are increasingly receiving criticism from a wide range of experts.

In the academic world, the studies in favor of limiting the time in front of the screens cannot be taken very seriously because laboratory studies cannot always be adapted to real-life conditions. Not infrequently, studies on screen time show that there are connections between problems with well-being and the use of multimedia resources, but they do not demonstrate the relationship between them.

For example, while research suggests that there is a connection between time in front of screens and childhood obesity, it could simply mean that children who are less active are more likely to suffer from obesity and spend more time in front of screens. Research does not suggest that the time in front of the screens causes obesity.

The daily screen time

The way we communicate has changed and adults increasingly spend more time online, hence the idea of time in front of the screen has become obsolete. The world is increasingly saturated with all kinds of experiences and positive audiovisual content, both for children and adults. The idea of limiting the time we spend in front of the screen assume that all experiences are negative for children and that they are taking away from living positive experiences in activities that do not include any screen.

However, we know that Children are able to do all kinds of positive things with digital media, often in ways that support and are compatible with "real life" activities, as is the case in adults. The little ones connect to hang out with their friends, catch up on what's going on and look for entertainment and information, just like any other person.

In my own work, I have argued that some of the problems parents have with children and technology have nothing to do with technology. With each new generation, children are increasingly restricted to go outside on their own. With fewer private spaces for children, it is no surprise that they pull social media applications to hang out and socialize (getting angry when we deprive them of it).

What seems like a "waste of time" or an "addiction" is often simply your way of spending time with your friends.

In Babies and more Two or more hours a day of "screen time" increases the likelihood of having attention problems in preschoolers

What do parents have to do?

How should parents determine the proper use of screens by their children? As always, it is complicated. If there is no professional advice, parents should be guided by their own real and everyday experiences. That said, there are some general guidelines that can help.

The use of tools to control children's consumption is important, but there is no substitute for family time

First, parents should stop wondering about the amount of time and focus more on the content, context and connections that are made with each media. There is a huge difference between spending hours playing online video games with friends or getting into forums full of hate messages.

Second, parents should ask realistic questions about the welfare of their children, regardless of their use of the media. Do your children lead a healthy life, are they socially active, do they do well in school, and are they happy in general? If so, there is probably no need for any type of restriction of technological devices..

If this is not the case, it is best not to rush to draw conclusions about all the negative aspects of the technologies. A good option is to talk with the children about what they are doing and what they think the rules for their use should be. Taking children away from using devices unilaterally without understanding their problems will often only make things worse.

Finally, parents should not forget that there is nothing that can replace a supportive relationship between parents and children. If there is a relationship of trust that is stable, even negative experiences on the Internet can become positive learning experiences. In all the years in which I have worked with families, I have learned that if they are concerned about their children's use of digital media, they probably already "do enough" to protect their children.