Abstract
Increased screen time (ST) in children is quickly becoming a public health concern as children are now reliant on technology for social interaction and educational development. The eye-health community has paid considerable attention to this in the recent literature, documenting it as digital eye strain. Continual close eye work and a lack of outdoor play contribute to digital eye strain and today’s myopia epidemic. This is a cause for concern for public health stakeholders insofar as it leads to sedentary, screen-based behaviour (SSB) in children. This results in a lack of physical activity and impacts both their bodies and their mental health. The potentially harmful effects of prolonged screen exposure on developing brains and bodies are likely to be unique and significant as physiological growth changes intersect with exponentially expanding e-platforms. While embracing the benefits of a highly digitalised world, we need to simultaneously mitigate the potential risks they pose to the health of growing children.
Highlights
The reliance on devices, and the resulting screen time (ST), before and after the 2020 pandemic, is part of the ‘new normal’
The physiological effects of the use of devices appear to impact more than just children’s eyes it is through the eye that devices are primarily accessed and which we associate with ST.[1,2]
A growing concern with excessive ST in children is that it encourages sedentary behaviour and poor diet, which can inadvertently lead to obesity that often persists into adulthood
Summary
The reliance on devices, and the resulting screen time (ST), before and after the 2020 pandemic, is part of the ‘new normal’. Screens emit blue light, which affects sleep and causes inattention in children, further raising mental health concerns.[3,4] The question arises whether parents and teachers are aware of this when allowing children to interact with their devices.
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Schedule a callMore From: South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care
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