By Madeline Zavala ’24
The internet is all over the world: in our cities, present on our person, phones, and technology. The internet has provided us with the luxury of phones, tablets, and computers. Our devices have given us many opportunities, making day-to-day life easier, so much so that it has become an issue within our society, more specifically with children. Parents rely on technology so much that it’s the easy way out of a tantrum or when a child wants to play with them. “Go play on your tablet,” is a famous phrase, one I’ve even used myself a couple of times when babysitting my cousins. I used this excuse to have alone time with myself or even if I’m not in the mood at that moment. My cousin’s iPad has been the easy way out for not only me but them as well. This continuous habit of introducing children to electronic devices at a young age creates bad habits, such as disrespectful behavior and a constant want to use their tablet.
Parents and guardians should consider not allowing their children to spend so much time on their devices because it prevents the habit of being hooked on their electronics. In an article about screen time and children by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACP) it is recommended that children between the ages of one and two should limit their screen time to one hour per weekday and three hours per weekend. Following these recommendations, the total screen time a child between the ages of one and two should receive per week would be 11 hours. For children six years and up, it’s advised that a healthy screen time habit should be adopted.
In the same article by the AACAP, it was recorded that the average screen time seen in children is around four to six hours a day while teens spend about nine hours per day on their electronics. Another article about screen time and the effect it has on children by La Amistad Behavioral Health Services mentions how children who are hooked to their electronics are a lot more likely to develop mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. These statistics show that we as a society have grown very comfortable with allowing children to surround themselves with media which results in a continuous rise of screen time.
I love my electronics such as my laptop or my phone, but it’s all used in moderation due to having a busier life as of now. I’m able to balance out my screen time with my daily tasks like running errands or going to work. It’s okay to love your technology, but it’s imperative to reflect on how often you’re using it. This holds true to the younger generation as well. Allowing young children to hook themselves onto technology spawns unhealthy habits like mood swings or disinterest in something that isn’t their curated media.
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