Risks Associated with Screen-Based Technology for Kids (Preteens and Teens)

Submitted on Sep 15, 2024, 10:53 a.m.

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An illustration of a girl in front of several screens and devices

I guess this qualifies as my second-ever parenting post. Our daughter - Angela, is nearly 8. She's remarkably 'digitally literate' - able to use our phones and a computer with confidence. Like many parents with young children, we've also seen changes in our daughter's behavior after unstructured or lengthy periods in front of a device (even if the content is age appropriate).

And so the following is a 'work in progress' article that summarizes the risks associated with various screen-based activities for preteens and teenagers. It's broken into five major categories: 1) Excessive Screen Time and Its Effects, 2) Screen-Based Learning vs. Traditional Learning, 3) Screen-Based Socializing vs. Real-World Socializing, 4) Social Media Risks, Especially for Young Girls, and 5) Excessive Online Gaming and Its Negative Effects.

While the following highlights the risks in each of these five areas, what's missing is a list of resources and strategies that parents can use to help protect there kids from the negative effects of screen-based activities - ideally helping parents to organize and work together, because I don't believe that any family can solve this alone.

1. Excessive Screen Time and Its Effects

Excessive screen time among children, particularly in the 8-12 age group, raises concerns about both physical and mental well-being. Prolonged use of devices can lead to:

Physical health issues: eye strain, headaches, sleep disturbances, and poor posture are common among kids spending long hours on screens. Blue light from devices disrupts sleep cycles, which is crucial for growing children.
Cognitive effects: Studies suggest that excessive screen time may impair attention spans and contribute to difficulties with problem-solving and critical thinking.
Emotional regulation: Constant stimulation from screens, including instant gratification from games or social media, makes it harder for children to develop patience and manage frustration in real-world situations.

2. Screen-Based Learning vs. Traditional Learning

The debate between digital and real-world learning (from printed material and written exercises) touches on various developmental concerns:

Screen-based learning: While engaging and interactive, digital learning often encourages fast-paced information consumption. This can hinder deep reading and comprehension skills, which are better supported by printed material. Studies suggest that comprehension is often higher when kids read from physical books compared to screens.
Traditional learning: Written exercises and physical books encourage focus, deep engagement, and long-term retention. Writing by hand helps children develop fine motor skills and promotes memory retention better than typing on screens. Physical engagement with real-world objects can also be beneficial in early development.
Multitasking: Digital environments often involve multitasking (e.g., flipping between apps), which may negatively affect the ability to concentrate on a single task. Traditional learning environments generally foster better sustained attention.

3. Screen-Based Socializing vs. Real-World Socializing

Social skills development is one of the most critical areas affected by the shift from real-world interactions to screen-based socializing:

Screen-based socializing: Platforms like texting, online gaming, and social media replace face-to-face interactions for many children. These virtual environments can encourage superficial relationships and limit opportunities to develop key social skills like empathy, reading body language, and managing in-person conflict.
Real-world socializing: Real-life interactions allow kids to practice negotiation, patience, and teamwork. Children who spend less time engaging face-to-face may struggle to form deep, meaningful connections and could miss out on learning important conflict resolution skills.
Impact on social skills development: Over-reliance on screen-based communication may result in less confidence during in-person interactions. Children may feel anxious or socially awkward in real-world scenarios because they haven’t had enough practice navigating them.

Social media usage among pre-teens, particularly young girls, poses a variety of risks:

Self-esteem and body image issues: Social media platforms expose children to unrealistic standards of beauty and curated lifestyles, contributing to poor self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, and even eating disorders. Girls are particularly vulnerable, as they are more likely to compare themselves to others on social media.
Cyberbullying: Online bullying is a prevalent issue, with young girls often targeted. Cyberbullying can lead to severe emotional distress, depression, anxiety, and, in extreme cases, self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
Addiction to validation: The "like" culture can lead kids to base their self-worth on online approval. This fosters dependence on external validation, which can hinder the development of a stable and healthy sense of self.

5. Excessive Online Gaming and Its Negative Effects

Online gaming, while often entertaining and even educational, can present risks when not moderated, particularly for pre-teens:

Addiction: Many online games are designed to be addictive, using rewards systems and social components to keep children engaged for long periods. This can result in compulsive gaming, where children prioritize games over schoolwork, chores, or even sleep.
Aggression and desensitization to violence: Some studies suggest that prolonged exposure to violent video games can desensitize children to aggression or lead to increased aggressive behavior.
Social isolation: Despite offering a social aspect, online gaming doesn’t provide the same depth of interaction as face-to-face socializing. Over-gaming can isolate children from real-world friendships and reduce opportunities for physical play, which is crucial for overall development.
Impaired academic performance: Excessive gaming has been linked to poorer academic performance, as it often cuts into homework or study time and may lead to decreased focus in school.

6. Conclusion:

The overuse of screen-based technology among preteens and teenagers presents significant developmental concerns. Excessive screen time can affect physical, cognitive, and emotional health, while screen-based socializing and learning fail to provide the same depth of engagement and development as their real-world counterparts. Particularly for pre-teen girls, social media can lead to self-esteem issues and mental health challenges, while excessive online gaming poses risks of addiction, isolation, and impaired academic performance.

Encouraging a balanced approach, where screens are used in moderation and paired with ample real-world interaction, traditional learning methods, and physical activity, is critical for the healthy development of children in their pre-teen years.

7. References

Screen Time

1. Author: Johns Hopkins Medicine
Title: Screen Time Side Effects in Kids and Teens
Publication: Johns Hopkins Medicine
Summary: This article discusses how excessive screen time affects both physical and mental health, including issues such as posture problems, sleep disruption, and mental health challenges. The importance of moderation and parental guidance in screen use is emphasized, with tips on how to limit screen time effectively for children and teens.
Link: Johns Hopkins Medicine 

2. Author: Mayo Clinic
Title: Children and Screen Time: How Much Is Too Much?
Publication: Mayo Clinic Health System
Summary: The Mayo Clinic outlines the risks of excessive screen time, such as obesity, irregular sleep patterns, behavioral issues, and impaired academic performance. The article recommends limiting screen time to one or two hours per day for children older than two and emphasizes the importance of active, creative play.
Link: Mayo Clinic Health System 

3. Author: Debra Bradley Ruder
Title: Screen Time and the Brain
Publication: Harvard Medical School
Summary: This article covers the impact of screen time on brain development, highlighting that excessive use of digital devices can interfere with creativity, attention, and sleep. It also discusses the addictive nature of digital platforms and how they activate the brain’s reward system, similar to gambling.
Link: Harvard Medical School 

4. Author: Children's Health
Title: How and Why You Should Limit Screen Time for Kids
Publication: Children’s Health
Summary: This article provides guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics on limiting screen time based on age. It explores the potential developmental risks of too much screen exposure, including attention problems and social isolation, and offers practical strategies for managing screen use in children.
Link: Children’s Health 

5. Author: Journalist's Resource
Title: The Health Effects of Screen Time on Children: A Research Roundup
Publication: Journalist’s Resource
Summary: This article compiles various studies on the effects of screen time on children, summarizing research findings that link excessive screen use to issues such as obesity, attention problems, and mental health challenges like depression and anxiety, particularly in adolescents.
Link: Journalist’s Resource 

Real-World vs Screen-based Learning

1. Author: Delgado, P., Vargas, C., Ackerman, R., & Salmerón, L. (2018).
Title: Don't throw away your printed books: A meta-analysis on the effects of reading media on reading comprehension.
Journal: Educational Research Review, 25, 23-38.
Summary: This meta-analysis found that reading comprehension is better when reading from printed texts compared to digital texts, especially under time constraints. The tactile experience and lack of distractions in printed materials contribute to deeper understanding.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2018.09.003 

2. Author: Mueller, P. A., & Oppenheimer, D. M. (2014).
Title: The pen is mightier than the keyboard: Advantages of longhand over laptop note taking.
Journal: Psychological Science, 25(6), 1159-1168.
Summary: The study demonstrated that students who took notes by hand performed better on conceptual questions than those who typed notes on laptops. Handwriting encourages processing information and reframing it in one's own words, enhancing learning and retention.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614524581 

3. Author: Mangen, A., Walgermo, B. R., & Brønnick, K. (2013).
Title: Reading linear texts on paper versus computer screen: Effects on reading comprehension.
Journal: International Journal of Educational Research, 58, 61-68.
Summary: This study found that students who read texts on paper scored significantly better on reading comprehension tests than those who read the same texts on screens. The physical aspects of paper may aid in spatial orientation and memory.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2012.12.002 

4. Author: Singer, L. M., & Alexander, P. A. (2017).
Title: Reading on Paper and Digitally: What the Past Decades of Empirical Research Reveal.
Journal: Review of Educational Research, 87(6), 1007-1041.
Summary: This comprehensive review indicates that readers often have better comprehension and metacognitive awareness when reading from paper versus screens, particularly with informational texts.
Link: https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654317722961 

5. Author: Baron, N. S. (2015).
Title: Words Onscreen: The Fate of Reading in a Digital World.
Publisher: Oxford University Press.
Summary: Linguist Naomi Baron explores how digital reading impacts comprehension and learning. She discusses research showing that people tend to skim digital texts, leading to shallow processing compared to the deeper reading encouraged by print.
Link: Publisher's Page 

6. Author: Konnikova, M. (2014).
Title: Being a Better Online Reader.
Publication: The New Yorker.
Summary: This article summarizes research on how screen-based reading affects comprehension. It highlights that physical cues from printed materials aid memory and understanding, which are often missing in digital formats.
Link: https://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/being-a-better-online-reader 

1. Author: American Psychological Association (APA)
Title: The Risks of Social Media for Teens and Tweens
Publication: American Psychological Association
Summary: This article outlines how social media can negatively impact self-esteem, particularly for young girls, by promoting unrealistic beauty standards. It also covers how cyberbullying and online peer pressure contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues among teens and tweens. The APA advises parents to monitor social media use and encourages open conversations with their children about online behaviors.
Link: APA 

2. Author: Common Sense Media
Title: Social Media, Social Life: Teens Reveal Their Experiences
Publication: Common Sense Media
Summary: This large-scale study highlights the pressures young girls face on social media, including the constant need for validation and the negative effects of social comparison. It shows how girls, more than boys, report feeling left out and inferior when comparing their lives to others online, leading to lower self-esteem and higher levels of anxiety.
Link: Common Sense Media 

3. Author: Royal Society for Public Health
Title: #StatusOfMind: Social Media and Young People's Mental Health
Publication: RSPH, UK
Summary: This report explores the impact of social media on mental health, identifying Instagram as the platform with the most detrimental effects, particularly on young girls. It discusses how exposure to curated images of perfection can lead to body image issues, eating disorders, and depression. The report also suggests policy recommendations for mitigating harm.
Link: RSPH 

4. Author: BBC News
Title: Social Media Damages Teenagers' Mental Health, Report Says
Publication: BBC
Summary: This article summarizes research showing how social media disproportionately affects young girls by increasing body dissatisfaction and exposure to cyberbullying. The research highlights how the constant pressure to present a perfect image online contributes to anxiety and depression.
Link: BBC News 

5. Author: UNICEF
Title: Children in a Digital World
Publication: UNICEF
Summary: UNICEF’s report provides a global perspective on how social media impacts children and adolescents, emphasizing the vulnerabilities of young girls. It covers issues such as cyberbullying, online exploitation, and the effects of social comparison on mental health. The report stresses the need for stronger digital literacy and parental involvement to protect young girls online.
Link: UNICEF 

Excessive Online Gaming

1. Author: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Title: The Impact of Media Use and Screen Time on Children, Adolescents, and Families
Publication: American Academy of Pediatrics
Summary: The AAP discusses the potential for online gaming addiction, noting that excessive gaming can lead to decreased academic performance, sleep deprivation, and poor social skills. The report also highlights the impact of violent video games on increased aggression in children.
Link: AAP 

2. Author: Mayo Clinic
Title: Too Much Screen Time: How and Why to Limit It for Kids
Publication: Mayo Clinic
Summary: This article covers the risks of excessive online gaming, including sleep disturbances, aggressive behavior, and academic problems. It emphasizes that gaming can become addictive and detract from other healthy activities, such as physical play, homework, and family time.
Link: Mayo Clinic 

3. Author: American Psychological Association (APA)
Title: The Impact of Video Games on Child Development
Publication: American Psychological Association
Summary: This article explores the psychological effects of video gaming on children, including addiction, increased aggression from violent games, and social isolation. It also discusses how excessive gaming can lead to poorer academic performance due to time taken away from studying or sleep.
Link: APA 

4. Author: UNICEF
Title: Online Gaming: Safety and Wellbeing for Children
Publication: UNICEF
Summary: UNICEF provides insight into how excessive online gaming can lead to physical inactivity, sleep problems, and social isolation. The report also covers how addictive gaming environments can harm a child's overall well-being by promoting compulsive behavior patterns.
Link: UNICEF 

5. Author: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Title: Video Games and Children: Playing with Violence
Publication: NIH
Summary: This report details the effects of violent video games and gaming addiction on school-age children, linking these behaviors to aggressive actions, academic decline, and reduced face-to-face social interaction. It also discusses how gaming can interfere with homework and sleep schedules, contributing to poor school performance.
Link: NIH 