The Negative Effects of Excessive Screen Time

 How long can you go without watching your favourite series or scrolling through social media? 

Using our cell phones and laptops and watching TV are part of our daily lives, however, it is crucial for us to limit our screen time as much as possible. 

How much time should we spend on screens?

• Infants and toddlers younger than 2 years old should avoid screens
• 30 mins: for ages 2-5 years
• 30 mins - 1 hour: for ages 7-12 years
• 90 mins: for ages 12-15 years
• 2 hours: for ages 16 years and older

What are the negative effects of excessive screen time?

• Regular back, neck and shoulder pain related to poor posture
• Dry eyes and deteriorating vision ( such as myopia)
• Reduced physical activity and increased risk of obesity caused by sedentary behaviour
• Decreased social interactions and poor interpretation of emotions
• Increased risk of insomnia caused by blue light emissions that affect sleep cycles
• Increased fatigue and mood disturbances caused by poor sleep quality 

Does excessive screen time affect the brain? Yes, it does! 

Studies have shown that playing video games, scrolling through social media and binge-watching series, activate the reward system of the brain and release dopamine. The constant activation of the brain's reward system leads to the desensitization of this system. This means that more stimuli are required for one to feel pleasure, resulting in an endless cycle of increased screen time. Therefore, excessive screen time has been associated with symptoms of ADHD, poor impulse control and addictive behaviour.

Moreover, studies have indicated that there are various structural changes and reduced cortical thickness in the brain. Premature reduced cortical thickness impedes various cognitive functions such as planning, information processing and working memory. 

In young children, especially infants and toddlers, screen time of 3 hours can cause structural changes that lead to impaired visual perception, language, speech and social development, deficits in attention span, and behavioural issues. 

So consider being more mindful of your screen time. Engage in more outdoor activities and avoid unnecessary screen time especially if you spend hours a day in front of a laptop for work or your studies.

Let's clarify some terminology:

Desensitization: reduced response to certain stimuli which results after constant activation 

Reward system of the brain: a collection of networks in the brain responsible for motivation, feelings of pleasure ( such as that felt after watching your favourite movie) and reinforced learning

Cortical thickness: the width of grey matter in the cortex. Some studies imply that cortical thickness is a reflection of intelligence

Myopia: near-sightedness ( objects far away are blurry and cannot be seen clearly)