Children are using screens more than ever, and some experts are worried that the trend could lead to a form of digital addiction.
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A new study shows that children's media use has increased in the last two years. Legislation is being proposed to crack down on social media platforms that keep children hooked.
Laurie Singer said in an interview that she treats children with problems from spending too much time on media and that the negative consequences from online access can range from social withdrawal and problems in school to both physical and mental health challenges.
The survey found that the use of screen time for teens and preteens increased by 17 percent from the year before to the year after.
The average amount of time spent on a screen increased from four hours and 44 minutes to eight hours and 39 minutes for teens and from seven hours and 22 minutes to five hours and 33 minutes for children.
Mo Mulla, a father of two children and a parenting expert, said he knows the problems of too much screen time. He said in an interview that his daughter is addicted to screens.
It is due to the modern world and that we all need relief from it.
Singer said that the most important reason for the increase in screen time is that more children are being allowed unfettered access to devices and social media by their parents.
I think parents are working from home during the Pandemic because everyone is doing it. It gives their children something to do while they are working.
Singer said that social media is a way for kids to feel accepted and interact with their peers, keep up to date with the latest trends, and receive instant gratification with a like or a supportive comment. Both children and adults will find this feedback very addictive.
If a child is mature enough to have access, parents should consider if they are worried about the amount of time their children spend on screens.
Just because a child is a certain chronological age doesn't mean they're prepared to log in to social media sites.
Communication is important in the issue of allowing a child to have access to the internet. There was a separation between children and adults when it came to content before the internet.
Singer said that that doesn't exist in the same way today. Children need to be made aware of possible scenarios they could encounter online and how to best handle them.
All parents should take a media day every week. This involves turning off all devices and spending the day with your family.
I would set time limits for how long children can use media. For instance, no more than two hours on weekdays and one hour on weekends.
A limit of one hour a day of screen time is recommended for preschoolers by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Some screen time is good for kids.
A new lure is connecting with friends, counting the likes, and engaging in games, sometimes competitively.
The online world has an obvious danger. If a child inadvertently reveals personal preferences or information, they can be vulnerable to persuasive marketing or a sales lure.
Time limits and parental oversight are important. Help them find deceptive messages. Take a firm stance against cruelties among kids online or elsewhere.
Legislators in California and Minnesota are working on legislation that would make companies responsible for the effects of their platforms on young people's mental health.
In Minnesota, a state committee recently voted to advance a proposed law prohibiting social media platforms from using algorithms to recommend content to anyone younger than 18. Each violation of the law would result in a civil penalty of $1,000.
The California bill would allow parents to file lawsuits against companies that don't take steps to prevent addicting children. It would hold social platforms accountable for features that are designed to be addictive to children. If a child is involved in a class-action suit, violators could face civil penalties of up to $25,000 per child.
We shouldn't have to put in law that some of the most profitable corporations in the world have a duty to be kind to children. We are here. Ed Howard, senior counsel at the University of San Diego School of Law, is a co-sponsor of the bill.
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