The harmful effects of screens

When screens are used excessively or inappropriately, they can cause more harm than good. Studies of children and teenagers have shown adverse effects on emotional, cognitive, and motor development, emotional regulation, as well as psychological and social health.

While knowledge in this area is still evolving, more and more studies are showing a clear link between screen use and potential harmful effects. Here are some more screen-related risks.

The negative impacts of screens on physical health

• Physical inactivity and excess weight
  Spending too much time in front of a screen is associated with poorer development of motor skills, poorer nutrition, a lower level of physical activity, and decreased muscle strength in children. In addition to increasing their level of physical inactivity, overuse of screens contributes to the risk of excess weight and obesity among the young and not-so-young.
• Lack of sleep
  Screens emit a blue light that delays the release of melatonin, a hormone necessary to fall asleep. Young people are more susceptible to the effects of blue light because their eyes don’t filter it as well as adults’ (the crystalline lens becomes opaque with age). Screen use in the evening therefore negatively affects sleep among youth.
  What’s more, the appeal of the many available online activities (games, social media, videos) can encourage some young people to delay their bedtime. This phenomenon is even more widespread among teenagers, whose biological clocks tend to shift naturally, which already keeps them more awake in the evening and makes waking up early in the morning more difficult.
• Pain and discomfort
  Using screens in non-ergonomic positions can lead to long-term posture problems that can cause back, shoulder, neck, and wrist pain, among other issues.
• Vision problems
  Prolonged screen use can cause dry eyes (because we blink five times less when looking at a screen), eye strain, blurred vision, headaches, burning and itchy eyes, as well as a loss of attention or focus. In the long term, screen use can lead to ocular dryness, fluctuating vision, and photophobia (extreme sensitivity to light), cause or aggravate eye coordination problems, and foster the progression of nearsightedness.

The negative impacts of screens on psychological health

• Decrease in well-being
  Excessive or inappropriate use of screens can contribute to lower self-esteem, and to increased stress, anxiety and depression.
• Impaired cognitive and executive functions
  Some studies show that overuse of screens among youth is associated with poorer concentration, memory, and attention. What’s more, a harmful link has been established between screen time and executive functions, which are responsible for decision-making, planning ahead, and dealing with new situations. These functions help youth manage their impulsive reactions, such as inappropriate aggressive behaviour, amongst other things. It has also been shown that executive functions are closely linked to academic success, the development of social skills, and the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits.
• Addiction
  Online activities can lead to addiction, just like alcohol and drugs, by activating what is called the “reward circuit.” Youth who seek and obtain constant rewards, whether by getting “likes” and notifications or by playing video games, will get used to the dopamine that’s produced. In addition to losing interest in activities that produce little dopamine (e.g. playing a board game or listening to a teacher at school), young people will experience a state of “craving” when they are deprived of it.
• Gaming disorder
  Since June 18, 2018, gaming disorder is recognized as a mental health problem by the World Health Organization (WHO). When the “reward circuit” is overstimulated, as is the case with immersive online video games, for example, over time the brain adapts to this strong sensation of pleasure, which encourages young people to play longer and more often. Frequently observed consequences are poor academic performance, weak social relationships, and poor sleep quality, as well as mood problems and anxiety.

The negative impacts of screens on social life

• Isolation
  For teenagers, letting online life become more important than offline life can lead to a decline in interpersonal relationships and social skills, isolation, and professional or academic difficulties, among other things.
• Decline in social skills
  The social development of youth can be affected by excessive or inappropriate screen use, especially if they are regularly exposed to content that is not meant for them (e.g. hypersexualization, violence).
• Language difficulties
  In young children, language skills are particularly affected by screen time. Having conversations with children improves their language and communication skills, which passive screen-watching does not permit.
• Safety risks
  Some online activities, such as social media and live streaming, carry risks for teenagers’ safety (e.g. cyberbullying, sextortion).

Why are children and teens more at risk?

• Children: Children are more influenceable than adults and are particularly susceptible to online marketing techniques and to the various harmful effects of hyperconnectivity. Since their brains are still developing, they may lack self-control, judgment, and maturity regarding screen use.
• Teens and young adults: Youth in this age group tend to be more impulsive and more likely to take risks. They are going through several important transitions, such as first romantic relationships, the end of schooling, leaving the family home, and entering the job market. Many of them also have a lot of free time. As their brains are still developing until the age of 25, they may have more difficulty maintaining control and finding a balance between online and offline life, which puts them more at risk of experiencing negative repercussions linked to their use of screens.

Beware of the term “cyberaddiction”!

The risks of screen use are often associated with cyberaddiction, which only affects a small percentage of youth (a little over 1 % of Quebec high school students). However, hyperconnectivity is associated with a multitude of harmful effects that concern us all. The important thing is to be aware of it to try to reduce its negative impacts.