Journalist and Author Revises View on Screen Time: "Technology Isn't as Bad for Kids as I Thought"

Over the past several years, both psychologists and social media specialists have been raising concerns about the negative impacts of too much time spent on screens.

In his 2023 report Our loneliness and isolation crisis ," U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy named social media as one of the main reasons young people feel more alone.

"As various instances illustrate, technology can displace face-to-face interaction, capture our full attention, lessen the quality of our exchanges, and potentially lower our self-worth," Murthy noted.

In his popular book "The Anxious Generation," NYU social psychologist Jonathan Haidt argues that technology alters the neural pathways of younger individuals, resulting in increased feelings of anxiety and depression.

It's wise to be careful with the amount of technology exposure children get. Nonetheless, there are methods to use screens without causing harm.

In her latest book titled "Second Life: Raising a Child in the Digital Era," journalist Amanda Hess explores several unexpected insights into technology and parenthood.

She confessed to vtrikMake It, 'I find myself valuing screen time more than I anticipated.'

Television played a crucial role in helping Hess figure out what to do with her then three-year-old son after he underwent a complicated surgery. The procedure was "really difficult for him physically and emotionally," she says.

At first, she wondered if allowing him to lounge in front of the television was detrimental. However, a psychologist told Hess that during his recuperation period, having some extra screen time would be perfectly fine.

She mentions that this was something others might turn to after leaving the hospital and not feeling well, spending time watching their favorite television shows, which proved very beneficial for them.

When Hess requires time to tackle housework duties or join a work conference, it’s quite typical of her to allow her son to view television.

She mentions that we host a TV gathering at her place.

Although too much screen time might reduce your concentration span and result in feelings of solitude and loneliness, not every form of media usage is detrimental.

Longer form content that encourages you to engage can help you think more deeply, psychologist Gloria Mark informed vtrikMake It .

"Many aspects of social media and quick consumption content are crafted to astonish us or tap into quite fundamental feelings such as amazement, irritation, or humor," Mark stated.

These fundamental emotions prevent us from delving deep when examining such information. In contrast, picking up a book or reading a lengthy article allows for more thoughtful consideration and thorough analysis.

Mark shares some advice on how to dedicate more time to consuming long-form material:

• Allocating moments for perusing literature and absorbing content that stimulates your mind.
• Selecting books or articles where you can lose yourself in the content
• To prevent distraction from your phone, opt for reading physical books instead.

Keep in mind that although it’s important to monitor the type of content your children are viewing, it’s equally fine to allow yourself some time off and perhaps enjoy what Esther Hess refers to as a “TV party.”

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