A Belgian audiovisual expert has sounded yet another alarm regarding excessive screen time in young people.
"Purchasing a smartphone for a primary school child is inadvisable; it does not introduce them to new technologies at an appropriate stage," Carole Bienaimé Besse, audiovisual specialist and former member of the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA) and security solutions company Arcom, told RTBF.
Besse also pointed out that the human brain does not fully mature until the age of 22, a relevant fact that should further caution against letting children spend too much time online.
Harmful captology
"Captology," a well-established field, is harnessed by all apps, websites and platforms to keep users online as long as possible, consequently allowing companies to gather user data for product sales. Studies show that adults can disengage from applications after roughly 20 minutes, while children notoriously struggle to end their screen time.
Unlike traditional media like TV or print magazines, phones and tablets constantly inundate us with notifications, compelling users to respond and get distracted by further notifications or digital features. This phenomenon of thoughtlessly going from one notification to the next is what experts call the 'rabbit hole,' a tendency that adversely affects the mental health of both children and young adults by degrading their self-image and inhibiting the development of creativity.
A need for intervention
Most experts advocate for integrating media literacy classes in schools to counter these effects. They have also requested state intervention through legislation and the education of parents on the consequences of excessive screen use. After all, just as parents should not offer their children a cigarette or alcohol, they should approach smartphones and tablets with the same caution. Specifically, Besse proposes measures including requiring platforms to implement age verification tools.
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The responsibility of managing children's screen time cannot be the sole purview of parents. And while there is a foundation for legislation, it often falls short of adequately addressing the concerns. Lawmakers, who are not always 'digital natives,' tread cautiously when infringing upon fundamental freedoms.
Contrary to what some might believe, most experts do not advocate a complete reversal of screen usage. When used responsibly, screens undoubtedly have positive applications. But it is worth noting that even tech giant founders like Steve Jobs, Sundar Pichai and Bill Gates advised their children against excessive screen use.
