A digital device is probably your child’s best friend. They cannot eat without it, they sleep with it, they play with it and they spend time with it more than anyone in their world. The worries that the parents possess regarding this issue are innumerable. We see every day articles about the increased digital consumption by children, but how, why and what does this signify? Here is an in-depth overview of the whole spectacle.
Digital consumption by children refers to the use of digital devices and media by young individuals, typically under the age of 18. With the widespread availability of smartphones, tablets, computers, and other digital devices, children today are increasingly exposed to various forms of digital content, including videos, games, social media, and educational resources. According to the Times of India, a national survey conducted in India found that six out of ten youngsters between the ages of 9-17 spend over three hours daily on social media or gaming sites. The catalyst for the increase in this need has sprouted from the years of COVID-19 that families went through as the pandemic continued to take over the world, and the emergence of lockdowns with limited activities to do. These children, especially the ones aged from 5-12 resulted in honing towards their screens as a need for entertainment. Now a child is recommended to have a screen time of not more than an hour for preschoolers according to the WHO(World Health Organization). Still, the average screen time of these preschoolers during lockdown was recorded to be more than 6 hours which is a considerably higher amount than the prescribed one.
Digital consumption has been on the rise since the early 2000s when it became the new norm for children to keep up with the ongoing “news” about television personalities, social media influencers and other trends. The most common reason for the need to do so would be the peer pressure and inclusion of themselves in the casual conversations between their peers.
Here are the adverse effects of digital consumption by children:
Instant gratification– If parents observe the pattern of children’s rhymes is observed, it is seen that a certain image doesn’t stay on for more than 2-3 seconds on the screen which leads to a decrease in the attention span of children. This leads them to be conditioned to have instant change or gratification and would thereafter generalize in other domains of their lives. Instant gratification is achieved when the needs of the children are immediately met, this lessens their patience to meet their needs; promotes more needs to be formulated and in turn for them to be fulfilled at the earliest.
Autism– Though there has been ongoing research about this particular topic, it has been widely discussed that the implications of screen time in early childhood can lead to a type of autism called ‘virtual autism’. The characteristics of virtual autism include similar criteria of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) following the DSM (Diagnostic Statistical Module) where the symptoms include a lack of understanding of social cues, lack of eye contact, and need for structure and many more suffice for the ‘virtual autism’ that has recently been surfaced in the research area.
Need for social acceptance– Being part of the digital age, especially teenagers are always in the quest for approval, and this majorly impacts their usage of digital devices. Through the unrealistic portrayal of personality, body, relationships and social interaction, teenagers always do take away their perception of the world. Sometimes these takeaways might not always be the best approach to take to interact with the world but since they have been exposed to a certain manner, their perceptions are already distorted. Therefore, the gullibility of teenagers is also taken as an advantage in digital media which can also lead to the risks of cyber bullying.
Other adverse effects– Adverse effects like delayed language development, reduced outdoor play, risk of addiction, disrupted sleep patterns, impaired social skills, and behavioural problems are other effects that can fall under the detrimental effects.
Digital consumption also leads to certain upsides, which are:
Curiosity fulfilled– While it is crucial to understand the adversities children face resulting from digital consumption, it becomes important to also recognise the potential digital devices have on the growth and development of children. Curiosity always kills the cat when it comes to the latter and the internet in turn sparks the interest of the children to feed them information on their How, What, When, Where and Why’s. This needs to be encouraged by the parents since they are one of the sole providers of digital devices.
Keeping up with the world– The internet is the fastest growing medium that has all the information necessary for the individual to understand the world. To understand several global phenomena and trends, it is essential to stay in touch with digital media. While digital media and social media makes human life easy, it also provides a gateway for these children of the digital era to capitalize on their amenities.
Knowledge– Digital consumption provides accessibility to information from anytime, anywhere only at the convenience of having it at the tip of our fingers. It also enhances the pre-existing knowledge and abilities by making people competent and also enables them to find their interests which might not always be accessible in their arena. It also connects a person from one corner of the world to another enhancing the connectivity rate of shared information and experiences.
The ways in which digital consumption can be optimized in a child’s life are vital to comprehend for the child to reach their highest potential throughout development. Parents need to understand that modelling is quite simple yet an effective way to help the child understand the accessibility to digital media. Allowing a certain time for digital learning, which might not involve any other activities like eating, playing and reading; Parents can do this by Spending quality time with the children; Educating them about the adversities of digital media; Monitoring the content consumed are all quite important to take into consideration.
Digital media has consumed most of the domains of our lives to a higher degree. Therefore, the quality of our lives may also be impaired due to dependence on digital needs. To tackle this challenge, balancing and appreciating the mundane slowness becomes essential and as a result, brings around more ways to improve the quality of life. In conclusion, digital media and social media provides accessibility to information and crucial insights to improve oneself but also opens the window to create mishaps about the same. Moreover, children and their gullibility to misinformation through the digital landscapes can promote hazardous information to spread which may not be beneficial to the child and their environment. Furthermore, fostering open communication between children and trusted adults is essential for addressing concerns related to digital consumption. Encouraging dialogue about online experiences, addressing any challenges or risks encountered, and providing guidance and support are essential for promoting children’s well-being and safety in digital environments.
Overall, while digital consumption offers numerous opportunities for learning, creativity, and connection, it also poses risks that must be effectively managed. By promoting responsible digital habits, fostering critical thinking skills, and facilitating open communication. With the help of parents we can empower children to navigate the digital world safely and confidently, ensuring that they harness the full potential of digital media while minimizing its potential negative impacts.
