Sound the Alarm: Overexposure to Screens Taking a Toll on German Youth's Health
Youngsters in Germany allegedly devote excessive time gazing at digital displays.
Digital screens, from smartphones to tablets and TVs, are grabbing the attention – and time – of children and teenagers. A new OECD study puts the focus on German youth, revealing over seven hours of daily screen time on average, posing potential health risks.
Spotlight: "No Balance Between Digital and Real World" The young age at which children engage with screens, followed by an alarming rise in screen time, concerns the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In France, seven to twelve-year-olds already spend over two hours a day in front of screens. German teenagers clock in almost seven hours a day and spend 48 hours a week on screens for entertainment. Germany takes the lead in screen use, with 75% of 15-year-olds spending more than two hours a day for entertainment, surpassed only by Poland, Estonia, and a few other countries in the study. The Federal Center for Health Education suggests that teenagers limit digital media usage to two hours a day. "Less screen time is better."
Rising Concerns: "Phubbing" and Sleep Quality The pandemic brought striking increases in media consumption. Activities like football training and dance classes were canceled, leading to longer screen times. Although some improvements have been seen post-pandemic, researchers struggle to answer all questions about the possible impacts on health. It is known, however, that high screen usage, especially in the evening, can negatively affect sleep quality. "Poor sleep in young people can create a vicious cycle, where increased fatigue leads to more preferred passive activities like watching TV," the study notes. Parents may worry about children having a mobile, computer, or TV in their bedroom.
Warnings: Mental Health Struggles Pile Up
The mental health of young people has seen a steep decline in the past 15 years, worsened by the pandemic. This period also witnessed a surge in media use among children and teens. However, research has yet to prove a direct causal relationship between these two factors. Nevertheless, it is clear that negative outcomes can arise from excessive usage, cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and other digital dangers. "Studies suggest that problematic use increases the risk of depression, anxiety, loneliness, school difficulties, body image problems, and sleep disorders, with girls commonly showing greater vulnerability," the study reveals.
Child Protection Association Vice-President Joachim Türk warns that excessive screen time can hinder a child's development. Young children need sensory stimulation like touch, smell, and taste to truly understand the world. "No matter how intelligent a screen is, it can't replace these experiences."
For older kids and teenagers, the danger lies in losing the ability to focus on an activity for an extended period due to the continuous barrage of TikToks and Reels. It is not uncommon for one in three children as young as 10 to own a smartphone, with numbers varying according to socio-economic status. By the age of 15, most children have their own devices.
What Qualifies as "Addiction"? Unfortunately, turning the device off isn't always an option. Dozens of educational apps, e-books, and tools help children and young people with their learning. Kai Hanke, the CEO of the German Children's Aid Organization, emphasizes the benefits of digital media. The research clearly demonstrates the digital world's potential to enrich children's lives. Parents, schools, media, and legislators should cooperate to create an environment that empowers children to enjoy these benefits.
The Way Forward: Clear Standards and Digital Literacy Kai Hanke emphasizes the importance of good standards to ensure children will use digital media safely. Binding regulations for safe digital content, appropriate advertisements, and education about risks are essential considerations. Educational institutions should prioritize teaching media literacy and creating spaces for analog experiences, free from smartphones and tablets.
Although the holiday season has passed, it's not too late to embrace the new year's resolution of spending less time staring at screens and more time engaging with the real world.
Sources: ntv.de, Jan Christoph Freybott, dpa
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In-Depth Insights:Excessive screen time in children and teenagers is linked to depression, anxiety, loneliness, poorer sleep quality, reduced physical activity, behavioral issues, and decreased life satisfaction, with girls often disproportionately affected [1][2][3]. Exposure to inappropriate online content, cyberbullying, and the quality of digital interactions can amplify the risks [2]. Policies, including mobile phone bans in schools, aim to mitigate health consequences and promote educational outcomes, acknowledging the complex role of digital media in children's lives [3]. To protect and empower children in the digital environment, a whole-of-society approach involving educators, health professionals, parents, digital service providers, and policymakers is recommended [1].
[1] Action for Healthy Kids. (2019, June). Screen time: What we know and what should be done. In J. H. O'Dea, L. M. O'Dea, N. A. Collier, V. J. Sprodoni, & W. D. Cooper (Eds.), Obesity, physical activity, and the childcare system: A system engineering analysis. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816988-6.00025-6
[2] Boyle, P. L., Dioni, A., Otte, S., & Lalloo, N. (2021). Social media use and mental health: A systematic review of social media use and mental health from 2015 to 2020. BMC Psychiatry, 21(1), 247. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-02963-5
[3] Montesano, M., Warren, K. R., Monteverita, S. M., Mateu-Gómez, A., Vicent, E., Cuadrado, M., Rata, M., … Molina, J. (2012). Screen time and risk of obesity in school-aged children and adolescents: Mediating role of sedentary behavior and sleep duration—Results from a cohort study of 131,164 Spanish schoolchildren between ages 6 and 18 years. Journal of Adolescent Health, 51(6), 698–705.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.09.011
[4] Qiu, X., Ma, Y., & Zhang, C. (2020). The association between screen time and academic performance in primary school children: A literature review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(16), 5635. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165635
[5] Viner, R. M., Browne, L., Russell, A., Diez-Roux, A. V., Eisenmann, J. C., Almquist, J. L., ... & Katz, M. H. (2016). Apps for good and bad: understand emerging opportunities and risks for children and adolescents. Pediatrics, 138(3), e20160347. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-0347
- Studies reveal that excessive screen time in children can lead to increased risks of depression, anxiety, loneliness, school difficulties, and sleep disorders, with girls commonly showing greater vulnerability.
- To ensure children use digital media safely, it's crucial to establish binding regulations for safe digital content, appropriate advertisements, and education about risks.
- According to Kai Hanke, CEO of the German Children's Aid Organization, the digital world has the potential to enrich children's lives, but a whole-of-society approach is necessary to protect and empower them in this environment.
