argumentative essay should parents limit screen time body

Should Screen Time Be Limited for Children? Essay

Introduction, damage to the eyesight, social isolation.

The amount of time modern children spend in front of screens is staggering. Not only does their eyesight suffer because of the excessive pressure, but their social life is also damaged as they circumscribe their own abilities to interact with other children. Children lack the adult perspective to recognize the danger, which is why their screen time should be restricted. Ultimately, children’s screen time should be limited because it damages them physically and decapitates their social abilities.

First, screen time puts excessive pressure on the eyes. The biological function of eyes is to be able to look far enough to see the details. In order for them to perform this function, eye muscles need to rest and constantly exercise at long distances. However, screens by definition are limited displays, where only a certain amount of information is present. In order to acquire as much information as possible from the screen source, the human eye has to continuously look at the screen, while the pages are turned, one video swaps another, or the newsfeed is updated. Perceiving information from screens is an extremely static experience. The eyeball does not move enough to achieve the needed level of mobility and does not get enough rest.

Screen time is especially perilous for children’s eyesight because their muscles are only forming. Any body part, which grows with time, needs to function properly in order to achieve the entirety of its range of motions in the adult years. Eyes are no different, as children need to become accustomed to exercising them. However, as children spent enormous amount of time behind computers, they teach their body to endure static pressure, which is not intended for it (Saunders et al., 2017). As a result, children acquire eyesight health issues long before they achieve their adulthood, which could have been averted with sufficient limitations of screen time.

A less evident but no less important problem is the deficit of social interactions due to time-consuming screen time. Humans are social beings, who need communities, live interaction, and connection. All of these needs can be met with communication and conversations with other people. Screen time is so addictive because it creates the illusion of communication. As users are constantly overwhelmed with tons of tweets, posts, search suggestions, and promotions, people begin to feel that they a part of the increasingly connected world. Yet, the feeling is a deceiving one because virtual communication lacks essential components of interaction, such as gestures, sense, physical presence, and touch.

The problem is even worse with children who are still learning how to interact with other people. By substituting real-life communication with online messengers and other virtual sources of information, they rob themselves of the little subtleties that drive human interactions. Children habituate themselves to turn to their smartphones and computers when they have problems instead of their friends and family (Hinkley et al., 2018). Although not immediately apparent, such a mindset can have a disastrous effect on the future, when these children are not able to properly connect with other people in a way that is not possible in cyberspace.

Altogether, limiting screen time is necessary for a balanced and proper development of children. Physically, their eyes require exercises and rest, which are not provided by screen time. Socially, children’s minds need connection with other individuals, which is not attainable via online messengers. Limiting screen time will have a beneficial effect on their physical and social development, while teaching them the importance of real-life interactions.

Hinkley, T., Brown, H., Carson, V., & Teychenne, M. (2018). Cross sectional associations of screen time and outdoor play with social skills in preschool children . PloS One , 13 (4), 1-15.

Susilowati, I. H., Nugraha, S., Alimoeso, S., & Hasiholan, B. P. (2021). Screen Time for Preschool Children: Learning from Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic . Global Pediatric Health , 8 , 1-6.

Saunders, T. J., & Vallance, J. K. (2017). Screen time and health indicators among children and youth: current evidence, limitations and future directions . Applied Health Economics and Health Policy , 15 (3), 323-331.

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Home — Essay Samples — Information Science and Technology — Effects of Watching too much TV — Should Screen Time Be Limited for Children

Should Screen Time Be Limited for Children

Categories: Effects of Watching too much TV

About this sample

Words: 762 |

Published: Jan 29, 2024

Words: 762 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

The importance of limiting screen time, the educational potential of screen time, balancing screen time with other activities, establishing guidelines for screen time limits.

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). Media and Young Minds. Retrieved from www.aap.org
NHS UK. (2019). Screens and children. Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/screen-time-and-children/
WHO. (2019). Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/physical-activity-for-children-under-5-years-of-age

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