We have known for several decades that screens are harmful to children. Too frequent exposure (several hours a day) has been associated with delays in cognitive development, as well as learning, language and memory disorders. And in adolescents, excessive use of screens could cause manic symptoms, such as mood disorders and a sleep disruption. But a meta-analysis highlights a little less known fact. The study stipulates that too much exposure to screens can exacerbate socio-emotional problems (anxiety, depression, aggressiveness, hyperactivity, etc.) of children … but that the latter are more likely to turn to screens to mitigate these same behaviors. A vicious circle, which mainly affects children aged 6 to 10 and seems to be more about boys than in girls.
Carried out by professors in psychology at the University of Queensland (Australia), the study in question has screened a hundred research on more than 292,000 children from all over the world. The results were published in the journal Psychological Bulletin. Most of the work mentioned in this research was carried out in the United States (41 studies), Canada (13), Australia (11), Germany and the Netherlands (7 each).
The perverse effect of video games
Unsurprisingly, video games are associated with higher risks to develop behavioral disorders, compared to other content offered on screen, in particular those intended for educational or recreational purposes. “”When I was a child, I loved video games: they offer a powerful information and return of information when you do a good job. This is why games are particularly tempting for children who have problems and it is particularly difficult to keep them away“, Comments in a press release Michael Noetel, associate professor at the University of Queensland Psychology School and co-author of this study.
If it is true that some video games have an educational dimension (some of them have even been recognized as a vector of mental well-being in teenagers), resorting to it in an excessive way can prove to be counterproductive. “Parents and political decision -makers have long debated the question of whether the screens caused problems or if the children with problems were simply attracted by screens. Our study shows that it is both,” points out Michael Noetel. Before adding: “If we approach only one aspect of the equation – reduce the time spent in front of the screens, but neglect the anxiety or the aggressiveness that leads children in front of the screens – we risk leaving the children trapped in a cycle“The researcher tempers, however, stating that the emotional and behavioral disorders mentioned can also be explained by other factors, such as exposure to alcohol and/or drugs.
Apply the rule of 3-6-9-12
Anyway, worrying impacts when we know the omnipresence of screens in our lives. In France, children aged 6 to 17 would spend an average of 4:11 a day on a screen, excluding school times, according to recent public health data France. Last April, five French learned companies (including the French Pediatric Society) pulled the alarm to warn of the harmful effects of screens on the cognitive development of children. These healthcare professionals recommend that they completely proscribe screens before the age of six, three years more than the current official recommendations.
To help parents limit the screen time of their child (s), the French pediatrician Serge Tisseron invented the rule of 3-6-9-12, thought according to the age of children and the stage of their cognitive development. The principles to remember are as follows: no screen before the age of 3, no personal console before 6 years old, no internet before 9 years old and no internet without support before 12 years.
Other initiatives have recently emerged to encourage the digital “detox” of children and teenagers, like the challenge of spending ten days without looking at the slightest screen, in favor of activities promoting relaxation and creativity. An idea imported from Quebec, carried by the French association “10 days without screens” and implemented last May in several schools in France.