Studying our relationship with technology seems to be a preoccupation of psychology today. We know the litany of woes that study after study reports when it comes to screens and our children.
A brief summary: too much screen time makes our kids inactive, which can contribute to obesity or gross motor developmental delays. Huge chunks of screen time is linked to depression and a decrease in general well-being in adults and adolescents, but in children screen time can isolate them from real life social interactions and remove their opportunities to practise building relationships. A lot of exposure to screens may also lead to poor sleep, excessive snacking, behavioural issues such as acting out violence, and poor academic performance.
In the other corner are those who say a familiarity with technology is crucial for success in the modern world. Tablets are used in schools, and being comfortable with ever more sophisticated electronic devices will be a necessity by the time our children are adults. Screens (TVs, smartphones and tablets) have some uses, and some educational value, in some situations, say these proponents. And in each of the above-mentioned cases, the argument is made that it'skids who are already prone to being overweight and inactive, the socially awkward, or those who tend towards sadness and introspection who are more likely to self medicate