Screen-based behaviour in children is more than meets the eye

Abstract

Increased screen time (ST) in children is quickly becoming a public health concern as children are now reliant on technology for social interaction and educational development. The eye-health community has paid considerable attention to this in the recent literature, documenting it as digital eye strain. Continual close eye work and a lack of outdoor play contribute to digital eye strain and today's myopia epidemic. This is a cause for concern for public health stakeholders insofar as it leads to sedentary, screen-based behaviour (SSB) in children. This results in a lack of physical activity and impacts both their bodies and their mental health. The potentially harmful effects of prolonged screen exposure on developing brains and bodies are likely to be unique and significant as physiological growth changes intersect with exponentially expanding e-platforms. While embracing the benefits of a highly digitalised world, we need to simultaneously mitigate the potential risks they pose to the health of growing children.

Keywords: children; mental well-being; physical health; screen time; sedentary screen-based behavior; vision.