Digital media: promoting healthy screen use

Question 1

What are your recommendations for screen use?

Answer 1

Manage screen use
- family media plan, co-view and talk, discourage media-multitasking, use parental controls and privacy settings, obtain passwords and login info, talk about acceptable/unacceptable online behaviours

Meaningful screen use
- prioritize daily routines, use educational/active/social screen time, developmentally appropriate content, be part of children’s media lives, advocate for plan for digital literacy and screen use

Model
- review own media habits, review danger of texting/headphones walk/jog/drive, screen-free time, screens off, no screen 1 hr before bed

Monitor
- bored or unhappy without screen, oppositional with limits, interferes with sleep/school/face to face, interferes with physical activity, negative emotions after

Question 2

What is screen time?

Answer 2

time spent with any screen including smart phones, tablet, TV, video games, computers, wearable technology

Question 3

What is digital media?

Answer 3

content transmitted over Internet or computer networks on all devices, unless particular ones are specified

Question 4

How many Canadian parents report concern about time children spend on media?

Answer 4

3/4

Question 5

What are screen benefits in school aged children?

Answer 5

• immersive, informative when age appropriate and co-viewed
• improved academic performance, knowledge, literacy
• video games: well-being, prosocial behaviour, less conduct problems
• lower depression with 1hr/day
• friendships

Question 6

What are screen risks in school aged children?

Answer 6

• age-inappropriate or violent content
• depressive symptoms
• low SES: more time, less access to quality resources
• lower physical activity
• unsupervised
• media multitasking - harms academic outcomes

Question 7

What are screen benefits in adolescents ?

Answer 7

• Friendship
• Validating
• Positive effects on well being (moderate 2-4 hr/day)
• helps socially anxious teens
• video games increase cognitive skills
• some promote physical activity

Question 8

What are screen risks inadolescents?

Answer 8

• feeling addicted; too much time online
• depression (> 6hr/day)
• media multitasking - worse academics
• threshold for gaming (conduct problems, negative well being, hyperactivity, peer & emotional problems)
• risks online
• erode family connectedness
• texting while driving
• obesity
• delayed sleep time
• eye problems, headaches, not eating, fatigue
• repetitive strain injury or MSK complaints
• appearance anxiety, body image concerns, disordered eating