Digital Technology

Screen time, trends, and the impact!

Last weekend, I watched an intriguing tv segment about blank face, a new phenomenon being caused by screen use amongst children. The professor that was speaking, spoke about children not developing facial expressions and/or picking up on body language and social cues from interacting and socialising. She went on the explain the importance of kids being away from a device (not using them) and how these fundamental social skills, that humans have used for thousands of years, are being modified and its impact. She also highlighted how these devices have become babysitters and why, and how this in turn, is having impact on our feelings and emotions and controlling them. 

The Australian Institute of Family Studies and the Department of Health and Aged Care have clear guidelines that have been set out. For children, the guidelines are – 

• no screen time for children younger than two years
• no more than one hour per day for children aged 2–5 years
• no more than two hours of sedentary recreational screen time per day for children and young people aged 5–17 years (not including schoolwork).

Both websites also outline the benefits of physical activity and how staying active regularly is essential for good physical and mental health and wellbeing. As a teacher, I am so conscious of the use of technology and how my students are using it. It has always been modelled to me and by those in the education tech field, that 50% on a device and 50% off is the way to go. It’s a good motto to model. 

Recently, and further to this, there has been strong noise about young people and social media, especially as parts of our country struggle with adolescents and their engagement in society. In the last week, professionals in the field, have called for the age of social media to be raised to 16, with concerns around content and trends being put forward on these platforms and the influence they are having on our younger members of society with trends, fads or unresearched movements. Even the uploading of content and the ease of access that young people have, have all come under scrutiny.

Throughout time, there have been many trends or fads. I remember the HyperColour t-shirt, the track suit pants tucked into socks and yoyos craze all from the 80s, the long-haired grunge influences of the 90’s, the Rachel haircut from Friends and the 1970/80s mullets recently back on the footy fields. I still have my parachute tracksuit and the shops have stocked again Reebok Pumps! However, technology was in its infancy and many of us saved up our 20c pieces to use on Moon Patrol, Pac Man, Galaga and those tabletop games that sat in the local fish and chip shops, arcades, and bowling lanes. These games, although challenging, were a hit but only required you to sit for 5 to 10 mins until your lives were lost or the next person waiting was getting annoyed the high score was about to be clocked. 

Unlike games of yesteryear, the games of today have an ever-increasing position on in-app purchases and the manipulation of success and advancement, which if you don’t keep up with, can leave you behind the rest of the world and their accomplishments. Games such as Clash of Clans, Fortnite and Fifa (now EA FC) have created popularity and success around the release of new content and the progression you have (or don’t) if you don’t’ constantly play or pay. Phrasing like game grinding, tasks/achievements or resource building have come into play, where game players erase hours away trying save up to advance. This concept of missing out or the fear of not having certain items is being exasperated with World Championships being held in these gaming realms and world champions and prize money being handed out to potential champions and experts. It’s hard to not emulate or want to be like those famous streamers on YouTube and earn thousands of dollars from content delivery, views or likes. Far from the 1980's Nintendo World Championship that Fred Savage portrayed in a movie during that time!

Last week, I had a conversation with some parents around technology use at home and how I could help them, as their child was having issues with gaming, not letting go and behavioural changes (mood swings, anger etc). I hope I was able to assist them and help them on this ever-challenging space. It’s amazing, that, as you have these conversations as an educator, you always think about what you do in your own households and what you are modelling to your own children. 

Maybe it’s time to pack away the PS5. I think I might get out my old NES and have a game of Super Mario Bros. Wonder if I still remember where all the warps are! Or better still, I should go and visit my weight bench that sits lonely in the car port…