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An article was published in the @nytimes today entitled "Children’s Screen Time Has Soared in the Pandemic, Alarming Parents and Researchers" and I have thoughts.
A thread. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/16/health/covid-kids-tech-use.html
A thread. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/16/health/covid-kids-tech-use.html
As expected of mainstream journalism it is far more moral panic than actual information.
It’s a lot to digest and for the sake of brevity, I’m going to just hit the major points here
It’s a lot to digest and for the sake of brevity, I’m going to just hit the major points here
I think the part that got edited out was how much parents appreciate that their children have the privilege of technology to stay connected, educated, and informed.
Unlike those who do not who and are being disproportionally left behind: https://theconversation.com/not-all-kids-have-computers-and-theyre-being-left-behind-with-schools-closed-by-the-coronavirus-137359
Unlike those who do not who and are being disproportionally left behind: https://theconversation.com/not-all-kids-have-computers-and-theyre-being-left-behind-with-schools-closed-by-the-coronavirus-137359
While "BRAAAAAINNNSS" is a great way to instill fear in us all, there is actually a LOT of debate in the scholarly community about the long-term effects of technology on long-term, structural brain change due to technology use.
See: https://qz.com/1699489/experts-disagree-on-the-effects-of-technology-on-children/
See: https://qz.com/1699489/experts-disagree-on-the-effects-of-technology-on-children/
Of course screen time has doubled. We are now fulfilling ALL of our needs 6 feet away from each other (i.e., online): school, leisure, socializing.
"Screen time" is a horrible metric:
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/10/3661
"Screen time" is a horrible metric:
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/10/3661
….and any effects that *do* seem to be pinned on this monolithic “screen time” measure minimal at best. RE this brilliant piece by @OrbenAmy @ShuhBillSkee https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-018-0506-1?fbclid=IwAR1lIDoLwZ_932NKLOYn07IrwI23kPw6h0WPROZh11JP6PukPaIKH0L7Urs
Here she is: the CLASSIC moral panic.
See:
See:
...also, the research on anxiety, depression, obesity, aggression, is much more nuanced, particularly when it comes to #videogames.
See:
See:
...and “technology addiction”/"gaming addiction" is a dubious concept at best.
See:
See:
This is the only glimmer of hope in the whole article. Although, games aren’t actually found to be poor substitutes for health, social, and physical development.
RE: rise of exergames &
https://academic.oup.com/jcmc/article/11/4/885/4617703?login=true
RE: rise of exergames &
https://academic.oup.com/jcmc/article/11/4/885/4617703?login=true
What they are really getting at is a sedentary lifestyle, which is OF COURSE bad, but also something that has been part of our culture shift for decades.
See: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/43/1/1
See: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/43/1/1
Oh, escapism - that old hat. Which is only ever framed negatively in the context of video games. No one ever has anything bad to say about escaping in to a good book?
See:
See:
We’ve reached the end: my favorite quote of the whole piece.
Umm… yes. He can. Games are fantastic stress relievers.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carmen_Russoniello/publication/289131468_The_effectiveness_of_casual_video_games_in_improving_mood_and_decreasing_stress/links/589b371492851c942ddac68d/The-effectiveness-of-casual-video-games-in-improving-mood-and-decreasing-stress.pdf
Umm… yes. He can. Games are fantastic stress relievers.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carmen_Russoniello/publication/289131468_The_effectiveness_of_casual_video_games_in_improving_mood_and_decreasing_stress/links/589b371492851c942ddac68d/The-effectiveness-of-casual-video-games-in-improving-mood-and-decreasing-stress.pdf
I'm not saying that there are NO consequences to this increase in screen time, but this is the most unbalanced, moral panic, fear mongering article I've read in a while.
Parents deserve more a more accurate and balanced overview of what we actually know. The science.
Parents deserve more a more accurate and balanced overview of what we actually know. The science.
We are tired of the moral panic about technology. If you need suggestions for more scientific sources, here are a few:
@OrbenAmy
@ShuhBillSkee
@avantgame
@CeliaHodent
@LindaKKaye
@thorstenquandt
@VanRooij
@OrbenAmy
@ShuhBillSkee
@avantgame
@CeliaHodent
@LindaKKaye
@thorstenquandt
@VanRooij
@CJFerguson1111
@patmarkey
@PeteEtchells
@Nick_Yee
@PlatinumParagon
...I mean, there are A LOT of us.
@patmarkey
@PeteEtchells
@Nick_Yee
@PlatinumParagon
...I mean, there are A LOT of us.
