By K J Foxhall As someone who grew up in the 80s and 90s, I experienced life before the internet (in the consumer world that is), and witnessed the transition to today’s tech-driven world. My first mobile phone was a bulky brick, followed by the legendary Nokia 3210, famed for its durability. Back then, we didn’t have constant access to devices, and the internet was a novelty, not a necessity.
Fast forward to now and mobile devices are everywhere with the internet is woven into our daily lives. While technology brings convenience, it also raises serious concerns, especially for children and their parents/carers. When I was a teenager, chatrooms like MSN and Yahoo were the main online forums. Even then, there were safety risks with strangers, but today, the risks have multiplied and become more sophisticated.
Popular platforms like Roblox, Snapchat, and TikTok have opened up new avenues for interaction and, unfortunately, for online grooming, sextortion, and exposure to harmful content. It’s easier than ever for strangers to contact children, often with ill intentions. As a parent, I’ve taken steps like disabling chat and friend requests on my child’s accounts, but I know that’s just one layer of protection.
Online challenges and harmful trends can lead to tragic consequences, including accidental suicides. Many grieving parents struggle to access their children’s online data due to privacy laws and uncooperative tech companies. The proposed Online Safety Bill aims to address some of these issues, but it won’t solve everything.
The digital world has evolved rapidly integrating into every part of our lives. There’s nothing inherently wrong with technology, but as with any indulgence, moderation is vital. For working parents, giving a child a device is sometimes necessary, but it’s important to balance screen time with other activities and remain vigilant about online safety.
Podcasts like ‘Scrolling to Death’ (by Nikki Ryseberg) offer valuable insights into protecting children online and highlight the importance of ongoing conversations about internet safety. I’ve also found practical tips, like keeping my headphones off so I can hear what my child is doing online, and alternating screen time with outdoor or creative activities.
Research shows that excessive screen time can impact areas of the brain related to learning and memory (like the hippocampus).
Key findings from research on screen time and brain health include:
- Structural Changes: High screen usage, particularly in children and adolescents, is associated with reduced white matter integrity in brain areas supporting language and literacy skills1 2.
- Memory and Cognition: Over 2 hours/day of screen time can lead to lower performance in thinking and language tasks. Excessive screen time is also linked to lower cognitive scores and poor executive functioning3.
- Brain Regions Impacted: Research indicates potential damage to the orbitofrontal cortex, a region involved in reward-based decision-making, especially in adolescents with suspected screen addiction.
- Functional Issues: Excessive visual stimulation from screens can overwhelm the brain stem, causing lower focus and increased fatigue.
- Long-Term Impact: Some studies suggest that the increased “brain rot” effect, and this is not a reference to the Skibidi Toilet YouTube series, this is a mix of digital addiction and cognitive decline that occurs because the brain struggles to manage the constant, rapid information flow, leading to issues with memory and attention4.
However, some studies on children indicate that the relationship between screen use and brain changes is not always purely negative, with some studies showing no significant differences in cognitive health. The impact can also vary depending on the type of content, activity, and educational use can have different outcomes than passive, excessive consumption.
The digital world isn’t going away, so we need to adapt while teaching children that there’s more to life than screens.
Predators will continue to exploit technology, and while we can’t control everything, we can take steps to protect our children. That means setting boundaries, educating them about online risks, and, above all, spending quality time together. Ultimately, you know your child best trust your instincts, keep communication open, and remember that your involvement is the greatest safeguard of all.
Technology is a bit like chocolate, a moderate amount is fine, but too much is bad for you.
- National Library of Medicine ↩︎
- What screen time does to children’s brains is more complicated than it seems, BBC ↩︎
- Stanford Lifestyle Medicine ↩︎
- National Institutes of Health ↩︎