Learning disabilities, lack of friends and social isolation; parents worried as children face screen time addiction

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The number of children seeking help from psychologists due to cognitive difficulties caused by excessive use of visual media is increasing. The consequences of this are sleep deprivation, behavioural problems, learning disabilities, and violent behaviours. Between twenty and thirty children are seeking treatment a week at the Psychiatry OP of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College due to such problems. The National Economic Survey has also expressed concern about this. Experts say that digital addiction among children has increased after COVID-19.

Excessive screen time

• Children reach a point where they do not need friends to be happy in life. This isolates them from society.

• Late-night screen time causes sleep deprivation, memory loss, attention deficit, and emotional problems, including anger issues

• Constantly watching vivid, rapidly changing visual content leads to reduced attention span.

• Misuse of surfaces like the dark web on the internet is a playground for buying and using drugs. This can lead to drug addiction.

'Children up to the age of two should not be exposed to any kind of visual media. The maximum time allowed is one hour for children between the ages of two and three, and two hours for children between the ages of six and 18.'

-Dr. Arun B. Nair

Department of Psychiatry

Med. College