People often ask me about the medical risks that all this screen time is having on our kids—such as the development of eyesight problems or tendonitis. I get emails from ophthalmologists who are convinced that nearsightedness is increasing, but so far there are no long-term studies to say anything definitively. One thing studies do show is that plenty of time outside is needed to prevent nearsightedness.
People who spend long hours with computers, video game controllers, cellphones and the like are at higher risk of developing musculoskeletal pains which can develop in the neck, shoulders, thumbs, wrists, elbows and lower back. In a study of college students with very high cell phone use (vs. those with low usage), ultrasounds found that the group with high usage had enlarged median nerves and this was associated with causing more thumb pain.
There is no denying that screen time is coming into classrooms at a faster and faster rate and this has many people, including myself, concerned about how this will affect our kids' physical health—both in the short and long term. So what can we do to prevent strain and pain from tech use? It is one thing to know information and quite another to change behavior. I tell my medical students that the hardest (and most rewarding) thing you will do is to help people to make lasting behavior changes.
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Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!
Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids
Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast
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People often ask me about the medical risks that all this screen time is having on our kids—such as the development of eyesight problems or tendonitis. I get emails from ophthalmologists who are convinced that nearsightedness is increasing, but so far there are no long-term studies to say anything definitively. One thing studies do show is that plenty of time outside is needed to prevent nearsightedness.
People who spend long hours with computers, video game controllers, cellphones and the like are at higher risk of developing musculoskeletal pains which can develop in the neck, shoulders, thumbs, wrists, elbows and lower back. In a study of college students with very high cell phone use (vs. those with low usage), ultrasounds found that the group with high usage had enlarged median nerves and this was associated with causing more thumb pain.
There is no denying that screen time is coming into classrooms at a faster and faster rate and this has many people, including myself, concerned about how this will affect our kids' physical health—both in the short and long term. So what can we do to prevent strain and pain from tech use? It is one thing to know information and quite another to change behavior. I tell my medical students that the hardest (and most rewarding) thing you will do is to help people to make lasting behavior changes.
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People often ask me about the medical risks that all this screen time is having on our kids—such as the development of eyesight problems or tendonitis. I get emails from ophthalmologists who are convinced that nearsightedness is increasing, but so far there are no long-term studies to say anything definitively. One thing studies do show is that plenty of time outside is needed to prevent nearsightedness.
People who spend long hours with computers, video game controllers, cellphones and the like are at higher risk of developing musculoskeletal pains which can develop in the neck, shoulders, thumbs, wrists, elbows and lower back. In a study of college students with very high cell phone use (vs. those with low usage), ultrasounds found that the group with high usage had enlarged median nerves and this was associated with causing more thumb pain.
There is no denying that screen time is coming into classrooms at a faster and faster rate and this has many people, including myself, concerned about how this will affect our kids' physical health—both in the short and long term. So what can we do to prevent strain and pain from tech use? It is one thing to know information and quite another to change behavior. I tell my medical students that the hardest (and most rewarding) thing you will do is to help people to make lasting behavior changes.
Catherine Price’s “Rebel's Code” focuses on intentional technology use and prioritizing real-world friendship, freedom, and fun. Her book The Amazing Generation, co-written with Jonathan Haidt, introduces these concepts to children through interactive formats and teen perspectives. Research indicates that when adolescents understand how platforms are designed to exploit attention, they show greater motivation to limit their social media use.
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Many adults keep their phones by the bed — it feels harmless, even necessary. But what if that habit is quietly affecting our sleep and the example we set for our kids? In this week’s blog, Dr. Ruston shares two key things every parent should know about sleeping next to a phone, and how small nighttime tech changes can make a big difference for the whole family.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
