257 minutes: the time teens can spend on computers each day before harming wellbeing
257 minutes: the time teens can spend on computers each
day before harming wellbeing
Fears that hours of screen time are bad for health are
largely unfounded, says Oxford
By Sarah Knapton, science editor 13 JANUARY 2017 • 4:14PM
Parents should worry less about the amount of time their
children spend using smartphones, computers and playing video games because
screen time is actually beneficial, the University of Oxford has concluded.
The rise in technology in the past decade has led to
fears that teenagers could be damaging their social skills and mental health by
spending increasing amounts of time online or immersed in a virtual world.
Yet when researchers at Oxford University quizzed 120,000
15-year-olds about their wellbeing and compared it to screen time, they found
the use of gadgets had a positive impact.
In fact, wellbeing peaked at four hours and 17 minutes of
computer use a day before starting to dip again, suggesting devices have a
Goldilocks Zone where the amount of screen time is ‘just right.’ For smartphones the ‘sweet spot’ was around
two hours and one hour 40 minutes for video games.
Intelligent use of
computers can enhance the life of teenagers but overall they are spending
vastly too much time online
Sir Anthony
Seldon, Vice-Chancellor, University of Buckingham
The researchers say that digital connectivity may enhance
creativity, communication skills and development and conclude there is little
to support fears that spending time on digital devices is harmful.
“Previous research has oversimplified the relationship
between digital screen time and the mental wellbeing of teenagers,” said Dr
Andrew Przybylski, of the Oxford Internet Institute.
“Overall we found that modern use of digital technology
is not intrinsically harmful and may have advantages in a connected world
unless digital devices are overused or interfere with schoolwork or after
school activities.
“Our research suggests that some connectivity is probably
better than none and there are moderate levels that as in the story of
Goldilocks are just right for young people.”
However the study did not take into account whether
physical health was affected by spending too much time staring at screens, or
calculate the cumulative effect of using multiple devices.
In 2014, researchers in China found that too much
internet use caused brain shrinkage, while psychiatrists say children can
become hyper-aroused by gadgets, a condition dubbed ‘electronic screen
syndrome.’ Studies have also shown that using computers, smartphones or tablets
before bedtime disrupts sleep.
Sir Anthony Seldon the Vice Chancellor of the University
of Buckingham and former master of Wellington College said screen time was a
‘very significant concern’.
“Intelligent use of computers can enhance the life of
teenagers but overall they are spending vastly too much time online,” he added.
“Real people, real exercise, real environments and above
all real relationships in the flesh are what young people need to develop into
healthy adults.
“I’m extremely worried by the extensive and
indiscriminate exposure of adolescents to computers. It should be a very
significant concern.”
The researchers of the new study agreed that electronic
devices could be harmful if youngsters were using them to avoid exercise, sleep
or avoid making friends. But they also said they could actually be beneficial
for development.
Co-author Dr Netta Weinstein of Cardiff University said:
“To the extent that digital activities either enrich teenagers’ lives or
displace more rewarding activities, they should have either positive or
negative effects on their mental well-being.
“There have been theories that digital use is disrupting
more satisfying pursuits. However, the role of digital technology has a central
role in everyday life and online gaming is now a shared way of playing for
teenage boys.
“There is good reason to think digital technology used in
moderation is not disruptive and may even support development.’
Commenting on the research, Dr Pete Etchells, senior
lecturer in Biological Psychology, Bath Spa University, said: "The study
shows that certain levels of technology use may actually be beneficial to
children.
"Where negative effects do exist, these are in fact
quite weak, compared to other factors such as getting a decent night's sleep
which have previously been shown to have an influence on well-being.
"Taken altogether then, the study shows that we need
to drastically reconsider the way we think about screen time - there just isn't
a simple negative correlation between using digital technology and wellbeing.
The research was published in the journal Psychological
Science.
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