The Dangers of Too Much Screen Time

Over the years, you’ve heard me offer up warnings and guidelines regarding kids and screen time. A new study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry has found that children ages nine to eleven who spend a lot of time in front of a screen are at greater risk of developing a variety of behavior disorders. For example, researchers found a link between watching television and videos, playing games, and texting with what is called oppositional defiant disorder. My dad used to call that disobedience and sinful behavior. Researchers found that each additional hour of time spent on social media was linked to a sixty two percent higher prevalence of behavior disorder. These include things like shoplifting, bullying, aggression, violence, anger, irritability, defiance, and disregard for others. All of us can quickly become addicted to our smartphones, and this is especially true for our vulnerable children and teens. Parents, limit screen time and offer alternative activities.