Blog Post #3

In A study conducted by the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE), a group of 563 Kenyan children between the ages of 9 and 11 were surveyed for associations between recreational screen time and negative health factors. They also examined sedentary time daily such as sitting in a car as well. The studies concluded that “children with the greatest sedentary time (ST) per day have the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity regardless of age, race/ethnicity, or family income.” Correlations were also found between ill health habits and sedentarism. ISCOLE recommends no more than 2 hours daily of recreational screen time, which sounds very limiting compared to the American average of 9 hours a day (Common Sense Media). I think to achieve the healthiest diet of technology, a radical shift in the priorities of the average person would have to change. Technology is embedded in almost every task and increasingly so. How would citizens react to a law that limits screen time required from work?

In an article written in Scientific American, I came across an intergenerational social defect of too much screen time. Catherine Steiner-Adair, a clinical psychologist noted that children learn by watching their parents. Other than feeling ignored, a child may experience what psychologists have called “still face phenomenon” in which a child poorly learns nonverbal cues because his or her parents are always looking at a screen. The article goes on to suggest that if parents use screen time for shared activities with their child, they can actually bond and “enhance the child’s learning.” I’m not sure I agree with this additional point entirely because it seems to draw attention away from the original issue of “still face phenomenon” which I assume could still manifest if habits of screen time are not addressed by parents as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if still face phenomenon becomes more prominent in general as screen use rises. 

In the article by Lucy-joy Wachira, the correlations between sedentarism and obesity/negative health factors were stated clearly, focusing mainly on the physical impacts. Steiner-Adair's article differed in that the focus was on the mental side and I believe she missed her point. Ultimately I think both authors understand the need to increase the power and presence of technology in the world. The correct pace to proceed and how to control the pace is the question I believe to be solved.

Photo- Pexels 

www.scientificamerican.com

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