TOO much screen time is unhealthy, especially for children and young people. More and more medical practitioners and institutions are publicly warning parents to be wary of the dangerous consequences of the excessive use of phones, computers, tablets and similar devices, particularly to access social media platforms.

This situation has no doubt morphed into a worldwide public health crisis which requires self-determination to fix.
In 2023, the US Surgeon General issued an official advisory warning of the dangers associated with the overuse of social media and the mental health effects it has on children. In a call for urgent action, policymakers, tech companies, and families were urged to create healthier online environments to help children. It was also revealed that children aged 9-12 averaged five hours and 33 minutes on screens daily, while children aged 5-8 averaged just 5 minutes a day on learning apps.
Then earlier this year, the US Surgeon General, during a research trip to the UK, had pointed out that British teenagers were spending so much time on social media that they were losing the ability to hold in-person conversations and build relationships.
The findings of the Resolution Foundation study, which were released in February, found, among other things, that the number of young people with poor mental health is rising in the UK.

It pointed out that one in three young people aged 18 to 24 reported symptoms of mental disorder, such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder in 2021/22 – a significantly higher number than in 2000, when that figure stood at 24 per cent.
Health officials across the globe are now facing an uphill battle to turn things around. Aside from the abovementioned problems, excessive screen time has been linked to poor eye health and slow cognitive development.

Recently, the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Health, launched a comprehensive eye health initiative targetting children below the age of 18 as well as senior citizens.
While the ministry has not yet released statistics, the preliminary feedback received seems to suggest that most of the children who have benefitted have vision issues.
Given what is known about excessive screen time, Dr. Shailendra Sugrim, Head of the Ophthalmology Department at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), recently pleaded with parents to monitor their children’s screen time to prevent eye strain and to seek information on managing device use effectively.

This is what he had to say: “Exposure to blue light from devices can disrupt sleep cycles, leading to insufficient rest, increased stress levels, cardiac problems, and hypertension.”
Clearly concerned, he has offered the following pieces of advice: test children’s eyes regularly to help the preservation of their eyesight for years to come, allow children to spend more times outdoor as sunlight helps their eyes to develop and reduce the amount of time children spend on electronic devices by ensuring they take regular breaks using the 20-20 rule, that is every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break.

Technology is a big part of our existence. It contributes greatly to development and has a role to play in making life easier. However, we have to figure out how to use it positively and reduce the harmful effects it is having on children and young people.
Putting health and wellness first and encouraging human-to-human interaction must be among our priorities.