By Audrey Yoshimura, Staff Writer
I find it hard to believe that in our day in age, kids are spending more time on screens as opposed to playing outdoors. Younger generations seem to depend more and more on electronics for passing time, which is a byproduct of growing up during a technological revolution. With this advancing digital era, and with the recent switch to online-distance learning, every aspect of youth is suffocating from increasing screen time.
Growing up, I had the privilege of experiencing a childhood somewhat free of technology, when the invention of iPhones was forthcoming and iPods were the norm. On the other hand, Generation Alpha is spending increasingly more time playing with the latest gaming console or iPhone compared to us. With online distance learning adding up to six hours of digital usage for students, it is now more crucial than ever for us, Generation Z, to reduce unnecessary screen time for the sake of good health and setting good examples for succeeding generations.
Psychology professor Jean Twenge at San Diego State University conducted studies that found a correlation between excessive screen time and poor mental health. Depression and anxiety among teenagers have increased since 2012, and suicide rates increased to about 50%. Her research concluded that while one hour of screen time every day will not necessarily have a negative impact on mental health, this limit is often exceeded. While my generation faces most of these problems now, I am concerned for succeeding generations who will be even further integrated with technology as teachers continue to digitize curriculums.
The obvious remedy for this problem is to cut back on technology use, but is this as simple as it seems? The majority of tech addicts could honestly admit their need to cut back on electronic usage. If so many are aware of the solution, why is taking action so difficult? Personally, I noticed how much I depended on electronics because so much of my life exists online, from school to social media to entertainment. This led me to take my own initiative by limiting myself to only 1 hour of recreational screen time.
Despite the difficulty, the most interesting benefits were on my mental and physical health. My mood improved and I felt more energized to be productive. Lead researcher and psychologist Douglas Gentile at Iowa State found that monitoring screen time leads to individuals sleeping more, performing better in school and experiencing improved behavioral patterns. Practicing self-constraint with electronics is another benefit for teenagers that will carry into adulthood.
Some would argue that cutting back on screen time isn’t realistic given the present circumstances of COVID-19 and online school. Although it’s true that students have six additional hours of digital usage, the given circumstances are unavoidable. For this reason of increased screen time, students must make even more of an effort to cut back on as much non-academic screen time as possible.
Whether it’s a good thing or not, technology will continue to advance and become more prominent in our lives. Despite the lack of control over our circumstances, we are always granted an opportunity to take initiative in our own lives which also serve as examples for younger generations that unplugging the digital cord is within reach.