Children and screens – when should you worry? A new RSU Health Express podcast episode

Children and teenagers are spending more and more time on their smart devices. Why is excessive phone use harmful, and what can we do to find a happy medium without harming children's health or hindering the development of their digital skills? What should parents do, what methods should they use? How will the amendments to the Education Law, which will ban phone use in schools in grades 1-6 starting with the upcoming school year, affect pupils and teachers? 

These and other questions are raised in the new episode of Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Veselības ekspresis (Health Express) ‘Children and screens – when should you worry?’ by experts Asst. Prof. Ņikita Bezborodovs, child psychiatrist from the RSU Department of Psychiatry and Narcology, and Karīna Vasiļevska-Dāsa, social anthropologist and senior lecturer at RSU. The episode can be found on the RSU Youtube channel. 

The World Health Organisation recommends limiting screen time to one hour a day for children aged 2-4 and two hours a day for children aged 5-17. However, studies conducted in Latvia show that 61% of children spend at least three hours a day in front of a screen, which is on par with European numbers. In reality, these figures could be even higher, which poses challenges as prolonged screen use is linked to various health and behavioural problems. ‘The younger the child, the shorter the screen time should be,’ says child psychiatrist Bezborodovs. ‘Screens should not be used at all until the age of two, because children are not not cognitively developed enough before this age, and time spent in front of screens takes away from their development. At a later age, screen time should be used to stimulate the child's development, and it is important that the content is targeted to the appropriate age. It would also be preferable for younger children to spend time in front of screens, working interactively with their parents.’

The temptation that smart devices pose

Why are children and adults so fascinated by smart devices? Bezborodovs explains that screen content - video games, social media, fast information flow - stimulates the brain's punishment and reward system and targets dopamine release. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, the hormone responsible for motivation, and high level of dopamine leads to increased screen use. 

Parents’ role in shaping their child's digital habits 

‘Children use smart devices because adults use them – children simply imitate adults, and this is part of their development,’ says social anthropologist Karīna Vasiļevska-Dāsa. ‘In addition, teenagers have a need to be away from the adult world and being on the phone is one of the ways they do this. The screen can fulfil different social functions – act as a friend, a confidant, maybe a parent or a babysitter. Being connected to other people, being cared for and imitating adults, and learning through imitation are functions that have always accompanied humans on their evolutionary journey. Today is no exception. What has changed is the way in which we do it.’ 

The pros and cons of the digital environment 

Both experts agree that the use of smart devices cannot be perceived as exclusively negative. ‘There are also important and positive things happening for children and young people in the digital world – socialising, gaining a sense of belonging, entertainment, and education,’ says Vasiļevska-Dāsa. ‘However, excessive screen use can have a negative impact on physical and mental health.’

Start worrying if you notice distress, dysfunction and deviance 

When should parents start worrying that their child is staring at their phone for too long? ‘The three D's rule could be helpful: distress, dysfunction and deviance,’ says Bezborodovs on what ‘red flags’ to look out for.  ‘Distress is when the child or others around them suffer mentally or physically from their behaviour. Dysfunction is when a child is unable to study or get adequate sleep because of excessive screen time, or when screen time has a negative impact on physical health, such as eyesight or poor posture. Deviance refers to a deviating from the average - for example, if children of a certain age use their phones for three hours a day on average, but a child uses it for eight hours, this is outside the norm.’

Practical solutions 

Both experts recommend that parents are actively involved in their children's lives as a solution. Karīna Vasiļevska-Dāsa stresses that parents should establish a trusting relationship with their child from an early age, up to the age of seven, otherwise children will not turn to their parents later if a problem occurs. ‘You have to be interested in what your children are doing and be able to communicate about things that interest them. How many parents can talk to their child about a video game like Roblox?’ Bezborodovs asks. ‘Conversations do not have to be confrontational – it is good to communicate if child and parent are doing something together. It would be important to establish common rules in the family from an early age, for example that no one uses the phone at mealtimes, and for everyone to follow these rules consistently. However, it is not a lost cause if you have not been able to do all this while the child is young. Humans are a very adaptive species, we have great brain plasticity, meaning the ability to learn new things, to change habits. It decreases with age, but it does not disappear.’

Will the digital environment replace real life?

Asked whether the digital environment can replace the real world, Bezborodovs is sceptical: ‘We are physical beings and physical contact is important to us. By the age of five, if given the choice children will definitely prefer physical communication under normal circumstances.’

Explaining the phone ban

Amendments to the Education Law in Latvia, banning mobile phone use at school for pupils in grades 1 to 6, will come into force next school year. Vasiļevska-Dāsa stresses that this will be a big change, so it is important that teachers explain the reason for this decision to their pupils. ‘Children and teachers must cooperate, because if children think it is unfair, they will think of ways to get around the ban. This decision may also require additional resources on the part of the school, as they will have to think of ways to keep the children busy. There must be an alternative for what to do during breaks - go out, play games,’ says the expert. 

The impact of technology on human evolution 

‘Technology is a new factor in human evolution. It is developing rapidly, and there is not that much research on its impact on our health. I hope that when today's teenagers grow up, they will use smart devices more consciously and wisely and will set this example for their children as well,’ emphasises Bezborodovs.

About RSU Veselības ekspresis

The episode is available on the RSU YouTube channel. The podcast has taken its name from a health campaign jointly that the University implemented from 2013 to 2020 together with passenger railway operator Pasažieru vilciens. The campaign involved the University's teaching staff and students travelling on certain routes to promote a healthy lifestyle and share their knowledge with the public. This is also the aim of the broadcast, which brings together experts from different disciplines to discuss and share the latest findings in accessible conversations. These conversations are meant to remind us of ancient truths about how we can live healthier and more harmonious lives.