![]() Nearly 50% of American teenagers who own a smartphone feel that they are addicted to their cell phones. Growing up in a media-driven world will affect every generation differently. ![]() ![]() Įxposing children to screens at an early age has the potential to become an addictive behavior. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding the use of screen media, other than for video chatting, for children 18 months and younger and limiting the amount for older children to less than one hour of daily quality programming. In the 1970s, the average child began regularly watching TV around 4 years old, but in today’s media-rich climate, infants are exposed to digital media as early as 4 months of age. As of 2007, most infants and toddlers actively watch 1–2 h of TV daily and are exposed to over three hours of additional background television. In the late 1990s, the first infant-directed TV programming was developed which has led to infants and toddlers consuming more TV than ever before. By the 1980s, the cable industry made it possible for entire channels to be devoted to entertaining children 24/7. The number of children-tailored programs has steadily increased in 1951, there were 27 h per week directed towards children. Since television (TV) entered American homes in the late 1930s, parents have been concerned about the effect it could have on their children. Research on the adverse effects of early screen exposure is mounting, but further epidemiological studies are still needed to inform prevention and regulation policies. Increased levels of early screen exposure have been associated with decreased cognitive abilities, decreased growth, addictive behavior, poor school performance, poor sleep patterns, and increased levels of obesity. The negative effects that accompany the current culture of early screen exposure are extensive and need to be considered as technology continues to enter the home and inundate social interactions. Availability and child-tailored content has subsequently led to a decrease in the age at initial screen exposure. ![]() It may have started with the television (TV), but technology has evolved and now fits in our pockets as of 2017, 95% of American families own a smartphone. The quantity, accessibility and focus on child-targeted programming has exponentially increased since it entered American households in the early 1900s. ![]()
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