A study by NortonLifeLock on the use of connected devices warns of the time spent by children in front of a screen during confinement.
Containment, linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, has irreversibly transformed the way we consume screens. And this, especially among young people. According to a study by computer software company NortonLifeLock in France, children spent until 8:49 a.m. in front of a screen during lockdown. That is, an increase in the use of connected devices by 4:08 on average. Before confinement, the children spent about 4:41 hours online.
This figure is alarming, since it is "More than half of a child's total waking time or a full school day", certifies the report. 56% of parents surveyed are now afraid that their cherubs will develop an addiction to screens.
“We do not yet know the consequences of these behaviors on the development, education and safety of children. But it is obvious that the more time they spend unattended with connected devices, the greater the risk of online threats ”says Professor Winston, doctor, scientist professor and presenter of the BBC documentary 'Child of our time'.
Parents, a bad example?
The study also shows a marked increase in the time spent in front of a screen among parents. 74% say they have used their internet-connected devices more during the peak of confinement restrictions. While 44% of them are afraid they have set a bad example, 25% have been criticized for spending too much time online by their children!
“Children imitate their parents, it's inevitable. They must therefore take the time to talk to their children about the risks of social media and to develop their social interactions, especially after such a long time away from school "adds Professor Winston.
46% of parents are worried that they don't have time to monitor what a child is doing while online. Among the main concerns:
- 56% fear online solicitations for sexual purposes
- 55% fear online harassment
- 43% fear that their child will give out their address
While 80% of them say they have established rules at home regarding the use of connected devices, 60% admit to having imagined these instructions on the way. One in ten parents have also abandoned them completely.
Dangerous situations
Also according to the study, increased screen time in children sometimes had consequences for the family. Two in three parents have had problems as a result of their child's behavior online. Three in ten parents have caught their child using a smart device while in bed.
On the children's side, 28% of them had access to false information and 18% were able to view inappropriate content. Worse, 10% have experienced harassment on social networks.
Nonetheless, 46% of parents say they were able to interact more with their children about cybercrime during confinement and 52% say their child has become more independent online. 71% of them are also sure that their offspring would come to see them in the event of a problem.
What consequences for the child?
Last January, Santé Publique France and Inserm had already warned parents of the dangers of screens for children at certain times of the day. In a study, they found that children who consume screens in the morning are three times more likely to develop language disorders. And for good reason, the screens would affect their ability to learn and the children would show signs of exhaustion during the rest of the day.
Another study, published in 2018 in the British journal The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, also stated that screens affect children's cognitive abilities. That same year, a report commissioned by Ipsos for Krys Group found that 34% of children aged 4 to 10 already had vision problems. An increase of two points in two years which could be explained in particular by the increasing use of screens.
In October 2020, author Brad Huddleston again spoke about the negative impact of too much screen consumption among children, during a speech at the Global Homeschool Conference in Manila, Philippines. According to him, addiction to screens is the same as that to drugs. “People need to realize that it is literally a chemical addiction just like cocaine and heroin. Neuroscience shows that when a person snorts cocaine it stimulates the brain tremendously and generates a lot of dopamine. Video games generate the same levels of dopamine in an hour of play as a rail of coke ”, he explained. Before adding: "If you take a screen off a child and he has constant panic attacks, he is literally addicted and his brain is damaged ”. Limiting screen time for children thus seems essential.
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