The Technology We’re Dying For: Research on Kids, Smartphones, and Screens

The Technology We’re Dying For: Research on Kids, Smartphones, and Screens

by Environmental Health Trust
December 9, 2021

 

The following is a partial list of research conducted to study the effects on kids from wireless radiation exposure emitted by smartphones, screens, and other electronic devices. They are categorized by impact.

Addiction

U.S. teens average nine hours a day on screens for entertainment — excluding schoolwork.

Depression and Suicide

Screen overuse is linked to skyrocketing rates of depression and suicide attempts.

Self Hate

More hours of social media use equals decreased self esteem and poor body image

Eye Damage

Children who spend more hours on “smart” phones, devices, and computers have worse eyesight and increased risk for myopia than those who spend less time on these electronics.

Higher reading on screens is linked to poor eyesight. Blue light from screens can damage cells in the retina and children’s eyes have less protections. Myopia rates are increasing. Outdoor time has been shown to delay myopia onset yet kids’ time spent outdoors is decreasing — in an inverse relationship to the increase in screen use.

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders 

Children with two+ hours of screen-time per day had a 7-fold increased risk of ADHD

Tamana et. al 2019.

Sleep Disturbances

Higher screens at bedtime = poor sleep quality, shorter sleep time, and later bedtime.

Access to a screen-media device in the bedroom at night is associated with shorter sleep duration, later bedtime, and poorer sleep quality

Hale and Guan 2014Christensen et. al 2016.

Cancer and Brain Damage

Cell phone radiation can increase risk of brain cancer, damages memory and brain development. Pregnant rats exposed to cell phone radiation produced offspring with fewer brain cells, specifically in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for impulse control, memory, balance, and other essential functions.

Other animal experiments report DNA damagebrain damagememory problemshyperactivitycellular impacts, and oxidative stress in the brain. Women who used cell phones regularly when pregnant had significantly increased risks of premature birth, and increased emotional and behavior problems, hyperactivity, and headaches in their children.

 

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cover image credit: FotoReith / pixabay