Work

Not screens but their context of use impact cognitive development: a commentary on Yang et al. (2023)

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: There have been extensive debates about the impact of the digital transformation on human development. A recent study by Yang and colleagues highlights the importance of considering context of use, beyond amount of use. In their study, children from parents who reported having TV-on during family meals when they were 2 years old showed poorer cognitive development at age 3.5 as compared to those with TV-off during family meals. This highlights the importance of considering the context of use when studying effect of screen use. While Yang et al. discuss the distracting effects of TV-on sensory processing, we propose an alternative - and not mutually exclusive - interpretation based on TV induced deprivation of family interactions. On a more practical note, this should encourage to preserve screen-free time, especially during structured time such as family meals, in order to maintain family interactions known to be critical to development.

Source: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13932

Authors: Benoit Bediou, Sezen Cekic, Daphné Bavelier

Institution: University of Geneva

Language: English

Topic: Child Development and Digital Technology

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Science Foundation, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, H2020 European Research Council