![]() ![]() Manos also explains how increased social media use can cause a sort of innate anxiety and irritability in kids - always checking their phones and anticipating the next notification. He also points out that if you’re noticing your child having behavior problems tied to their devices, that is your sign to create limits (more on that in a moment).Įven when their screens aren’t taken away, Dr. “It’s fascinating that some children will actually develop severe tantrums if a screen is taken away,” says Dr. This can manifest through separation anxiety when they’re forced to take a break from a computer game or their social media feed. There’s also a concern over kids developing a harmful connection or “bond” to their devices. “These are the nuances of understanding relationships,” Dr. Too much time on devices means less time having real face-to-face communication, where facial expression, voice and body language all come into play. He points out that while things like video games do help with team building and problem solving, it shouldn’t be the only kind of interaction kids are having. “As children increasingly relate to each other through digital media, including social media and video games, it calls into question how we communicate on a human level,” he adds. Manos points out, our attention span is greatly tied to how we relate and socialize with others. So while social media and device use may not directly cause ADHD, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have an affect on a child’s attention span and overall development. How screen time affects a child’s development and social skills The problem isn’t digital media itself, but that it produces a dizzying burden on a person’s attention. In other words, frequent digital media use can bring out latent symptoms or create behaviors that look like ADHD. But these activities may cause symptoms that are similar to ADHD, even though they can’t cause ADHD itself,” he says. “Does this mean that too much time gaming or commenting on Facebook can give kids ADHD? Absolutely not. Manos urges us not to jump to conclusions. These results do seem to speak volumes, but Dr. Hyperactivity-impulsivity, such as having trouble sitting still.Inattention, such as difficulty organizing and completing tasks.Researchers found that the students who reported using digital media many times a day were more likely than their peers to show these symptoms: Students were surveyed on how much time they spent on digital media, including social media. The study looked at 2,587 high school students who had not been diagnosed with ADHD. ![]() Some of the biggest questions on parents’ minds when they see their kids playing hours of video games or staring at their iPads is: Can frequent use of digital media reduce a child’s attention span? Can it make them more easily distracted?Ī 2018 study aimed to explore this question. “Frequent use of technology affects how we behave and relate with one another,” says Dr. Technology use does have a behavioral impact, however. Manos, there’s still not enough evidence to support a clear-cut cause-and-effect link between heightened technology use in kids and ADHD. Pediatric behavioral health specialist Michael Manos, Ph.D, explains that ADHD is a genetic predisposition characterized by specific hyperactive and impulsive behaviors involving physical differences in the brain.Īccording to Dr. It doesn’t simply mean that someone gets distracted easily. The main question bubbling up, especially for exasperated parents trying to break through the hold of screens and devices: Can too much screen time make children more prone to the symptoms of attention-deficit, hyper-activity disorder (ADHD)?ĪDHD, while a common disorder, has a lot of nuance to it. The technology is enticing and full of color and interactivity - and while this may offer some benefits, it also raises questions. Kids often revel in digital media, especially with gaming and social media. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. ![]()
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