TV, Internet, & Media Can Harm Children
December 9th 2008 12:29
Category: TV, Web/ Internet
A new report states that parents and policymakers need to spend time protecting children from TV, internet, and other forms of media because researchers have learned how the media affects children. A new study, which analized 173 of the strongest papers over the past 28 years, found that about 80% of them agree that heavy media exposure increases the risk of harm in children, to include obesity, smoking, sex, drug and alochol use, low grades, and attention problems.
About 93% of the studies found that children with heavier media exposure have sex earlier in life, but the soundest reports are those that link media to obesity. Believe it or not, but the reports show little evidence supporting media and hyperactivity.
Overall, the study shows the importance of limiting children's use of TV, internet, and other media.
The average child spens about 45 hours a week immersed in media of some kind, which is about 3 times the amount of time that they spend with their parents and about 15 more hours than they spend in school.
Becuase technology is every expanding, it is more of a challenge to monitor the media usage for children, than it has been in the past, but it is something that all parents need to start paying attentiom to. This includes text messaging and even vider games.
Parents need to start setting limits for their children's media usage because if you just ignore the potential problem, it will only increase the rates of childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes, violence, and even teen pregnancy.
About 93% of the studies found that children with heavier media exposure have sex earlier in life, but the soundest reports are those that link media to obesity. Believe it or not, but the reports show little evidence supporting media and hyperactivity.
Overall, the study shows the importance of limiting children's use of TV, internet, and other media.
The idea that this is having a really measurable adverse impact on health makes it important to take this seriously... Every year, we have 4 million new kids. How long are we going to wait?
The average child spens about 45 hours a week immersed in media of some kind, which is about 3 times the amount of time that they spend with their parents and about 15 more hours than they spend in school.
Becuase technology is every expanding, it is more of a challenge to monitor the media usage for children, than it has been in the past, but it is something that all parents need to start paying attentiom to. This includes text messaging and even vider games.
Parents need to start setting limits for their children's media usage because if you just ignore the potential problem, it will only increase the rates of childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes, violence, and even teen pregnancy.
At some point, we are all going to be paying for this.
| 48 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Whitney
