Read Part 1 of this blog – Why can’t we – and our kids – stop mindless scrolling?
As the second anniversary of the pandemic outbreak draws closer, we can all agree on one thing: technology has been a lifesaver for most of us. In the last two turbulent years, when the world was thrown into a state of chaotic disarray, we surrendered to our devices to be able to live, work, play and stay in touch with loved ones. As we adults buried ourselves in our devices, our children had no option but to follow suit. During extended lockdowns and stay-at-home mandates, digital technology helped us maintain a semblance of normalcy in a world that none of us knew how to navigate. It helped children continue with online lessons, stay entertained, and connect with friends. It also helped adults buy a few hours of sanity everyday – when we could work or go about household chores when the kids were occupied on their devices.
But on the flip side, studies indicate that excessive, compulsive screentime during the pandemic have also resulted in mental health problems for both adults and children. While the pandemic did its bit to perpetuate an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, both anecdotal and research findings show that an increased dependence on technology has also caused a sharp spike in depression and anxiety, irritability, poor sleep, reduced concentration, loneliness, and feelings of social disconnection.
What the science says: Screen time for kids
The Indian Academy of Pediatrics defines screen time as “the total time spent per day in viewing screens such as mobile phone, TV, computer, tablet, or any hand-held or visual device”. The IAP recommends that children below the age of 2 not be exposed to any screens at all, barring the occasional video calls with family or friends. For children between the ages of 2-5, the recommended daily screen time is one hour or lesser. The recommendation for children older than five and adolescents is nebulous – with a suggestion “to balance screen time with other activities that are required for overall development.”
In truth, this is the most precarious group – older children who are beginning to experience some semblance of autonomy and freedom – and often have unsupervised access to screens. When it comes to older teens, the problem gets compounded further, as revealed by the latest controversy to hit Facebook.
Facebook’s internal research indicates that Instagram is harmful teenagers
Starting September 2021, American publication Wall Street Journal published a series of damning investigative reports with the help of former Facebook employee and whistle-blower Frances Haugen who released internal company documents that reveal the extent of the problem. “I’m here today because I believe Facebook’s products harm children, stoke division, and weaken our democracy. The company’s leadership knows how to make Facebook and Instagram safer, but won’t make the necessary changes because they have put their astronomical profits before people”, said Haugen in her interview to a news channel. Facebook’s own internal research showed that Instagram is harmful to teenagers – especially teenage girls. The data showed that while Instagram made body image issues worse for 1 in 3 girls, it also had a negative impact on a bunch of other physical and psychological aspects including eating habits, sleep patterns, social comparison, loneliness, sadness and anxiety.
While children and teenagers are the worst affected, none of us are exempt from the repercussions of excessive digital consumption.
Should we just give up our screens and go back to the 80s?
With mounting technology addiction, there is a lot of talk of self-regulation – ways in which we can cut down on screen time and reclaim our time, energy and sanity. Turning off notifications, downloading apps and tools to reduce digital distraction and increase productivity, using screen time trackers, uninstalling unwanted apps, maintaining sleep hygiene and keeping phones and laptops out of the bedroom, using WiFi blockers at home, going on periodic digital detoxes – are all useful self-regulation mechanisms to break free from the clutches of addictive technology.
But, it pays to remember that we are not just addicted to our screens because we lack discipline and self-control. Like we discussed in the previous blog, device addiction is the cumulative effect of persuasive technology – employed by the world’s largest digital media companies – to keep us hooked to their products and services. These products are explicitly designed to hack into our most primal instincts, keeping us in a loop where the reward systems in our brain are programmed to pick up our devices and scroll every time we need a dopamine hit. In short, it’s us against giant technology corporations: there are no prizes for guessing that this is a deeply unequal and imbalanced battle.
As individuals, we are rendered powerless by companies that have unlimited expertise and resources at their disposal to ensure that we don’t stop sharing, watching, playing, buying, swiping, and scrolling through a never-ending sea of ‘content’. What can however set this imbalance right are two things: public opinion and strong legislation that forces technology companies to build better products that don’t harm us as individuals and as a society.
Just as climate change cannot be reversed with lifestyle changes alone and depends on sweeping policy reforms and strong legislation from world governments, our digital lives, too, need to be governed by strong laws that protect the interest of citizens over corporations. It pays to remember that lasting change comes from awareness and education, which in turn propels us to demand accountability from our governments and the mammoth corporations that hold sway over our lives through their products. Alongside individual efforts to reclaim our time, energy, well-being and privacy, we must also push for systemic, structural change.
There was a time in recent history when smoking was acceptable. Tobacco advertising was commonplace. Cigarette packs didn’t come with graphic statutory warnings. Public smoking bans were unheard of. But there came a time when it became hard for governments to ignore both public opinion and academic research that pointed to the deadly effects of tobacco. This gave birth to policy changes and legislation that we benefit from today. Strong legislation helped us breathe free and prevented a generation of young people from becoming dependent on a killer substance.
Watch: CNN+ host: I’d rather give my kids Jack Daniel’s and weed than Instagram
Unlike tobacco though, technology is integral to human development and progress. But even technological “progress” cannot be unbridled and unregulated. When it becomes invasive, intrusive, when it begins to impact our individual health and happiness, the integrity of our societies, the robustness of our democracies, it’s time to start asking some difficult questions. Technological innovation can serve us when it is regulated, transparent, accountable, and contributes to the larger good. In short: responsible innovation is the antidote to the harmful effects of persuasive technology. As digital citizens, it’s our job to move the conversation along through education and awareness.
Additional reading:
Why India has introduced the new Personal Data Protection Bill