Links to Research and Articles
China Restricts Youth Gaming To 1 hour Per Day
The National Press and Publication Administration told state-run news agency Xinhua that game-playing would be only allowed between 8pm to 9pm.It also instructed gaming companies to prevent children playing outside these times.Chinese state media outlet branded online games a "spiritual opium".Inspections of online gaming companies will also increase, to check that the time limits are being enforced the regulator said.The move reflects a long running concern about the impact of excessive gaming on the young. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58384457?fbclid=IwAR2Mc38PJeniPlOqM9J4IavIhKOcfmP1rQKWJvNRpBe2qG4rjclxBvoq60s
Digital Addictions Are Drowning Us in Dopamine 8/2021
Great article for teenagers and gaming skeptics. Rising rates of depression and anxiety in wealthy countries like the U.S. may be a result of our brains getting hooked on the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure. https://www.wsj.com/articles/digital-addictions-are-drowning-us-in-dopamine-11628861572
Screen Time Tied to Cognition, Behavior in Children Born Preterm
High amounts of screen time contribute to adverse cognitive, executive function, and behavior outcomes at ages 6 to 7 years in extremely preterm (EPT) children, according to a study published online July 12 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Why neuroscientists say you shouldn’t play smartphone games to alleviate boredom
That mood boost you get will increase your urge to keep playing, feeding a cycle that will lead to less time for healthier pursuits. https://www.fastcompany.com/90658381/neuroscientists-say-you-shouldnt-play-smartphone-games-to-alleviate-boredom
Limit time online to less than 1 hour per day for middle schoolers
Researchers advise young teens to only devote one hour on school days to recreational internet and video games.
The study from Rutgers University researchers surveyed Chinese middle schoolers over a multi-year span and found that those who reported playing more than one hour on school days and more than four hours on weekends tended to have lower grades, a higher tendency to skip school, and a greater chance of feeling bored in class. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/a-pandemic-wakeup-call-middle-schoolers-should-spend-no-more-than-one-hour-on-screens-otherwise-they-face-consequences-11621962066?reflink=mw_share_email
April 25th, 2021 - Screen Use Damaging Children's Eyesight
Among 6-year-olds, the rate of myopia following lockdown was 21.5 percent; before covid-19, the highest yearly rate in that age group since 2015 was 5.7 percent. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/kids-computer-eye-strain/2021/04/23/2f4ca928-988c-11eb-a6d0-13d207aadb78_story.html