A few days ago, I learned about "Screen Damage: The Dangers of Digital Media for Children" by Michel Desmurget, originally published in 2019. Desmurget is a French researcher and writer specializing in cognitive neuroscience, and his work is based on extensive research into the effects of screen time on children.
Desmurget’s findings are not surprising: heavy screen usage leads to poor academic performance. However, he emphasizes that the negative impacts are even more pervasive and extensive, affecting children's cognitive, emotional, physical, and social development.
Children primarily use electronic devices for watching videos, playing games, and engaging with social media. While schools also use these devices for learning and testing, the initial educational intentions of teachers and parents often give way to what Desmurget calls an “orgy of recreational usage.”
Desmurget argues that time spent with screens at an early age is essentially “stolen time” from children's normal development. Early cognitive development is very crucial and depends heavily on the malleability of young brains. However, this period of brain plasticity has an expiration date. “Once closed, they can no longer be resuscitated. What has been spoiled is forever lost,” he warns.
To summarize the harms caused by electronic screens, Desmurget identifies five major areas of damage:
- A lack of human communication and companionship
- Negative impacts on the development of language and IQ
- Difficulty concentrating due to the distracting nature of electronic devices
- Significant decreases in academic performance
- Health issues, particularly related to sleep disorders and prolonged sitting
These damages are not limited to children but apply to people of all ages. Due to the permanent harm electronic devices can cause, Desmurget concludes that, under no circumstances or for any reason, should children aged 6 and under be exposed to electronic screens.
A Chinese saying goes, 少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲, meaning: if one does not work hard when young, one will regret it when old. It emphasizes the importance of making the most of one's early formative years, aligning well with the idea that excessive screen time can irreversibly harm children's development and lead to long-term regret.
In a world increasingly dominated by digital media and electronic devices, Desmurget's research serves as a serious reminder of the importance of protecting young minds from the permanent detrimental effects of excessive screen time. Parents, educators, and policymakers must take these findings seriously to ensure that children's development is not compromised by the very tools meant to aid their education and entertainment.