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From the article: > The increasing rate of screen time in early childhood has engendered concern among clinicians, policy makers and parents regarding its poss

From the article: > The increasing rate of screen time in early childhood has engendered concern among clinicians, policy makers and parents regarding its possible effects on children’s mental health,” the authors write. “This study found small but significant correlations between screen time and children’s internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems. Sounds like the parents are looking for validation of their pre-existing notions. Did anyone investigate that increased screen time could be the easiest accessible outlet kids have to cope with difficult situations?

mobiuscog 4y ago
Exactly. Maybe - just maybe - children with ADHD, aggression and/or anxiety find a world they understand or can escape into with whatever they are watching - something that makes more sense or helps them deal with the world. Correlation vs causation.
- hirvi74 4y ago
  I am just one bit of anecdotal evidence, but this was the case for me as child. However, it is still the case for me as an adult too... Video games and information about whatever is piquing my interest at the time have always been my addictions[1]. Video games have always been my escape, while subjects I am interested in just typically trigger hyperfocus. Other than the "escape" video games provide, there is also a strong correlation between desired outcomes and effort. Much unlike real life where hard work is rarely rewarded and typically taken advantage of. I have always felt like I have had to put a lot of effort into things just to function "normally," and I do not have the make-up to excel in anything. I know I have, and probably still do, waste a lot of time with video games and media (I should be working right now), but in some dark way it's one of the few areas in life where I feel like I can actually be halfway decent at something. I've been a professional software engineer for almost 6 years, and I still feel like most junior devs and fresh grads could spin circles around me. I try to improve, I put in hardwork, but I have nothing to show for it. I treat my condition(s), but at the end of the day I feel like I am just living the story of "Flowers for Algernon." [1] I do not mean addictions as defined by medical terminology, but in a more commonly used manner.

mobiuscog 4y ago

Exactly. Maybe - just maybe - children with ADHD, aggression and/or anxiety find a world they understand or can escape into with whatever they are watching - something that makes more sense or helps them deal with the world. Correlation vs causation.

hirvi74 4y ago
I am just one bit of anecdotal evidence, but this was the case for me as child. However, it is still the case for me as an adult too... Video games and information about whatever is piquing my interest at the time have always been my addictions[1]. Video games have always been my escape, while subjects I am interested in just typically trigger hyperfocus. Other than the "escape" video games provide, there is also a strong correlation between desired outcomes and effort. Much unlike real life where hard work is rarely rewarded and typically taken advantage of. I have always felt like I have had to put a lot of effort into things just to function "normally," and I do not have the make-up to excel in anything. I know I have, and probably still do, waste a lot of time with video games and media (I should be working right now), but in some dark way it's one of the few areas in life where I feel like I can actually be halfway decent at something. I've been a professional software engineer for almost 6 years, and I still feel like most junior devs and fresh grads could spin circles around me. I try to improve, I put in hardwork, but I have nothing to show for it. I treat my condition(s), but at the end of the day I feel like I am just living the story of "Flowers for Algernon." [1] I do not mean addictions as defined by medical terminology, but in a more commonly used manner.