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Screen-based behaviour in children is more than meets the eye

Alvin J. Munsamy, Verusia Chetty, Suvira Ramlall
South African Family Practice | Vol 64, No 1 : Part 1| a5374 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v64i1.5374 | © 2022 Alvin Jeffrey Munsamy, Verusia Chetty, Suvira Ramlall | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 20 July 2021 | Published: 10 February 2022

About the author(s)

Alvin J. Munsamy, Discipline of Optometry, School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Verusia Chetty, Department of Physiotherapy, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Suvira Ramlall, Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Abstract

Increased screen time (ST) in children is quickly becoming a public health concern as children are now reliant on technology for social interaction and educational development. The eye-health community has paid considerable attention to this in the recent literature, documenting it as digital eye strain. Continual close eye work and a lack of outdoor play contribute to digital eye strain and today’s myopia epidemic. This is a cause for concern for public health stakeholders insofar as it leads to sedentary, screen-based behaviour (SSB) in children. This results in a lack of physical activity and impacts both their bodies and their mental health. The potentially harmful effects of prolonged screen exposure on developing brains and bodies are likely to be unique and significant as physiological growth changes intersect with exponentially expanding e-platforms. While embracing the benefits of a highly digitalised world, we need to simultaneously mitigate the potential risks they pose to the health of growing children.


Keywords

sedentary screen-based behavior; screen time; children; vision; physical health; mental well-being

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