I-search paper
My Exhibition topic is the advantages and disadvantages of screen
time. I am interested in this topic because sometimes my mom tells me I'm
on my phone too much, which can affect my emotional state.
I have always wanted to research this topic to see exactly what she
meant by that. Before I had a phone of my own, I would always see my mom,
dad, and two sisters on their phones, and I realized that my sisters had
become attached to their phones like their devices were the only things that
mattered in life. When I began my research, I was surprised to learn that
your brain releases dopamine when you're on a screen. People don't realize
that their brains have released dopamine because they feel happy and good
about themselves and that this can cause attachment and addiction to
devices.
After thinking about my own experiences with screens and reading a
variety of articles about this topic, I decided to focus my research on the
following central idea: Users must be aware that screens present advantages
and disadvantages to consumers. I had many questions that I wanted to
answer. I began by exploring how screen time has affected people’s lives.
The first line of inquiry I wanted to research was how screen time has
affected people's lives, especially for “digital natives.” During the research
process of this question, I soon realized that screen time has changed much
about how people live. Using screens too much can be bad for your health.
Your eyes can get tired, you can get headaches, and it can be hard to sleep.
You could become depressed, anxious, and addicted. This can be a big
problem, especially for young adults and kids.
Screens can also make it hard to be social. Even though we can talk to
people from far away, we might not talk to people who are close to us. There
is also the danger of kids comparing their lives to photos and videos that
others have posted, making them feel insecure and wondering why their lives
aren't as good as others. We might also miss out on fun things with our
friends and family because we are too busy looking at screens.
The second line of inquiry I wanted to research was the benefits of
screen time for kids/teens. Most people focus on the negative side, but
there are many positive effects. One way screens help people is the amount
of information they provide. For example, if I wanted to make a batch of
cookies, I could easily search for ‘recipe for chocolate chip cookies’ and
immediately find a good recipe. It's also very convenient to search questions
on Google and automatically find the answers.
Another way screens can help us is by the amount of communication
people can access. Just using a small rectangle box, you can Facetime or text
family/friends from all around the world! Pretty cool right? This allows
humans to keep in touch with family or friends who are in another part of
the world.
Screens also allow opportunities to earn money. A lot of people today
rely on their devices often because they have jobs that require them to
always be on their screen. But have no fear…Technology is here! If you are
out of the house but need to make a quick call, or if you're on vacation and
need to contact a client, a device allows people to become more productive
outside of the house! So cool!
The third line of inquiry I wanted to research was the harmful effects
of screen time on kids/teens. According to both articles from the website,
Newsela: “Kids don't need a cell phone; they need a digital diet,” and
“PRO/CON: Is binge-watching a harmless pleasure or a harmful Addiction?”
I learned that screen use can be harmful to a person's health.
It was surprisingly easy to find articles that focused on the negative
aspects of screen usage. A surprising fact about too much screen usage is
that it is linked to depression and anxiety. For instance, when people spend
too much time on social media, this can affect younger viewers causing them
to compare their own lives to others. This can make the viewer feel isolated
and have low self-esteem, which can harm their mental health, especially
young adults and teenagers.
The final line of inquiry I wanted to research was how people respond
to breaks from screen time. People react differently when they take a break
from using screens. Some people like it because they get to rest their eyes
and brain and do other activities that need more energy. It's good because
it helps to stop feeling tired, get rid of headaches, and feel better.
However, some people find it hard to stop using screens even for a
little while. They might be scared of missing something important or feel like
they have to be connected to social media or work all the time. They might
feel frustrated, anxious, or uncomfortable when they're not using their
screens.
Taking breaks from screens can be good for our bodies and minds. It
can help us to focus better, be more present, and have better relationships
with others. It's important to find the right balance that works for us and
to be aware of how we use screens, so we can use technology in a way that
helps us.
One of the most important takeaways from my research is that It's
super important for kids and teens to learn how to balance screen time with
real-life activities so we can stay healthy. In the article, Everything You
Need to Break up With Your Phone. I learned that too much screen time can
harm our bodies and mental health. A few tips to limit screen time use are to
restrict the apps that the child can download. If this means that they have
to request apps and have their parents accept them to download them, so be
it. Parents might also consider putting an age limit on the child's device,
meaning that they can't download any apps that are for older kids. Parents
can help by setting a timer for how long you can use a screen each day.
A few weeks ago, I interviewed Suzanne Baazet, Mrs. Baazet listed a
few resources and tips to help limit the amount of screen time that kids
take in. A few of the most helpful resources are Apple Family Manager and
The screen time limit on settings. Parents also can encourage their kids to
play outside or do other fun activities with friends. Instead of always playing
video games or watching TV, you could draw, read a book, or play a board
game.
By doing these things, you can stay healthy and be happy too. It's
important to have a good balance between screen time and other activities.
Taking breaks often and having fun doing other things besides being on a
screen all day is very helpful
Yes, learning and becoming aware of these issues is very important but
the most important step is taking action. For my action, I've created a
digital detox calendar. In addition to my calendar, are some suggestions to
consider. You can choose seven tips from the list or create your own!
My actions will allow the process of balancing to become helpful,
smooth, and productive. I hope that families benefit from this calendar.
These tips may even turn into a habit for some families!
Based on my research, I've found that how we use our devices can
positively and negatively impact people. Something that jumped out at me
during my research was how much easier it is to say a hurtful comment online
through a screen, but on the other hand, it is so much more difficult to be in
a face-to-face argument.
In the future, I plan to become more aware of my screen time usage
and if I realize I spent too much time I will try my best to correct and
change it. I also hope to dive deeper into the long-term effects of too much
screen time usage on children's brain development and social skills.
