Impact of Excessive Screen-Based Media Use on Early Childhood Development: A Short Review

Abstract

Over the recent years, a significant increase has been observed in screen based media use among different age groups. Unregulated and excessive use of technological instruments such as smart phones, tablets or computers also leads to a number of health problems. Vision problems induced by the use of technological instruments among youth and children are gradually increasing in several countries across Europe. When we examine Eastern Asian countries, we see that the prevalence is much higher. A study based in Taiwan discovered that 84% of children have vision disorders. Apart from this, excessive screen based media use is known to cause other problems during early childhood period at various ages including attention deficit, sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, academic inadequacy and linguistic development disorders. Unregulated and excessive screen based media use demonstrates an incline with an increasing acceleration every day. The objective of this brief evaluation article is to investigate the problem in its current state in general, to highlight brain plasticity during the early childhood period, and to open the effects of excessive screen based media use particularly on linguistic development to discussion in light of current studies.

Keywords

• Screen Based Media
• Unregulated Use
• Children’s Health
• Language Development
• Critical Period