Coronavirus disease 2019 and the inevitable increase in screen time among Indian children: Is going digital the way forward?

Abstract

The world is facing an unprecedented crisis due to the Coronavirus disease catastrophe. The pandemic has been ravaging for the past six months claiming human lives, causing financial loss, and job insecurity. Children are susceptible to the psychosocial aspects of this pandemic. Being locked indoors there is exorbitant media exposure among children. The debate of digital media technology is now challenged by the pandemic. Digital technology is a boon during this crisis being a platform for both education and recreation. In the background of this inadvertent increases screen exposure we discuss the various health concerns and the need to balance media appropriately to carry it forward during this crisis which shows no sign of waning.

Keywords

• coronavirus
• digital media
• pandemic