Why There Should Be No More Discussion about “Appropriate” Screen Time for Infants, Toddlers, and Children

Why There Should Be No More Discussion about “Appropriate” Screen Time for Infants, Toddlers, and Children
By Patricia Burke of Safe Tech International Image courtesy Floris Freshman. Nov. 7, 2023

As a consumer culture, we do not debate the “appropriate level of exposure” for smoking, alcohol, gambling, pornography, guns, driving, or drug paraphernalia for infants, toddlers, and young children. A product or practice is either safe, or not safe, in childhood.

Previously, although often belatedly, society has met the responsibility to protect children from risks of harm, especially from addictive substances.

For example, the 2020 story of the five-year old from Utah who drove his family’s car onto the interstate was reported with a reminder to keep car keys away from children.

Now, perhaps nowhere in modern society is lack of discernment more damaging than in the blind acceptance of cell phones, tablets, screens, and wireless device use by children. We need to fix this, not only for children, but to reclaim reason in ourselves.

Cognitive Dissonance

According to VeryWellMind, “Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. People tend to seek consistency in their attitudes and perceptions, so this conflict causes unpleasant feelings of unease or discomfort.

The inconsistency between what people believe and how they behave motivates them to engage in actions that will help minimize feelings of discomfort. People attempt to relieve this tension in different ways, such as by rejecting, explaining away, or avoiding new information.”

In the case of wireless devices, cell phones and screens, we like them, so we keep telling ourselves that they are safe. Even for children.

The longer that society remains in a state of denial about the addictive nature and the adverse health, environmental, and social effects of wireless devices, the more children will spend their younger years at unnecessary risk, with substantial harm to some.

This does not have to continue.

Tobacco and the Story of Ardi Rizal

On Nov 6, 2023, New Dehli’s Buzzstaff provided an update from a 2010 story about an Indonesian toddler who smoked.

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