IndexConsequences of screen time for young peopleUndeniable advantages of digital mediaConclusionWorks CitedIt seems strange to think that there once existed a world not occupied by technology. Older generations remember spending time entertaining themselves with projects, crafts, and hanging out with friends. Now, it seems that these times have become a thing of the past. Children between the ages of 0 and 18 have changed dramatically in response to today's modern world. The use of telephones and digital media has decreased face-to-face contact and made this generation more interested in the artificial world than in what is happening now. Exposure to all things digital has replaced the things that make us human. In the book Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray Bradbury, he writes about a futuristic technological world where everyone is “tuned” into a screen and doesn't have time for much else. This is already happening, all over the world, teenagers and young children are becoming increasingly dependent on their screens. Information is flowing to them at a high rate, they don't have time to process it, and it's changing the way their brains develop. While technology has brought benefits to humanity, it is having detrimental effects on today's youth. Young people should use technology in moderation and it should not be introduced to children at a young age. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Consequences of Extended Screen Time for Youth Some teens and children spend three to nine hours playing games or checking social media. You might be wondering what else do these guys do? The use of technology has turned into something akin to addiction, nowadays kids can't focus on much else. They would rather stay indoors all day and be on their phones. Staying indoors longer due to screen use and not getting adequate exercise is harmful to the health and development of children and adolescents. This obsession and addiction is comparable to drug use, everything else that should be important and focused on in life becomes boring and unimportant. According to the journalistic source “The Economist”. in his article published in early January 2018 he states that research points to teenagers' social media habits as a reason for putting them at risk for suicide and depression. Even parents are starting to hear this alarm bell. A 2011 study, "Teens, Kindness, and Cruelty on Social Networking Sites," explored parents' attitudes and concerns about the effects of the phone. “Parents responding to the survey noted that the Internet and mobile devices help children make connections with information, friends and family and allow children to become more independent. On the negative side, parents say it exposes children to inappropriate content, can provide a platform for inappropriate online behavior and takes time away from important face-to-face interactions." There are benefits to screen time, but the opposite effects will leave a much deeper mark and impact than the positive ones. “School surveys by the OECD, a club that includes mostly rich countries, suggest that 15-year-olds have more difficulty making friends. In America – though, phone attackers should notice, not in the rich world as a whole – suicides among young people are on the rise” (The Economist). This is shocking information, children and teenagers live in an amazing time, full ofopportunity and hope, but technology is rearing its ugly head. Teens are unhappier and more anxious than past generations. It's the screen's fault. Britain and America have conducted several studies and found that there is a connection between the excessive use of technology and unhappiness, says “The Economist”. Technology and excessive screen time have been shown to have negative implications on the well-being, social life and health of children and adolescents. Smartphones have become part of normal life, you can't walk outside in big cities without seeing a person staring at their small screen. Phones are highly addictive, but that's not the only downside. Introducing technology to young children and consistent use by children and adolescents affects their thinking and motor skills. The effects of screen time do not harm or negatively change the brain in adults. Young people should be censored due to these harmful effects. Canadian researchers studied 4,520 lifestyle questionnaires from U.S. children ages 8 to 11. The subjects also underwent cognitive tests. At the Eastern Ontario Research Institute Children's Hospital in Ottawa, Canada, they discovered the optimal time for screen exposure, exercise and sleep duration. They suggest limiting screen time to two hours a day, getting 9 to 11 hours of sleep, and dedicating an hour to physical activity. “More than a third – 1,655 children – met the guidelines for limiting screen time, and their average performance on cognitive tests was 4.5% higher than that of the 1,330 children who met none of the guidelines. guide. The gain was even higher, at 5.2%, for those who met both the screen time and sleep recommendations (Coghlan).” Limiting screen time is essential to children's success in school. Prolonged time spent on digital media reduces cognitive abilities. Digital media is essentially turning this young generation into zombies. CBS' 60 Minutes episode discusses interesting findings about the effects of technologies on young people of all ages. The results are surprising and the documentary shows the negative and threatening impacts on society. The study was initiated by the federal government through the National Institute of Health to research adolescent brain development with exposure to technology. Twenty-one sites across the country are participating in this study and are tracking the brains of 11,000 9- and 10-year-olds for a decade as they are exposed to digital media. The study cost $300 million to finance. As the brains of these children were scanned by an MRI machine, the researchers discovered premature thinning of the cortex. The cortex is the part of the brain where it processes information from the five senses. Who knows what problems might arise for these children. Screen time is harmful to young children's brains. Seattle Children's Hospital has found that when children play with iPads they don't transfer what they learn to the real world, but they slow down and inhibit their development. A child who spends hours on digital will be at a serious disadvantage compared to a child limited by technological devices. Even teenagers have their minds warped by their little pocket screens. Telephone use among teenagers has changed the way teenagers communicate with each other. There, 14(4), 183-186.