GLOW KIDS
What?
Concerns about the amount of time children spend on computers and the impact this is having on their growth and development.
My main thoughts/concerns are why are there so many children displaying ADHD/autism tendencies. There seems to be so many more students with learning difficulties and social interaction deficiencies. What is causing this? What can we do about it?
So What?
Glow Kids - How Screen Addiction is Hijacking our Kids
Dr Nicholas Kardaras
22/11/2017
Every time a new technology comes along people become concerned. We have all been seduced by
the magical powers of modern devices.
the magical powers of modern devices.
“If men learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is written, calling things to remembrance no longer from within themselves, but by means of external marks. What you have discovered is a recipe not for memory, but for reminder. And it is no true wisdom that you offer your disciples, but only its semblance, for by telling them of many things without teaching them you will make them seem to know much, while for the most part they know nothing, and as men filled, not with wisdom, but with the conceit of wisdom, they will be a burden to their fellows.” Plato
Frontal cortex developed by age mid 20’s - impulse control developed
Difficult for children to moderate screen control due to lack of development of frontal cortex.
It is about age appropriate technology not anti-technology. Must be technology cautious.
Global cultural shift over last 10-15 years.
Mental health crisis in adolescents - increase in screen availability / access - coincidence??
Social media spike - adolescents suicide spike -coincidence?
Pedagogy of screen usage in classroom
Equated tablets etc with TV which is what we grew up with - significant differences - control what’s on
portal device / portable / interactive / immersive aspects - much more psychological impact on children
portal device / portable / interactive / immersive aspects - much more psychological impact on children
TV is passive viewing whereas an ipad is interactive.
Derealisation - used to be an episode related to drug abuse / now associated with intensive screen
interaction.
interaction.
In extreme cases children can not determine what is real and what is not because they have
become so immersed in the gaming world.
become so immersed in the gaming world.
1996
2012
Digital Trojan Horse - we were told these were going to be amazing / transforming devices.
Done on purpose. Habit forming by design - Facebook
Done on purpose. Habit forming by design - Facebook
Teens using electronic devices 5 hours plus a day - 70% more likely to have suicidal thoughts
than someone on only 1 hour a day. Young people = mental health crisis - especially those with
tendencies in this area.
than someone on only 1 hour a day. Young people = mental health crisis - especially those with
tendencies in this area.
Devices habit forming - electronic cocaine
Phone addiction - new device that is killing an entire generation
Children do not have impulse control like adults do. Therefore we can’t expect them to monitor
their screen time especially when this is hard for adults.
their screen time especially when this is hard for adults.
Are teenagers replacing drugs with smartphones? New York Times Article
Kids can get literally high playing interactive media / games
Habit forming process works - dopamine released. Dopamine originally raised by food to keep
us alive and by sex to keep species going
us alive and by sex to keep species going
Dopamine - feel good neurotransmitter only broken by engaging the frontal cortex.
Dopamine reward loop - when released feel good so seek it again. Get into a loop reaction.
Video games / Cocaine raises dopamine by 350%. Video games by 100% (happens continually
when in a game). Food - 50% Sex - 100%
Video games / Cocaine raises dopamine by 350%. Video games by 100% (happens continually
when in a game). Food - 50% Sex - 100%
Child not able to lower their adrenal system - hyper aroused - then asked to turn to different activity.
Not able to lower adrenal system. Gaming - intentionally raising blood pressure within a couple of
minutes. If not raised in trials of game then retweek game to raise
Not able to lower adrenal system. Gaming - intentionally raising blood pressure within a couple of
minutes. If not raised in trials of game then retweek game to raise
.
A whole generation of children are getting hyperstimulation from too much screen time.
Video Games are not addictive by chance - we are being manipulated on purpose. Facebook admits
they “have created a monster”. It is a social validation feedback loop that keeps users coming back.
How many likes did I get? Defining self by social media. Not intrinsically validated. Important issue
with mental health.
they “have created a monster”. It is a social validation feedback loop that keeps users coming back.
How many likes did I get? Defining self by social media. Not intrinsically validated. Important issue
with mental health.
Brain hacking - playbook of techniques that get you used to using technology - done by design to
form addictions.
form addictions.
Video Game Brain Imaging Study - Dr Wang, Indiana University
Study showed how screens can change brain - non gamers were asked to play violent video games
for 10 hours a week for 2 weeks.
for 10 hours a week for 2 weeks.
People with underdeveloped frontal cortex have issues - impulsive control / less engagement etc
Mirrors drug addiction - less grey matter / shrunken frontal cortex. Once stopped brain returned to
normal however don’t know long term effects.
normal however don’t know long term effects.
If these games are so powerful that soldiers who are burn victims don’t feel pain then what are they
doing to our children?
doing to our children?
If engaged in adrenal high then in fight or flight mode. Young children going into Flight / Fight high for
longer periods of time when on devices for longer periods of time.
longer periods of time when on devices for longer periods of time.
Normally only in this adrenaline high for a few seconds / minutes at a time.
Four weeks to reset adrenaline levels.
Attention - ADD/ ADHD rates skyrocketing - no consequence with increase of screen time.
Development of attention is a window between 2 and 6 years.
Development of attention is a window between 2 and 6 years.
Hand high activities help to develop focus and attention. Being bored developed focus
Building blocks.
Building blocks.
If hyper stimulated then come to rely on bells and whistles.
Children raised on a high scren diet then unable to focus later in highschool.
Adult - 15 minute attention span (commercial break) - then startle effect.
Decreased in time - startle effect. 12 minutes, 10, 7, 5. Kids TV now constant startle effects.
Child not constantly getting stimulated lose attention. Robbed of imagination - unable to create
visual imagery.
visual imagery.
If had so many visual images pumped into brain then unable to create own imagery / creativity.
Raising a generation of uninterested / uninteresting children. Unable to be creative and write own story.
Raising a generation of uninterested / uninteresting children. Unable to be creative and write own story.
Humans hardwired as social animals. Social media rates increased depression increased.
More friends on Facebook more depression. Illusion of friendship / connection. How powerful an
interaction is relates to how much eye contact - need to be 70% of time. Kids now making eye
contact 20 -30 % of time - text neck.
More friends on Facebook more depression. Illusion of friendship / connection. How powerful an
interaction is relates to how much eye contact - need to be 70% of time. Kids now making eye
contact 20 -30 % of time - text neck.
Depression skyrocketing.
Need 5 close friends that can ‘go to’ friends at 3am for healthy mental state. Facebook friends not
those friends.
those friends.
People on Facebook only post the good things - leads to ‘Gee - my life sucks syndrome’.
Hyper networker / hyper social media - leads to poor academic results / depression / high sexual
partners. Just about anything bad related to hyper social media (3 hours a day)
partners. Just about anything bad related to hyper social media (3 hours a day)
Role of School - no research to show a screen early in life has better educational outcomes.
There is a place for screens with well collaborated teaching.
More high digital classroom - less well successful.
Not just a waste of resource but a damaging waste of resource
Kids are reading less.
Read same content on a screen or in a book - 20% less retention rate.
Books have a landscape / physicality that orientates us - help us locate information in a physical
format.
Books have a landscape / physicality that orientates us - help us locate information in a physical
format.
Writing versus computers - if write full body involved in it / different relationship with writing
Now What?
Have had professional discussions with other staff about how we use computers in the classroom in the hope that we aren't adding to this situation. In class we only use the Chrome Books for research and publishing work. However when the kids get the opportunity they love to get on Cool Maths Games which I have now decided doesn't having any real learning benefits. Will be using board games instead.
There is no evidence to suggest that students who use computers regularly in the classroom are any more advanced than those who don't have access to them. This is interesting and something I think is important to remember.
Obviously there is a place for them in our learning environment and in particular for those students who struggle with the physical act of writing. Using a acomputer aleviates the stress of writing for them and allows them to get their ideas down quickly.
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