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February 19, 2019
A new study by Florida International University's Robert Stempel College on screen time shows that children spend more time watching television than ever before. Comparing the use of pre-mobile devices in 1997 to one where mobile devices were widely available in 2014, the study found that television consumption was still significantly higher than that of mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets.
"There is growing concern about the time children spend, especially the very young, watching programs and screens," said Weiwei Chen, Assistant Professor, Department of Policy and Management. of health. "Our results have been surprising because we have the impression that mobile devices are ubiquitous, but television remains the most common way for young children to consume media."
The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, found that the average screen time in 1997 for children under two was 1.3 hours, while children aged three to five spent about 2.5 hours a day on the screen. In 2014, children under two used screens an average of 3 hours per day, more than double the duration. It was found that children aged three to five had no significant increase.
This study claims to be unique because it uses the written diary data provided by the parents instead of general surveys often administered at a later date, which could lead to greater parental recall bias.
"Increasing screen time for infants and toddlers is revealing. Our study confirms the general conclusions that various characteristics, such as education and income levels, are related to the use of the screen, "said Jessica L. Adler, Assistant Professor in the Department of History. Steven J. Green School of Public Affairs and Health Policy and Management at Stempel College. "Once the data is available, additional research is needed to evaluate the evolution of media consumption and device usage in recent years."
According to researchers, although the excessive use of mobile devices to occupy and entertain children is causing much concern, it is important to pay more attention to the amount of television that they consume .
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