A journalist has revealed the grip YouTube has over children as young as four in his shocking new book.
The Economist and Wired reporter found children as young as four are spending more than an hour on the website each time they visit it.he Economist and Wired reporter found children as young as four are spending more than an hour on the website each time they visit it.
“But this data is hugely insightful as to how our children and teenagers spend their time on the site.
“The addictive quality of YouTube and its impact on our society is something flagged up in YouTubers.
"It's activating this reward component and this excitement, so it's really changing the chemical aspect of the brain while they're doing it. Much like when they're opening the gifts themselves and that excitement associated with it,"
Like everything in life, Dr. Eaton said, screen time is OK in moderation. But, she warned, parents should not let the phone or tablet be the babysitter.
"I think a good rule of thumb is if a small child is watching YouTube, a parent should probably be watching YouTube with them," she said, adding, when you've had enough, they've had enough.
"Extended overuse of electronics can lead to things like depression and anxiety, difficulty with social interactions," said Dr. Eaton. "So it might seem like a small problem to start but it can become a very large long-term problem for children."
And to avoid that inevitable tantrum when a parent tries to take the electronic device away, she suggested families be proactive by making a contract.
"We set the timer. This is how long you have to play. When the timer goes off we are done. If you get very angry and are not able to express your emotions appropriately, then we're not playing it for the rest of the day."
It's also important for children to be aware of the consequences if they don't abide by the contract or other rules. And parents shouldn't be afraid to take away the electronic device.
"It's really important that parents know that the use of electronics is a privilege. So it's not a right for your child to have a phone or have an electronic device, even if you've given it to them," said Dr. Eaton. "You are the parent and you are overseeing their lives on a daily basis. If you feel this electronic device is detrimental to their emotional well-being or their development, you have the right to pull back on that. I think parents are very afraid of what the response will be from their child, particularly adolescents, but it something that definitely needs to be addressed."
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