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Risks of Spending Long Periods of Time on Screens
Spending prolonged periods in front of a device can have lasting effects, especially on your health. For example, participating in long periods of screen time can decrease your mental health and physical health, decrease social interaction, and increase social isolation. Learn more about the risks of long periods of screen time in each of the boxes below
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Social Isolation
Social Isolation
When needs for social interaction are not met, this can result in social isolation. Often in social isolation, you feel lonely, unhappy, and decreased life satisfaction. This can lead to severe negative effects on your mental and physical health. Without sharing your emotions and feelings with other people, this can damage your mental health and have lasting effects.
Having in-person social interaction and having a social support group has an impact on our physical and mental health. Developing better relationships with those closest to us is important especially when we are stressed or even when we are going through a difficult time. They are a group of people that you can always rely on and ask for help when needed.
Sleep
Sleep
How tempting is it to check our phones when we hear or feel the vibration from a notification? It is an addicting feeling. About 21% of adults wake up to check their phones during the night resulting in loss of sleep and increasing the risk of developing a sleep disorder such as insomnia. 15% of people spend at least an hour on social media after getting into bed. This is because people fear missing out or not being included and have the desire to stay connected.
Having in-person social interaction and having a social support group has an impact on our physical and mental health. Developing better relationships with those closest to us is important especially when we are stressed or even when we are going through a difficult time. They are a group of people that you can always rely on and ask for help when needed.
Health
Health
Increased social isolation and decreased social interaction can lead to poor physical and mental health. Studies have shown that increasing the amount of time spent on social media has led to low levels of self-esteem, high levels of depressive symptoms, and suicidal tendencies. Spending long periods of time on social media also leads to risky behaviors such as comparing yourself to others, posting negative content, or even using social media as a negative couping strategy.
Having in-person social interaction and having a social support group has an impact on our physical and mental health. Developing better relationships with those closest to us is important especially when we are stressed or even when we are going through a difficult time. They are a group of people that you can always rely on and ask for help when needed.
Social Skills
Social Skills
Excessive screen time makes it harder for people to identify emotions in the people they are talking to, and this can make it harder to respond. Face-to-face interaction is a way to express yourself with words and actions. Not being able to identify these cues can affect future situations where you need to verbally communicate. Social media often distracts you from the people you are with in-person and can take away essential face-to-face time with the people closest to you.
Having in-person social interaction and having a social support group has an impact on our physical and mental health. Developing better relationships with those closest to us is important especially when we are stressed or even when we are going through a difficult time. They are a group of people that you can always rely on and ask for help when needed.