At LOOP NOLA, we have seen firsthand how difficult it can be for kids to put down their phones while they are out on a trip with us. We work directly with our Outdoor Adventure Club students to practice stepping away from their phone for a little while and living in the present, and our summer campers go without their phones each day.

It can be SO HARD for them to do it! But they are working on it, and they put effort into understanding why it’s valuable to spend time together outdoors without their phones. We certainly commend them for that and appreciate that they are taking steps to live a healthy life in a modern world. 

We are writing on this topic today to help parents understand the toll that screen time takes on children and teens today and the importance of “green time” versus “screen time.”

When it comes to children having high amounts of screen time, there are lots of hazards. Devices, social media, and a widespread accessibility to apps all keep kids consumed and preoccupied with their phones, iPads, and computers. This has resulted in children and teens spending more time on their devices rather than engaging in outdoor play.

Why do kids spend so much time on their phones?

Screen time tends to start at a very young age these days. Amidst the bustle of everyday life, many parents find themselves using screens as a sort of babysitter. Letting the child entertain themselves with an iPad or phone is an easy way to keep children - some of whom are extremely young - occupied so that parents can get their work done. As a result, young children become conditioned to look at screens as a means of connection and entertainment.

For many teens and tweens, screens have also become a way for them to socialize. They connect with friends via text or other messaging apps and via social media apps. Unfortunately, this “socializing” a poor substitute for the real thing and comes with negative implications. Truly connecting with other people in real time is becoming a lost art for many young people, and the consequences are noticeable. 

What are the hazards of too much screen time?

Unrealistic expectations

Just like adult online users, kids who spend a lot of time on social media tend to see only positive versions of people’s lives. They see the highlights and exciting moments in other’s lives, but they don’t see all the boring parts. Seeing only the amazing moments of life on social media leads to a warped, unrealistic view of what life in general should be. Many teens, tweens, and adults become disillusioned with their own lives in comparison to the curated lives presented on social media. 

Cyberbullying

Another negative consequence of kids having too much screen time is cyberbullying. As children and teens are spending more time connecting via devices, the rate of cyberbullying is going up. It used to be that kids who got bullied at school could go home and have some peace and quiet. They could leave their bully for a while and find safety. Now, the bully can follow them online and continue to harass them online even when school is over. 

Cyberbullying is a danger that harms children's self esteem and has led to tragic choices. Children and teens need time where they feel safe and can be themselves. When they are constantly worried about the next attack, they stay on guard all the time. This constant state of alert can lead to mental health problems in the present and later in life.  

Dulled people skills

When kids engage with other kids on a video game, they feel as though they are socializing; but in fact they are missing out on huge parts of human development and communication. Yes, they are communicating with another person, playing a game, and having fun. They might even be making an online friend. However, online communication is not the same as face-to-face communication. 

As humans, a large part of our communication is non-verbal. Non-verbal communication includes eye contact, subtle facial expressions, body posture, physical distance between the two speakers, and touch (just to name a few). Non-verbal cues are completely absent on social media, apps, online games, and text messages. Children who grow up socializing on devices often miss out on learning non-verbal cues and have a hard time interacting with people in person. 

In addition, the Covid pandemic normalized online interaction more than ever. Understandably, with everyone forced to stay home and remain socially distanced, lots of people turned to their phones, iPads, and other devices for connection. Humans are social creatures, and we need that connection one way or another. Pandemic restrictions posed a new unfortunate reality for our youth as they were required to spend less time socializing with other people in person.

The secret behind screen addiction

Apps have been getting better and better at retaining users and keeping us constantly coming back for more. Many features utilized by social media sites are designed to provide a dopamine hit to users - and app developers know this. Dopamine is one of the hormones that causes pleasure and satisfaction. So when your brain gets a dopamine rush, you feel happy and satisfied. Every time kids get a “like” on a post, see they have a new message, or hear their phone go off, they get a little dopamine rush. 

As you might imagine, app designers want to keep users engaged as much as possible. So they make sure that their apps are super enjoyable to use. Video games, group texts, and social media all keep kids chronically engaged with their devices. 

Additionally, entertainment and social media companies alike are continuing to improve on retaining their users for longer periods of time. For example, social media apps such as Tiktok, Instagram, and Snapchat have spent huge amounts of money researching human attention and ways to keep users engaged with the content they provide. Developers know that features such as “likes” and “shares” give users a dopamine hit, so they make it as tempting as possible to keep liking and sharing.  

It is interesting to note that the word we use to describe people on social media sites is “users.” The word “user” has typically been used to describe individuals who use an addictive substance of some sort. How many of us have had conversations where we describe ourselves as being “addicted” to our devices? It’s seemingly rare to come across an individual who doesn’t feel that way from time to time. 

Even as adults, many people feel compelled to check for social media updates or scroll through Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube when they’re bored and procrastinating. It’s even become a trend to purposefully silence apps during the workday when it’s time to focus because we know they can be so distracting. If you use your cell phone for social media throughout the day, try counting how many times a day you pick it up without even thinking about it.

Our compulsions to check for updates can be automatic and addiction-like - and apps have been purposefully designed that way.  Because with every extra click, app companies make more money in ad revenue. It’s incredible just how powerful a drug these social media apps are for many of us. And if it’s that powerful for adults, imagine the effect that it has on children and teens.

With this said, it’s important to acknowledge the reality of social apps and online communication and take a more mindful approach when interacting with these popular apps. Many social media apps have an age restriction, but it’s almost impossible to enforce those restrictions via the app alone. Children and tweens typically don’t realize that they’re being manipulated by app designers, so it’s important for the adults in their life to monitor their screen time. Outsmarting dopamine takes genuine effort from both children and the adults in their lives.

Screen time vs. Green time

There are notable benefits to decreasing screen time and increasing one’s “green time.” Green time means spending time playing, relaxing, or adventuring outside. Green time doesn’t need to be complicated, just outdoors without constantly interacting with a device. It can include things like team sports, hiking, biking, canoeing, playing at a park, or just resting in a hammock.

Incorporating more outdoor play into the early stages of a child’s life will ultimately set them up for a happier and healthier future. They get to interact with the natural world and develop a sense of curiosity and wonder. It’s important for children to play with something in real time and see how the world works. With the guidance of an adult for safety, kids learn how to push their limits, explore, and interact with other creatures that they may discover outside. Of course, this interaction is even better if they get to play outside with other people and increase their social skills along the way. 

When kids spend less time on screens, they are less likely to become dependent on online validation, and it can prevent them from being the target of cyberbullies. Above all else, they will feel dopamine rushes based on their real life achievements during green time. Whether kicking a goal in soccer, making a successful campfire, or building a sandcastle with their friends, kids will experience a genuine dopamine hit based on actual accomplishment rather than one that’s dependent on virtual Likes and Shares. 

When kids start playing outside, they get another important thing that screens don’t offer: exercise. Kids need to run and play! They spend so much time inside during school hours, kids need to use some free time to move around and exercise. 

Though most of us -adults included- aren’t likely to give up our screens permanently, we can be more purposeful about how we use them. Screen time isn’t all bad, but it can get out of hand easily. It’s important for kids to develop healthy boundaries with their devices rather than falling prey to the lure of all-consuming screen time.