The Effects of Too Much Exposure to Computers on Adolescents

Teenagers' constant access to computers presents challenges to parents that didn't exist in the years before the widespread use of personal computers. Overexposure to computers can have a negative effect on teens. It's up to parents to observe teens carefully to see if any negative effects appear as a result of long-term computer use.

  1. Obesity

    • Obesity in teens is linked to the number of hours they spend sitting instead of participating in other, more active pursuits. Hours sitting at a computer compound with other sedentary time such as watching television for a total of 5 1/2 hours of screen time per day, on average, for teens. That is more than double the recommended amount, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Teens who spend more hours sitting at the computer each week are at a higher risk of increased levels of body fat. The health problems this causes later in life means that parents need to help teens balance computer time with physical activity.

    Sleep Disruption

    • When a teen has his own computer in his room, parents need to pay attention to the teen's sleep patterns. Disruption to sleeping patterns is seen in teens who are extremely active in social networking and stay up chatting until the wee hours. This also occurs with online gaming. If your teen is seriously involved in online gaming and his sleep is suffering as a result, it's time to impose limits on gaming hours.

    Depression

    • The American Academy of Pediatrics conducted a study that looked at the link between certain online behaviors and depression among teens. It found a connection between Facebook use and depression. Facebook can play a role in depression because of the large number of hours that teens spend on the site and the extent to which they value their online social interactions. While the study did not recommend total blackouts on Facebook for teens, it does raise points demonstrating that parents and doctors need to be aware of the emotional impact that the social network site might be having on teens.

    Social Growth

    • For a healthy teen, adolescence is the time to meet new friends, have new experiences and build the identity that will dictate the type of adult she will grow into. For teens who spend too much time online, this might not be the case. If a teen spends so much time online that she misses out on the experiences and networking that is common among teenagers, it can equate to a slowed social development. Parent advocate Sue Scheff worries that too much Internet use can limit the development of teens as they miss out on the previously essential teen challenges and experiences.

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