What a child psychologist says about social media and screen time as lawmakers consider new limits
LAWMAKERS IN THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE ARE EXPECTED TO VOTE THIS WEEK O LEGISLATION, AND ED JUST TALKED ABOUT IT A FEW MINUTES AGO THAT WOULD BAN SOCIAL MEDIA USE FOR KIDS OR CHILDREN. TEENAGERS UNDER THE AGE OF 14 AND IMPLEMENT STATEWIDE RESTRICTIONS ON CELL PHONES. IN OUR SCHOOLS. THERE’S A LOT OF CONCERN RIGHT NOW ABOUT KIDS IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHAT IT’S DOING TO THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, BUT IS THIS THE RIGHT THING TO DO? JOINING US NOW, DOCTOR ERIC ALI FROM BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. HEY DOCTOR LEE IT’S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU. SO SO LET’S START RIGHT THERE. DO YOU THINK BANDS LIKE THESE WILL ACTUALLY HELP ADDRESS THE CONCERNS ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE’S MENTAL HEALTH? YEAH, I CAN REALLY APPRECIATE THIS PUSH FOR STRONGER BOUNDARIES IN GENERAL AND CHILDREN’S SCREEN TIME, OBVIOUSLY, ESPECIALLY IN SCHOOL. BUT I THINK THE KIND OF IMPORTANT QUESTION BEHIND THAT IS WHAT EXACTLY WE’RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, RIGHT? SO FOR EXAMPLE, ARE WE TRYING TO ENSURE KIDS ARE ABLE TO FOCUS IN CLASS? ARE WE TRYING TO REDUCE OVERALL TIME ON SCREENS? ARE WE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THEIR USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN WAYS THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO THEM? ARE WE TRYING TO LIMIT SOCIAL MEDIA ACCESS DURING THE DAY? YOU KNOW, THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE’S PROBABLY NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL. SO WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THAT? AND HOW CAN WE ALSO ENSURE, OF COURSE, THAT WE’RE TEACHING KIDS DIGITAL LITERACY, HELP THEM UNDERSTAND HOW DO WE SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY USE TECHNOLOGY? WHY IS IT THAT YOU WANT TO USE DIFFERENT APPS AND GAMES? HOW DO YOU SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE AN INCREASINGLY ELECTRONIC WORLD? BECAUSE IT’S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY ANYTIME SOON FROM A PEDIATRIC PERSPECTIVE, HOW DOES SOCIAL MEDIA USE IMPACT DEVELOPING BRAINS AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING? YEAH, AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION IS THE AGE AT WHICH KIDS ARE USING SCREENS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU’RE POINTING TO, RIGHT? SO WHEN KIDS ARE YOUNG, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY’RE LEARNING ALL THE TIME BASED ON REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE. SO LESS INTERACTION WITH WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THEIR ACTUAL PHYSICAL WORLD AROUND THEM WILL IMPACT, YOU KNOW, THEIR LEARNING, THEIR SOCIAL CONNECTION AS THEY GET OLDER. ARE THEY ENGAGING IN ACTIVE WAYS WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENT? ARE THEY LEARNING HOW TO GET ALONG WITH KIDS ON THE PLAYGROUND, RATHER THAN JUST WATCHING WHAT THEY’RE DOING ON A SCREEN, OR ONLY INTERACTING WITH KIDS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY? DO THEY KNOW HOW TO RESPOND TO SOMETHING LIKE BOREDOM OUTSIDE OF JUST ZONING OUT ON, YOU KNOW, FROM DOOMSCROLLING OR USING SOCIAL MEDIA? THESE ARE ALL IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR KIDS. AND DOCTOR LEE, LET ME DRILL DOWN ON WHAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT. IS THERE A CERTAIN AGE WHERE KIDS ARE BETTER EQUIPPED TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS ON THEIR OWN? IN OTHER WORDS, THIS THIS BILL THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT IS 14 IS CAN YOU, LIKE YOU SAID EARLIER, IS THERE A ONE SIZE FITS ALL? THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS I HEAR FROM PARENTS. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ASKING IT. I WISH IT WAS AS STRAIGHTFORWARD AS AT X AGE, EVERY CHILD IS READY TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OVER THEIR SCREEN TIME, RIGHT? BUT IT REALLY DOES MATTER HOW DEVELOPED OR MATURE YOUR CHILD IS. HOW ARE THEY WITH PAYING ATTENTION AND THEIR EMOTION REGULATION? DO THEY UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE TECHNOLOGY SAFELY? AS I SAID BEFORE, WHAT ARE THEY ACTUALLY DOING WITH THEIR SCREEN TIME? BECAUSE NOT EVERY KID IS USING SCREENS THE SAME WAY. IT ALSO DOES MATTER WHAT THEIR VULNERABILITIES ARE, RIGHT? SO WE KNOW THAT KIDS WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH SCREEN TIME TEND TO BE MORE LIKELY. ARE THE KIDS WHO HAVE THINGS LIKE DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, ADHD. SO FAMILIES REALLY DO HAVE TO INDIVIDUALIZE THESE DECISIONS TO THEIR FAMILY AND TO THEIR KID. AND AS I ALWAYS TELL YOU, WE WANT TO BALANCE TIME ON A PHONE WITH TIME FOR OTHER ESSENTIAL THINGS. SO LIVE INTERACTION WITH OTHER PEOPLE, SLEEP, MEALS, EXERCISE, SCHOOL, WE DON’T WANT ANYTHING WITH SCREEN TIME TO BE AT THE EXCLUSION OF THOSE THINGS NOW EVER. AL
Massachusetts House lawmakers are expected to vote this week on a bill that would ban social media use for children under 14 and limit cellphone use in schools statewide.Boston Children’s Hospital psychologist Dr. Erica Lee said she understands the push for stricter limits on screen time, especially in classrooms.“I can really appreciate this push for stronger boundaries, particularly in school,” Lee said. Lee also stressed the importance of teaching children how to use technology responsibly.“How do we safely and effectively use technology? How do we navigate an increasingly electronic world?” she said. “Because it’s not going away anytime soon.” Lee said heavy screen use can affect how children learn and connect with others.“When kids are young, they’re learning through real-world experiences,” she said. “Less interaction with their physical environment can impact learning and social connection.”She said there is no one-size-fits-all age when children are ready to manage their own screen time.“It really depends on a child’s maturity,” Lee said, pointing to factors like attention span, emotional regulation and understanding of safe technology use.Lee added that children with conditions such as anxiety, depression or ADHD may be more vulnerable to the effects of excessive screen time.Ultimately, she says families should tailor decisions to each child — while making sure screen use does not replace sleep, exercise, in-person interaction or schoolwork.
Massachusetts House lawmakers are expected to vote this week on a bill that would ban social media use for children under 14 and limit cellphone use in schools statewide.
Boston Children’s Hospital psychologist Dr. Erica Lee said she understands the push for stricter limits on screen time, especially in classrooms.
“I can really appreciate this push for stronger boundaries, particularly in school,” Lee said.
Lee also stressed the importance of teaching children how to use technology responsibly.
“How do we safely and effectively use technology? How do we navigate an increasingly electronic world?” she said. “Because it’s not going away anytime soon.”
Lee said heavy screen use can affect how children learn and connect with others.
“When kids are young, they’re learning through real-world experiences,” she said. “Less interaction with their physical environment can impact learning and social connection.”
She said there is no one-size-fits-all age when children are ready to manage their own screen time.
“It really depends on a child’s maturity,” Lee said, pointing to factors like attention span, emotional regulation and understanding of safe technology use.
Lee added that children with conditions such as anxiety, depression or ADHD may be more vulnerable to the effects of excessive screen time.
Ultimately, she says families should tailor decisions to each child — while making sure screen use does not replace sleep, exercise, in-person interaction or schoolwork.
