TV is the Devil

[Adios]

The researchers found that children who spent two hours or more a day watching television or playing on a computer were more likely to get high scores on the questionnaire, indicating they had more psychological difficulties than kids who did not spend a lot of time in front of a screen.

Even children who were physically active but spent more than two hours a day in front of a screen were at increased risk of psychological difficulties, indicating that screen time might be the chief culprit.

Earlier studies have found that while more time spent in front of a screen led to lower well-being, physical activity improved one's state of mind. That led researchers to believe that upping physical activity levels could counteract the negative impact of watching TV or playing on the computer.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101011/wl_uk_afp/healthmindchildrentelevisioncomputer

Even with all the reality shows on now? 

[Cuddlefish]

It's kinda funny, if you think about it. In futuristic sci-fi shows and movies, there is never any televisions, and I'm waiting for the general popuation to get tired of it. I mean, how long can this primitave taking picture box hold peoples attention? Am I being sarcastic? I don't even know anymore...

[Adios]

It's kinda funny, if you think about it. In futuristic sci-fi shows and movies, there is never any televisions, and I'm waiting for the general popuation to get tired of it. I mean, how long can this primitave taking picture box hold peoples attention? Am I being sarcastic? I don't even know anymore...

As long as it exists. As long as it offers escapism.

[Prince Glittersnatch III]

Could it be that the TV doesnt cause the problems but that people with psychological/emotional issues already turn to it?

[P3nT4gR4m]

Even children who were physically active but spent more than two hours a day in front of a screen

This implies that someone found a child somewhere who didn't spend at least 2 hours in front of a teevee screen every day. I call bullshit! Their control subjects were Amish - it doesn't count!

[Adios]

Even children who were physically active but spent more than two hours a day in front of a screen

This implies that someone found a child somewhere who didn't spend at least 2 hours in front of a teevee screen every day. I call bullshit! Their control subjects were Amish - it doesn't count!

[I_Kicked_Kennedy]

Could it be that the TV doesnt cause the problems but that people with psychological/emotional issues already turn to it?

Any properly designed Analysis of Variation (ANOVA) will reject the null hypothesis, rather than affirming anything. In other words, studies can only confirm that there's not <i>not</i> a correlation.

And... if it hasn't been repeated enough... correlation does not equal causality.

Children who spent at least 2 hours in front of a tv screen aren't spending as much time interacting with actual people. They aren't spending as much time interacting with reality. 2 hours a day, 14 hours a week, 728 hours a year means these kids are getting 30 1/3 days less interaction with reality. After 12 years (Ages 3-15) they have officially spent one less year of interaction with actual reality then a child who had not simply sat in front of a tv in a state of cognitive cruise control. And we know that even the most minute delay in cognitive development has logarithmic effects for future growth. So, what's the cumulative effect of an adolescent who finds himself one year behind his peers intellectually when the most formative moments of his social understandings are being formed?

In other words, yes, I agree TV is to blame for psychological issues later in life. I just took the scenic route?

[Requia ☣]

Any kid who isn't watching at least 2 hours of TV a day also probably has parents enforcing that as a rule.  IE, the parents are working hard at raising the kid.  So what *else* are those anti-TV parents doing that might help?

[tyrannosaurus vex]

Any kid who isn't watching at least 2 hours of TV a day also probably has parents enforcing that as a rule.  IE, the parents are working hard at raising the kid.  So what *else* are those anti-TV parents doing that might help?

I think it's too much of a blanket statement to simply say "sitting in front of a screen." While "educational programming" is hardly a substitute for real experience, there should be some consideration in this study for the content of the programming being viewed for 2 or more hours a day.

My own kid is 4 right now; he's incredibly curious about the world, and I use media (TV, interwebs, etc) to stoke his curiosity and pose questions to him that make him think about things. As a result he has catapulted past his peers, not only in terms of simple factual 'book knowledge,' but real intuitive understanding of nature and awareness of and empathy for other people.

He already knows why the sky is blue, why grass is green, why the sun goes down and comes up, where the Moon came from, who the first President was (and the current one as well, much to the chagrin of my bigoted father-in-law), and lots of other stuff. And it isn't just reciting memorized words, but he can actually discuss this stuff. And I don't believe it would be possible to this extent without a lot of "infotainment" and "educational programming" on TV and the Internet.

[Requia ☣]

When did I say "sitting in front of the screen"?

[tyrannosaurus vex]

Actually I didn't mean to quote you, just add to the convo. I'm heavily drugged at the moment.... lol. sorry

[Dysfunctional Cunt]

My kids watch TV and play video games and yeah, I'm sure there are days they spend more than 2 hours doing so. Hell a movie is almost that time.  I'm really curious as to what they should be doing in 10 degree wet disgusting weather?  As a parent is it being thought that it is my job to what?  Entertain them?  Assign them reading material?  And that should be what?  The bible?

I call bullshit.  My children are not psychologically damaged from fucking tv and video games.  All three are good students and actively involved in school and sports.

[Cramulus]

I want to see how socioeconomic status plays into this.

do poor kids watch more or less TV than rich kids?

[Jenne]

I have a good friend that I was really best friends with in 8th grade all the way to undergrad--she and I roomed our first 2 years of university together. 

She had no tv where she grew up in Big Bear, couldn't get it, and when her family could get the cable, they no longer wanted it.  They rented movies, etc. instead.  Deeply religious family, by the way, as well, so all movies were PG and below.

Now, while she read a lot of literature, listened to the radio, etc., she missed out on a LOT of essential ties to her own culture, and when she interacted with her peers, it was with extreme awkwardness.  I'm not advocating total wipe out of all activity, exclusive of TV, not at all.  But walling your children out of their own peers' experiences makes them seem like freaks at a time when it's hard enough to fit in (jr. high and high school).  I dunno, I dislike not giving kids an advantage.

And like it or not, tv media actually give people common ground.  Without that common ground, there's a sort of culture shock that happens, and the one that hasn't experienced it is odd man out.

[Jenne]

The researchers found that children who spent two hours or more a day watching television or playing on a computer were more likely to get high scores on the questionnaire, indicating they had more psychological difficulties than kids who did not spend a lot of time in front of a screen.

Even children who were physically active but spent more than two hours a day in front of a screen were at increased risk of psychological difficulties, indicating that screen time might be the chief culprit.

Earlier studies have found that while more time spent in front of a screen led to lower well-being, physical activity improved one's state of mind. That led researchers to believe that upping physical activity levels could counteract the negative impact of watching TV or playing on the computer.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101011/wl_uk_afp/healthmindchildrentelevisioncomputer

Even with all the reality shows on now? 

Interesting study, but I'm sort of skeptical about their criteria.  These kids could have issues regardless of screen time.