Kids’ screen time has soared during the pandemic—how bad is it, really? According to Qustodio data, thanks to the “COVID effect” screen time “doubled” by May as compared with the same period the previous year. In the U.S., kids spent 97 minutes a day on YouTube in March and May—up 57 minutes from February and “nearly double” the use a year prior. During lockdowns, some kids have been clocking up to 40 hours a week either playing video games or using their phones as some parents watch their kids “slide down an increasingly slippery path down into an all-consuming digital life.” The situation isn’t only just alarming parents, but scientists as well. One expert believes that post-pandemic, there will be a period of “epic withdrawal.” However, other experts believe that since digital entertainment has been a valuable asset that has helped kids during a difficult year, they’re instead “emphasizing a balanced approach rather than an outright cutoff.” (NYTimes, The Verge)
