Are children spending too much time online and is this detrimental to their health?

There are concerns that many children’s lives revolve around screen use rather than traditional activities like playing outside.

Transcript

00:00Children are spending more time online than ever before. A recent report from

00:05Ofcom found that children aged 5 to 16 spend an average of 6 hours a day on

00:11screens, with teenagers exceeding that figure. From gaming to social media, the

00:17Internet has become a central part of their daily lives. Concerns about

00:22excessive screen time are growing. Studies have linked prolonged use to

00:27issues like sleep disruption, reduced physical activity and even mental health

00:32challenges. Experts are particularly worried about the impact on younger

00:37children who are still developing social and emotional skills. Safety is another

00:43critical issue. Many children are exposed to inappropriate content, online

00:48bullying and even grooming. The Internet is undeniably a valuable educational and

00:53social tool, but as usage continues to rise, so do concerns about its impacts

00:59on young people's well-being. Do you think kids spend too much time online?