New Law Urged as Screen Time Threatens Child Development

Digital child protection is an urgent issue that transcends political views, emphasized clinical psychologist Melinda Hal in response to Viktor Orbán’s request that Dóra Dúró resubmit her proposal on digital child protection. According to the MCC’s lead researcher, Melinda Hal, we are on the brink of a mental health crisis and immediate action is needed, Magyar Nemzet reported.

Melinda Hal emphasized that screen use under the age of three can cause irreversible damage to the nervous system. It is no coincidence that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends zero screen time at this age. Excessive use of digital devices is closely linked to delays in motor and speech development and social skills, which are crucial in children’s development.

If a five-year-old child has not yet learned to speak, it is likely that they will not do so later, the expert warned. Screen time distracts attention and takes time away from learning, movement, and emotional bonding.

Hal says that parents often use digital devices with good intentions but incorrectly, for instance for educational purposes in preschool. Until the age of three, the greatest support should be provided in the form of emotional connection and physical activity. If this is lacking, cognitive abilities cannot develop properly. According to the expert, nearly half of three-year-olds in Hungary today are unable to repeat a three- to four-word sentence, have a poor vocabulary, and find it difficult to express themselves.

Screen use not only affects attention and speech, but can also cause sleep and eating disorders and even lead to what experts call “virtual autism.” Typical symptoms include infrequent eye contact, expressionless facial expressions, difficulty engaging in play, and a lack of emotions and social skills.

Based on research, this can be exacerbated if the parent is constantly looking at their phone, resulting in a lack of shared attention and a reduction in verbal and nonverbal interactions.

The expert is concerned that more and more children are being diagnosed with Special Educational Needs (SEN), many of whom have delayed communication development and behavioral problems. These children will soon be starting school, but they already lack the necessary emotional, social, and creative skills. They avoid eye contact, have poor speech and comprehension skills, and are expected to lag behind their peers in the long term.

Hal believes that the issue of digital child protection must transcend party political interests and be given a place in parliamentary work and then in practical measures. If we do nothing now, today’s young children will not be able to meet domestic or international expectations in the future, which will jeopardize the economy and families in the long term. The psychologist supports the idea of requiring big tech companies to contribute to a mental health fund that could be used to finance digital detox campaigns. At the same time, she emphasized that parents’ example is also crucial. It is important that we consciously reduce our own screen time and focus on personal connections, because children learn primarily from their parents.

Via Magyar Nemzet; Featured photo: Pexels