How Excessive Screen Time Affects Your Brain
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25 Aug 2025
Screens are everywhere in today's digital world, and it's tough to avoid them
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From smartphones and laptops to TVs and gaming systems, almost every device we use has a screen
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According to Harvard Medical School website, using smartphones or other blue light-emitting devices before bed can reduce melatonin, the hormone that controls sleep
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This makes it harder to fall asleep and reduces the amount of deep sleep, which is essential for learning and memory
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Dr. Michael Rich, a pediatrician at Boston Children's Hospital, explains in an article featured by Harvard Medical School that children's brains are constantly forming and trimming connections
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Too much digital media can interfere with this process
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He notes that stimulation from screens is often "impoverished" compared to real-life experiences
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Children need a mix of online and offline activities such as outdoor play, reading, and creative hobbies
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Dr. Rich adds, "Boredom is the space in which creativity and imagination happen," urging parents to allow kids time away from screens
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He also explains that most online games and social platforms use a variable reward system, similar to slot machines
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