Scientists claim that kids who watch TV shows for hours and play video games have poor performance in school. According to the report, this extensive research by scientists has analyzed nearly five million children from all over the world. Generally, children who spend time in front of a screen, including a mobile phone, do not affect their school performance.
However, the research found that children who spend most of their free time watching TV and playing video games have worse school grades.Research has come out at the time when the British government is expected to set screen timelines for children’s mental health next year. The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, reviewed 58 studies from 23 other countries in which four million and 80,000 children under the age of 18 participated.
The team collected data from 30 of 58 studies that compared screen media use and academic performance. The number of participants in these studies was 100,000
Academic performance was measured by comparing language and math ability scores and composite scores. The composite score is the average of the four tests namely English, Math, Reading, and Science scores ranging from one to 36.Screen time includes using the Internet, using a mobile phone, watching TV and playing videogames.
TV and video games were the reason for the low composite score, whereas only the negative effects of TV on language and math ability were observed.
Further analysis revealed that screen-related activities had an impact on older children.Research shows that watching TV reduces the brain’s use of exercise compared to exercise.Video games, on the other hand, can cause children’s psychological problems.According to a Canadian study, adults who spend more than seven hours a day on screen are less likely to lose their academic performance by 40%.