An observation made by Qatar Foundation’s (QF) school’s crisis and well-being team on the impact of technology during COVID-19 on the brain and body noted there has been an increase in screen usage among students due to distance learning, social interaction, electronic games, social media and other factors.
With the excessive use of electronics during the pandemic and an increased reliance on the internet for work, school and social communication many concerns have emerged on the impact of technology on a child’s mental and physical well-being.
Dr Tracy Hardister, Director, The Learning Center (TLC), part of QF’s Pre-University Education, has highlighted the recent global data that indicate a majority of children between the ages of six and 12 in the US are spending at least 50 per cent more time in front of screens each day during the pandemic.
“Since there is no specific statistic for Qatar, given the current situation, I assume it is a similar amount – of increased time,” Hardister said.
As children are still developing, the frequent exposure to technology changes the wiring of their brains. “When children are exposed to technology at high rates, their brain gets used to quickly processing multiple sources of information, which stimulate connections between brain cells, creating new neural pathways between different parts of their brains,” she said.
It is not only children who are affected by the excessive use of technology, the mental and physical health of adults can also be severely impaired.
“Excess amounts of screen time impact our neurological functioning, causing our bodies to experience increased stress that activates the fight or flight response – a response that is only intended to ensure our survival in a crisis, and which leads to the production of a hormone called cortisol, or the stress hormone. The release of this hormone results in hyper arousal, and causes an increase in blood pressure, reduces concentration, impairs memory functioning, and contributes to poor self-regulation of our moods. This poor self-regulation includes irritability, decreased frustration tolerance, and anger,” she said.