Cut screen time in classrooms to avoid long-term health issues, clinicians urge

SORRY BUT THIS IS GENUINELY INSANE BECAUSE APPARENTLY OVER 150 DOCTORS AND SPECIALISTS JUST WROTE TO THE UK GOVERNMENT SAYING WE ARE RUINING KIDS' EYES WITH ALL THESE TABLETS AND LAPTOPS IN SCHOOL. THEY ARE LITERALLY SEEING A MASSIVE SPIKE IN SHORT-SIGHTEDNESS, JUMPING FROM LIKE 24% BACK IN 1990 TO NEARLY 36% BY 2023. AND THE THING IS, THESE DOCTORS ARE HAVING TO PRESCRIBE GLASSES AND SPEECH THERAPY FOR ISSUES THEY CLAIM THE SCHOOLS ARE MAKING WORSE. THE GOVERNMENT IS SAYING THEY ARE CONSULTING ON GUIDANCE BUT STILL THINK TECH IS POWERFUL IF USED PROPERLY. IT FEELS LIKE NOBODY REALLY KNOWS THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS WE ARE DEALING WITH HERE, AND HONESTLY, MY HEAD HURTS JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT MUCH SCREEN TIME FOR THOSE POOR KIDS. OK I NEED A MINUTE, THAT WAS A LOT.

I SWEAR I READ THIS TWICE TO BE SURE AND IT TURNS OUT NEARLY ONE MILLION CHILDREN ARE USING SCREENS IN MOST LESSONS WHICH IS WILD BECAUSE CLINICIANS ARE NOW BEGGING THE EDUCATION AND HEALTH SECRETARIES TO STEP IN BEFORE THIS GETS WORSE. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT HEADACHES, THEY ARE LINKING IT TO ACTUAL DEVELOPMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND AN INCREASED RISK OF SERIOUS EYE PROBLEMS DOWN THE LINE. THE DOCS ARE SAYING THEY ARE TREATING KIDS FOR THINGS THAT SCHOOLS ARE UNINTENTIONALLY FUELING WITH ALL THIS TECHNOLOGY USE WITHOUT FULLY UNDERSTANDING THE CONSEQUENCES. THE GOVERNMENT CLAIMS THEY ARE WORKING ON GUIDANCE FOR AGES FIVE TO 18, BUT THE CLINICIANS ARE CLEARLY FRUSTRATED THAT WE ARE RUNNING THIS EXPERIMENT ON STUDENTS ALREADY. SORRY I TALKED FOR THAT LONG, THE SONG IS GOOD THOUGH.

More than 150 clinicians in England have urged the government to reduce classroom screen time, citing data that links increased technology use to rising rates of short-sightedness in children.

Named in this and it is not fair or not accurate? Write to us — we correct or remove within a few days.