Claim: More Screen Time Means Less Parent-Child Talk

Question

In a New York Times article, studies claim that children who are exposed to more screens at a younger age have fewer conversations with their parents/guardians. They measured this study based on 3 various ways of language: words spoken by an adult, child vocalizations, and turns in the conversation. It was explained that "When the children were 18 months old, each additional minute of screen time was associated with 1.3 fewer child vocalizations, for example, and when they were 2 years old, an additional minute was associated with 0.4 fewer turns in conversation.". They concluded that "at almost all ages, increased screen time squelched conversation."

Answer 1

This claim is true. With the rise of exposure to excessive screen time, children are missing out on essential attributes that promote development, and this includes parent-child talk. Excessive screen time interferes with the ability to experience a home that fosters a language-rich environment. A study conducted by the National Library of Medicine on the correlation between increased screen time and decreased parent-child talk showed results that "for every additional minute of screen exposure, parents and children were generally talking or vocalizing less and were engaging in fewer back-and-forth interactions." The final analysis of this study included results from 220 families with children ages 12 to 36 months. This is a vital time for language development, and a lack of parent-child conversations in favor of excessive screen time can and most likely will be detrimental for children's language development. Children are likely to have developmental delays with excessive exposure to screen-time. This includes negative impacts on vocabulary, language skills, and delay in speech. It's vital for parents to find a balance with their children's electronic exposure so as to not inhibit their development and prevent them from not experiencing crucial things like parent-child talk.

Sources:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10580299/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10913002/

Comments

I agree with limiting screentime but parents can also actively engage with their children on what they are seeing on the screen, with the right piece of media it can be a learning experience instead of mindless consumption. This approach can help children develop critical thinking and conversational skills while still enjoying technology.

Answer 2

     This article posted in March of this year, claims that more screen time means less parent-child talk, as highlighted in the title. Through my fact-checking process, I first note the source. The New York Times is a reputable news site, and the author Emily Baumgaertner, indicates her current position as New York Times National Health Correspondent on her LinkedIn. This information points to a legitimate author and high-quality news source. The article clearly pinpoints where they are finding their information, hyperlinking a JAMA study published also in March of 2024. The study’s findings “support the notion of technoference for Australian families, whereby young children’s exposure to screen time is interfering with opportunities to talk and interact in their home environment” (Brushe) which agrees with the NYT article’s claim. JAMA is a recognized medical journal, further validating the claim. The study was also posted on the National Library of Medicine, a government website. The study has been posted on several different websites, such as ABC News, and Yahoo News. Taking these points into consideration, I would conclude that the claim is true.

 

Sources: 

Brushe, Mary E., et al. “Screen Time and parent-child talk when children are aged 12 to 36 months.” JAMA Pediatrics, vol. 178, no. 4, 4 Mar. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.6790.