Screen-time Sickness

As parents, we’ve all seen the stats. We’ve all felt the guilt. Screen-time = bad, right? But why is it that screen-time is so harmful, especially to children? And what does Islam say about it? Well, like with most things, Islam encourages us to practice moderation in our use of tools such as screens. They can be used for good, but we should be mindful about overuse of devices. According to a recent national survey, 90% of U.S. households contain at least one device, with the typical (median) American household containing five of them. And nearly one-in-five American households (18%) are “hyper-connected” – meaning they contain ten or more devices (source below). Screen-time has material effects on brain development in children related to sleep, concentration, and speech. It also affects our physical and mental health as it contributes to a sedentary life and lack of connection to ourselves, family, and friends. Moreover, screen-time can negatively impact our spiritual health because