How media affects children's well-being

In today's technologically advanced society, concerns about children and digital media are key factors that must be taken into consideration. The media, which includes social media, video games, television, and other digital platforms, can impact children's wellbeing in positive as well as negative ways. The influence depends according on the media consumption context, length, and content.

These are a few ways that media can affect positively on kids' well-being. There have some educational games, apps, and programs can improve kids' educational experiences. The development of language, cognitive abilities, and knowledge acquisition can all be aided by educational media. Children's imaginations can be stimulated by specific media material, such imaginative games, creative apps, and storytelling. And also children's comprehension of various cultures, perspectives, and lifestyles can be expanded by exposure to a diverse range of media content. Based on my observations, my toddlers enjoy watching educational videos on YOUTUBE that cover topics such as animal names, colour identification, counting, and other related topics. I think it already helped them in expanding on what they currently know.

There are more negative impact to the children’s wellbeing  from digital media due to lack of parents  responsibility. When kids are increased anger and desensitization to violence in some media, such as video games and TV shows, have been related to exposure to violent or aggressive content and Inappropriate or age-inappropriate content can have negative effects on children's emotional well-being and may contribute to anxiety or confusion. Moreover, a child's sleep patterns can be affected and their quality of sleep significantly impacted by excessive screen usage, particularly the night before bed and also, excessive use of screens can lead to an unproductive lifestyle and health problems like obesity and related diseases. Another issue that exists in today's culture is cyberbullying, Cyberbullying, which can have detrimental effects on children's mental health, can result from online interactions and it may go through social isolation, sadness, and anxiety. Most probably Teenagers who use social media may engage in social comparison, evaluating their online personas against those of others. This may exacerbate social anxiety, low self-esteem, and inadequate sentiments.

When I compared to my own county Sri Lanka, it is not an exception to the global trend of increased access to digital devices and the internet. In both urban and rural settings, a large number of youngsters have access to computers, tablets, and cell phones. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there may have been an increase in recent years. As a result, parents must provide support and keep their children occupied with computers, tablets, and telephones. However, some parents did not have access to or awareness of these tools, which had an enormously adverse effect because some kids' lives were ruined and they used media without boundaries.   

According to my opinion, it’s essential for parents as well as other adults to know what kind of media their kids are watching and how long. Potential negative impacts can be lessened by establishing rules for age-appropriate content, limiting screen time, and promoting constructive online behaviours. Furthermore, teaching media literacy skills and encouraging open discussions with kids about their media experiences helps equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to make responsible decisions and navigate the digital world.