A recent study published in JAMA Network Open explores how tablet use by toddlers with poor language development is influenced by interference with joint attention. In this process, two people focus on the same thing with shared awareness for social reasons. Study: Mobile media content exposure and toddlers' responses to attention prompts and behavioral requests.
Image Credit: NadyaEugene / Shutterstock.com Toddlers often spend large amounts of screen time using tablets to play games and enjoy other video content. Previous studies have confirmed this exposure's significant impact on forming critical social skills.
Whereas television exposure was previously a focal point of interest for the entire family during leisure hours, it has become increasingly common for both young and elderly individuals to rely on handheld devices. Current recommendations advise against any screen time before 18 months of age and to monitor its use thereafter until 24 months. Tablets and smartphones allow young children to dictate what is happening on the screen by scrolling, tapping the content to be viewed, playing a game, or playing with digital toys.
This interaction is confined to a device, thereby preventing toddlers from learning how to engage with other humans. Importantly, this shared awareness is essential for adequate social, emotional, cognitive, and linguistic development. Language delay and inattention have been recognized as consequences of excessive digital media use, especially in e.