Thread

iPad Kids.

Every parents worst nightmare.

In order to avoid it, you need to understand the science as to why iPads (or any modern tablet) are so effective at addicting children to the screen.

(share this so all parents can learn the truth) 

iPads and other tablets are extremely addicting for 3 main reasons:

The light they emit
The form factor of the device
The content they show

The combination of all 3 + the fact that children are far more biologically sensitive is what makes tablets so captivating for children. 

1) The light.

iPads, like most devices, emit a disproportionately high amount of blue light.

Blue light is the most stimulating + dopaminergic form of light. It drives action, wakefulness, and reward seeking behavior biologically.

When it comes from a single source (tablet), the action is biased to keep the source present for as long as possible.

Children’s under-developed retinas let in up to 45% more blue light than fully formed adults…making them even more prone to being captivated by the high proportion of blue light in tablet screens. 

“But there is far more blue light that comes from the sun than an iPad”. 100% true, but consider this:

• Sunlight is full spectrum, only 5-10% blue light.
• Sunlight is >50% infrared, which is highly restorative.
• iPad light contains zero infrared light.
• Sunlight is highly dispersed, iPad light is extremely targeted/directed.
• iPad light flickers, sunlight does not.

Dopaminergic response is relative to full environmental stimuli - even using an iPad outside would be a massive difference in “addictiveness” of the device.

CocoMelon is a lot less intriguing when you have a backyard to play in or a garbage truck driving by. 

2) The Form Factor/Product Design.

The handheld nature of tablets makes them even more problematic for children. Unlike a TV, the tablet is highly mobile and personal. It discourages family time and interaction and encourages self centered involvement in a digital reality. 

Smaller arms = holding devices even closer to their precious brain + eyes.

Light waves increase at a squared intensity for every unit of distance increase in proximity. (ie 2x closer, 4x more light intensity)... 

This means that the blue light exposure of a child from an iPad is ~3-5x greater, plus since they let in almost 50% more blue light in actuality 6-10x greater than adults. 

Due to the design of the product, iPads were simply not designed to be used outside. Playing and learning outside is the foundation of a healthy childhood.

Children now only spend ~1hr outside on average when they should be spending the majority of their waking day outside.

The dopamine/stimulation they are receiving from the “real world” is less, so the enticement of the iPad is even greater as a result.

3) The content.

The software programs and shows “made for kids” are anything but child friendly. The fast frame content of shows like CocoMelon or even SpongeBob have been scientifically proven to be far more addicting.

One study showing that fast frame children’s content viewed for just 9min hijacked the executive function of children for up to an hour afterwards.

Wonder why your kids are not present/acting themselves after iPad time?

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC99…

This digital content offers an unlimited consumption of “exciting new adventures” that are designed to be hyper intriguing for children.

With their hyper sensitive brains seeking new learning opportunities, kids stand no chance to fast frame content on a blue lit screen. 

Learning for kids is important (even in the digital world), but this is a dangerous relationship because the content can quickly become more intriguing than playing outside in the backyard with their siblings, or going to the park.

Screen time is hijacking family time. 

With all of this in mind, it is no surprise that excess screen time in young children has been shown to cause or linked to:

• developmental delays (speech, cognitive, social.)
• attention deficit disorders
• reduced problem solving abilities
• metabolic health issues
• sleep quality
• mental health issues 

How to avoid raising an iPad Kid:

• Spend as much time as possible outside with your children
• Quality family time + physical games + in person learning
• Delaying introduction of any screen time as late as possible (3+ yo)
• Following pediatric screen time recommendations thereafter (insert)
• Red shifting your iPad to remove blue light
• Curate low stimulation content (old school cartoons, low stim education apps) 

Being a parent is the most important job in the world, but it is not easy.

Having a device to teach your children can be extremely helpful, but iPads are simply not the solution worth handing to our children. 

That is why we launched Daylight Kids, a healthier iPad alternative that provides a guilt-free screen time solution for parents.

No blue light, usable outside, designed to be put down - so kiddos can get back to experiencing a real childhood.

<https://kids.daylightcomputer.com>