The Effects Of Touchscreens and Social Media On Kids

Dr. Ari Brown, a pediatrician and the lead author of a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics on the effects of media on children, spoke with New Tech City host Manoush Zomordi about the pluses and minuses of the digital age for kids.

In particular, Brown touches on some of the long-term effects of kids using too much technology.

"Kids who have even one device — one electronic device — in their room, much less two or three, are getting significantly less sleep a night," Brown said.

My kids are obsessed with technology, and it's all my fault http://t.co/hAzzbZ6rfC
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 23, 2013

As many parents know, ubiquitous digital devices mean kids are developing their tech savvy at an early age, often swiping, tapping and typing before learning to swim or ride a bike.

Nineteen percent of kids between the ages of two and five know how to use a smartphone application, while just nine percent can tie his or her shoelaces, according to a 2010 study conducted as part of a year-long 'Digital Diaries' research project on the influence of technology on children by the internet security company AVG.

The AAP suggested kids two years old and younger be completely screen-free and that older children should get no more than two hours of screen time a day.

Listen to the complete segment: