THE FIL-AM PERSPECTIVE

Electronic gadgets should be banned for kids 12 and below, experts say

By Gel Santos Relos

On Asian Journal Op-Ed

 

(Photo credit: www.androidios.com)

 

MANY of us probably felt guilty, after reading this warning.

After all, we think that we are helping stimulate our kids’ mental faculty when we allow them to watch TV or videos and play games via electronic gadgets. We believe we are helping them learn their ABCs and 123s ,new languages, even their analytical thinking and eye-motor coordination.

It is true, though, that there are times when these electronic gadgets help a lot in keeping our kids preoccupied, especially when we need to attend to other things like household chores, work, or simply a need for a quiet “me” or “couple” time.

However, it can't be denied that there are others who let these electronic babysitters take an almost “full-time job” in raising their kids. Now we know doing such could bring dangerous consequences.

As concerned parents, these new findings by experts on child psychology and psychiatry are worth reading and discussing. Maybe they can answer some questions we’ve always had: why many kids now suffer from ADHD, obesity, emotional and behavioral problems, aggression, and many other challenges which seem more persistent with the new generation.

Let me share with you this piece by Pediatric Occupational Therapist Chris Rowan, published by the Huffington Post.

 

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Society of Pediatrics state  infants aged 0-2 years should not have any exposure to technology, 3-5 years be restricted to one hour per day, and 6-18 years restricted to 2 hours per day (AAP 2001/13, CPS 2010). Children and youth use4-5 times the recommended amount of technology, with serious and often life threatening consequences (Kaiser Foundation 2010, Active Healthy Kids Canada 2012). Handheld devices (cell phones, tablets, electronic games) have dramatically increased the accessibility and usage of technology, especially by very young children (Common Sense Media, 2013). 

As a pediatric occupational therapist, I’m calling on parents, teachers and governments to ban the use of all handheld devices for children under the age of 12 years. Following are 10 research-based reasons for this ban. Please visit zonein.ca to view the Zone’in Fact Sheet for referenced research.

1. Rapid brain growth

Between 0 and 2 years, infant’s brains triple in size (Preview) , and continue in a state of rapid development to 21 years of age (Christakis 2011). Early brain development is determined by environmental stimuli, or lack thereof. Stimulation to a developing brain caused by overexposure to technologies (cell phones, internet, iPads, TV), has been shown to be associated with executive functioning and attention deficit, cognitive delays, impaired learning, increased impulsivity and decreased ability to self-regulate, e.g. tantrums (Small 2008, Pagini 2010).

2. Delayed development

Technology use restricts movement, which can result in delayed development. One in three children now enter school developmentally delayed, negatively impacting literacy and academic achievement (HELP EDI Maps 2013). Movement enhances attention and learning ability (Preview) (Ratey 2008). Use of technology under the age of 12 years is detrimental to child development and learning (Rowan 2010).

3. Epidemic obesity

TV and video game use correlates with increased obesity (Tremblay 2005). Children who are allowed a device in their bedrooms have 30% increased incidence of obesity (Feng 2011). One in four Canadian, and one in three US children are obese (Tremblay 2011). 30% of children with obesity will develop diabetes, and obese individuals are at higher risk for early stroke and heart attack, gravely shortening life expectancy (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2010). Largely due to obesity, 21st century children may be the first generation many of whom will not outlive their parents (Professor Andrew Prentice, BBC News 2002).

4. Sleep deprivation

60 percent of parents do not supervise their child’s technology usage, and 75% of children are allowed technology in their bedrooms (Kaiser Foundation 2010). 75 percent of children, aged 9 and 10 years, are sleep-deprived to the extent that their grades are detrimentally impacted (Boston College 2012).

5. Mental illness 

Technology overuse is implicated as a causal factor in rising rates of child depression, anxiety, attachment disorder, attention deficit, autism, bipolar disorder, psychosis and problematic child behavior (Bristol University 2010, Mentzoni 2011, Shin 2011, Liberatore 2011, Robinson 2008). One in six Canadian children have a diagnosed mental illness, many of whom are on dangerous psychotropic medication (Waddell 2007).

6. Aggression 

Violent media content can cause child aggression (Anderson, 2007). Young children are increasingly exposed to rising incidence of physical and sexual violence in today’s media. “Grand Theft Auto V” portrays explicit sex, murder, rape, torture and mutilation, as do many movies and TV shows. The US has categorized media violence as a Public Health Risk due to causal impact on child aggression (Huesmann 2007). Media reports increased use of restraints and seclusion rooms with children who exhibit uncontrolled aggression.

7. Digital dementia

High speed media content can contribute to attention deficit, as well as decreased concentration and memory, due to the brain pruning neuronal tracks to the frontal cortex (Christakis 2004, Small 2008). Children who can’t pay attention can’t learn.

8. Addictions

As parents attach more and more to technology, they are detaching from their children. In the absence of parental attachment, detached children can attach to devices, which can result in addiction (Rowan 2010). One in 11 children aged 8-18 years are addicted to technology (Gentile 2009).

9. Radiation emission

In May of 2011, the World Health Organization classified cell phones (and other wireless devices) as a category 2B risk (possible carcinogen) due to radiation emission (WHO 2011). James McNamee with Health Canada in October of 2011 issued a cautionary warning stating “Children are more sensitive to a variety of agents than adults as their brains and immune systems are still developing, so you can’t say the risk would be equal for a small adult as for a child.” (Globe and Mail 2011). In December, 2013 Dr. Anthony Miller from the University of Toronto’s School of Public Health recommend that based on new research, radio frequency exposure should be reclassified as a 2A (probable carcinogen), not a 2B (possible carcinogen). American Academy of Pediatrics requested review of EMF radiation emissions from technology devices, citing three reasons regarding impact on children (AAP 2013).

10. Unsustainable

The ways in which children are raised and educated with technology are no longer sustainable (Rowan 2010). Children are our future, but there is no future for children who overuse technology. A team-based approach is necessary and urgent in order to reduce the use of technology by children.”

Technology Use Guidelines for Children and Youth

 

Pinoy Weather? There's an App for That!

By Gel Santos Relos

 

Philippine weather? There's an App for that!  The creator of this App for Android-- Matang Rolly-- is a kababayan from Davao, according to the link shared with me by @ProudtobePinoy on  twitter. 

 

 

This App "PH Weather", according to the website AppBrain, features current weather condition and seven-day forecasts in different locations worldwide. This app is currently focused in the Philippine weather conditions, forecasts and news. The satellite images cover mostly the Philippines, Taiwan and other neigboring southeast Asian countries. Images can be animated and supports panning, zooming and pinch-to-zoom! And be notified when it rains based on the forecasts!

 

Features Summary:

1. Current Weather* Condition* Temperature* Wind speed and direction* Sunrise and Sunset* Humidity and Pressure

2. Seven Day Forecasts* 3-hourly interval* Minimum/maximum temperatures* Precipitation * Humidity* Wind speed and direction

3. Weather Locations* Supports different locations worldwide

4. Satellite* DOST-PAGASA animated satellite* Kochi University, Japan animated radar*Auto/manual animation* Supports panning, zooming and pinch-to-zoom

5. News* DOST-PAGASA 24-hour public weather forecast* DOST-PAGASA official twitter posts * Weather News Stories from different media sources

 

PLUS:* Rain Alert Notifications* Very customizable and flexible settings

 

Read more for details: http://www.phweather.com

 

 

Is the Culture of Denial, Suppression and Retrogression Still Perpetuated in the Philippines?

  
By Gel Santos Relos

Sa makabagong panahon ng internet, facebook, twitter, at international news media coverage, patuloy ba nating maikukubli ang katotohanan para pagtakpan ang kakulangan?

“You have to think about putting the country in a good light,” was Senator Joker Arroyo’s prescription, as he castigated the messengers of bad news for allegedly damaging the country’s image with their reporting on the botched hostage rescue."Don’t tempt us to use our powers here, to now issue a general broadcast policy—that will be a law."

 

During the recent grilling of broadcast media news executives led by Maria Ressa (ABS-CBN), Jessica Soho (GMA-7), and Luchi Cruz-Valdes (TV5)  by RP senators in light of the culpability of the media in the botched Manila hostage-taking tragedy ---did Senator Arroyo et al  really suggest that the local media should  not report the news (Who, What, Where When, How of the story),  if it will would be bad for the country's image?  How about the foreign journalists?  Along with our local media, foreign/international press and broadcast networks were also there to beam what was happening to the whole world as the drama unfolded.

 

I do not mean to absolve my colleagues of any mistakes they have made in this fiasco. Aminado rin naman ang ilang miyembro ng media sa naging pagkakamali nila. I honestly believe many of our media networks failed to observe the guidelines followed by responsible journalists  and their blow-by-blow live reporting may have contributed to the failure of law enforcement operations. But what bothered me was the way the questions were framed and how the inquiry was made.(Part of the exchanges between the Senators and the broadcast news executives transcribed below).

While some news executives in the panel conceded that somehow  they failed to exercise self-restraint and adherence to their self-regulatory policies in airing critical information and images, they expressed concern over the lack of leadership from the police authorities. Maria Ressa said, "There was the failure of authorities to actually create a functioning chain of command, to regulate, to set the parameters where media should be. It's not just Filipinos who want to see what happened. We did not expect [that] those in charge [to] not be in charge of the situation. We need a mechanism to tell us to pull back when needed."

 

Senator Joker Arroyo's response? "The problem, Maria, is this: Everybody is scared of the media. Let’s face it… You publish something unfavorable, then we’re finished. The point is, we hesitate because you are media. If you weren’t [in the] media, we would craft the law immediately."

 

Ressa cautioned against any new law that may be used by local and national government to curtail press freedom. This may be in violation of Article 3 Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. We have witnessed how this power to curtail freedom was used and abused during the Marcos regime. The good news is that this  hostage-taking crisis  has prompted some of the news media organizations --yes, both local and foreign--- to do some honest to goodness soul-searching on the role and ethical responsibility of media in society especially during hostage crisis coverage.

 

But as foreign observers have also observed and noted---this could have been avoided or averted had the police authorities exercised their already existing power to limit public and media access to the scene of the crime. Or is what many of our kababayans think true? That the police force has been craving for publicity as they executed this high intensity hostage drama in real life? Or do they even have a well-orchestrated plan as they carry out their operation?

 

In the process of truth finding on this systemic problem, what was disturbing was the seemingly obsessive focus of Sen. Joker Arroyo  on the apparent need to deliberately cover up what is going on in the country, just so we won’t tarnish the country’s image, are indicative of a policy of retrogression. And with reference to his confessed fear of the media---is this a major motivating force in the way the good Senator and his esteemed colleagues decide which bill to draft and pass into law--- political survival and expediency?

 

First of all, as former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., counsel for Radio Mo Nationwide, reminded the senators --- the world has changed many times over in this information age of the internet, Facebook and Twitter. Traditional media is no longer the gatekeeper of news. And foreign/international broadcast media will cover this big story which is of international significance, no matter how much we try to silence our local media. Would the Philippine government impose rules on them too?

 

Second, are we going back to the age of dictatorship and censorship? Are we covering up something here just to maintain a pretentious image of  efficient and effective law enforcement?  Even Wall Street Journal Asia editorial board member Mary Kissel  said, instead of going on a "media witch hunt," Philippine politicians should focus on the issues surrounding the August 23 hostage crisis. Babalik na naman ba tayo sa panahong sinisikil ang malayang pamamahayag para paniwalain natin ang ating sarili at ang mundo na ayos lang ang lahat kahit hindi?

 

Denial and repression may provide temporary relief for tension, anxiety and shame brought about by a crisis, but  these defense mechanisms never solve problems. No amount of cover up can hide incompetence and mismanagement of our government institutions, especially in this modern world of electronic global communication.

 

If the good senators in the investigating panel need to castigate the media then they have to do what they have to do in accordance with the law. But they have to do it for the right reasons. Do it for media's non-adherence to highest ethical standards. Do it for  the alleged inteference in botched negotiation.  But please--not for allegedly tarnishing the country's image just by reporting what really transpired.

If the government is serious about putting the country in a good light, it must own its mistakes, confront them head on and solve the very core issues of the problem, so that the media—both local and global—will have something good to report about!

 

(Part of Senate Investigation-transcript)

Arroyo: Where did international media get their footage? Did the footage [which was] shown abroad come from stations here?

Legarda:  Have there been many incidents in the past [when] you sold or provided information to international broadcast networks?

Ressa: ABS-CBN is a broadcast partner of CNN, we have access to their video, they have access to ours. CNN also has their own team in the ground, shooting the incident. We have many arrangements with international organizations -- Reuters, APTN, [with] every news event that comes in.

Dela Pena(GMA): Videos of GMA has been shared with APTN before.

Enrile: CNN has a correspondent in the Philippines, why did you assume the role of a correspondent of CNN instead of allowing rep of CNN to do it?

Ressa: CNN does not have anyone based in the Philippines. They brought someone in after [the event]. I [didn't] offer my services. They asked me to report. It's something international media does(media affiliates). They go to people who know the story.

Arroyo: Aren't you in a position of conflicting royalties at that time? Don't you think you have to find a way to balance your obligation to the country?

Ressa: As a reporter, the job is to tell the story and [to] tell the truth. It crosses country lines, it is an international dictum.

Arroyo: As far as I’m concerned, what was beamed overseas from what was taken during the hostage crisis, has damaged the Philippines immensely and we have not recovered from it.

Ressa: There was the failure of authorities to actually create a functioning chain of command, to regulate, to set the parameters where media should be. It's not just Filipinos who want to see what happened. We did not expect [that] those in charge [to] not be in charge of the situation. We need a mechanism to tell us to pull back when needed.

Arroyo: The problem, Maria, is this: Everybody is scared of the media. Let’s face it… You publish something unfavorable, then we’re finished. The point is, we hesitate because you are media. If you weren’t [in the] media, we would craft the law immediately. Don’t tempt us to use our powers here, to now issue a general broadcast policy—that will be a law.