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Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

westernsydney.edu.au

31–40 of 144 posts

Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#31

I don’t know. I feel like screen time is a misnomer. From my anecdata less social media more sleep is the key. If my screen time is reading a kindle or learning programming I doubt the impact is so bad. Of course anything taken to an extreme...

This is what something like a kindle shines. That isn’t such a bad form of screen time. Other devices are dangerous for me because, well, here I am on HN rather than preparing for my day. If I picked up my kindle instead I wouldn’t be on HN.

Does anyone have experience where newer kindles or other e-readers keep them awake less than other ones? I have a 1st generation kindle paperwhite, but I still feel like the front light on it keeps me from getting sleepy versus just reading a physical book.

Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#32
I love how a lot of commenters are redefining “screen time” to suit their opinions or otherwise rationalise their screen time, rather than taking the study as is. I mean, sure, perhaps different types of screen time have different impact and this requires further study, but using anecdotes and opinions isn’t that.

Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#33
post #5

Not all screen time is the same and it’s far beyond time for us to stop equivocating Facebook/Instagram and other social media nastiness with all the positive things that can be done on a screen. It confuses people, and as we stare down another quarantine and a long cold winter telling people to spend less time with what could be their only contact to the outside world can be actively harmful.

you're commenting on a study with what sounds like an opinion that feels right to you. maybe it's not just about social media vs "positive" activities. some of it may be related to screen addiction and inability to focus due to externals stimuli. any unhealthy habit could have a configuration where its not as unhealthy to some people, but it doesn't mean the study is "confusing people"

This will remain opinion until we can get longitudinal studies that account for this. Current pediatric recommendations are basically no screen time for small children even though there are apps specifically for educational enrichment. It may be that all screen time is bad. Until the educational and informational parts are accounted for, all we can do is speculate.

Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#34
post #10
post #5

Not all screen time is the same and it’s far beyond time for us to stop equivocating Facebook/Instagram and other social media nastiness with all the positive things that can be done on a screen. It confuses people, and as we stare down another quarantine and a long cold winter telling people to spend less time with what could be their only contact to the outside world can be actively harmful.

I think a lot of people perhaps underestimate the value of an iPad that's not signed in to anything , and is just loaded chock full of epubs (and perhaps offline maps). You don't even need to turn on the Wi-Fi. Computers can be simple tools for reading and study, if you want them to be, and make deliberate choices to that end. The last few months I've spent a lot of time consciously re-engineering my screen time into…

If you're spending a lot of time reading, I'd suggest getting something work an e-ink display. It's much easier on the eyes

Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#36

I love how a lot of commenters are redefining “screen time” to suit their opinions or otherwise rationalise their screen time, rather than taking the study as is. I mean, sure, perhaps different types of screen time have different impact and this requires further study, but using anecdotes and opinions isn’t that.

Isn’t it pretty obvious not all screen time is the same? If it was then you could do these studies with people staring at simple glowing white rectangles and get identical results.

Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#37
post #10
post #5

Not all screen time is the same and it’s far beyond time for us to stop equivocating Facebook/Instagram and other social media nastiness with all the positive things that can be done on a screen. It confuses people, and as we stare down another quarantine and a long cold winter telling people to spend less time with what could be their only contact to the outside world can be actively harmful.

I think a lot of people perhaps underestimate the value of an iPad that's not signed in to anything , and is just loaded chock full of epubs (and perhaps offline maps). You don't even need to turn on the Wi-Fi. Computers can be simple tools for reading and study, if you want them to be, and make deliberate choices to that end. The last few months I've spent a lot of time consciously re-engineering my screen time into…

> Getting off social media

Can anyone who lives alone at home, get rid of social media? I have lost contact with my parents, I’m single, I do have 20-50 friends in my city but not enough to feel loved during lockdown anyway. I know social media and movies are a poor man’s affection, but I removed that, I’d be madman #10000th. I’d also argue most studies don’t check whether it’s not the lack of affection/social fabric which causes addiction to social media and other problems.

Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#38

I love how a lot of commenters are redefining “screen time” to suit their opinions or otherwise rationalise their screen time, rather than taking the study as is. I mean, sure, perhaps different types of screen time have different impact and this requires further study, but using anecdotes and opinions isn’t that.

Isn’t it pretty obvious not all screen time is the same? If it was then you could do these studies with people staring at simple glowing white rectangles and get identical results.

No, it's not obvious at all.

Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#40

I love how a lot of commenters are redefining “screen time” to suit their opinions or otherwise rationalise their screen time, rather than taking the study as is. I mean, sure, perhaps different types of screen time have different impact and this requires further study, but using anecdotes and opinions isn’t that.

Isn’t it pretty obvious not all screen time is the same? If it was then you could do these studies with people staring at simple glowing white rectangles and get identical results.

Yeah, screen time "doomscrolling", screen time "playing online board game with friends", screen time "reading a book" and screen time "watching a movie" are pretty different screen times.
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