“IF you keep watching the telly like that, you’re going to end up with square eyes!” It’s an old wife’s tale, a favourite of mums who raised the early entrants of the tech generation.
Data from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) reveals that in 2020, just under half (46 percent) of Australian children aged six to 13 used a mobile phone, up from 41 percent in 2015. One in three (33 percent) of these children owned the mobile phone they use.
Young and emerging generations will spend an unprecedented amount of time in front of screens as smart technology and digital interfaces become even more entrenched in our lives.
Encouraging healthy tech habits, including practicing good posture, and taking rests, will put these digital natives in good stead to manage tech reliance and adverse reactions to too much technology.
When your children are on their devices, remind them to take short breaks. During this time, take a quick walk and stretch out your limbs. Roll your shoulders back and shrug your shoulder blades together, tilt your head from side to side, and don’t forget to stretch out your fingers.
Desktop computers are generally better to use than laptops or smartphones, which cannot be set up to safeguard your family’s posture. Screens optimally should be used at eye level to protect your neck and back from developing incorrectly.
