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| A recent article in a Swiss newspaper on e-courses shows children using laptops on their laps, exposing sensitive parts of their bodies to electromagnetic radiation. |
Experts warn that digital media is detrimental to learning and can cause insomnia, depression, addiction, and many physical illnesses concerning the cardiovascular system, the musculoskeletal system (lack of exercise, incorrect sitting posture), up to dementia. Switzerland is moving towards providing school children with tablets and organizing courses on digital media for parents, children and educators, with little mention of health risks.
by Dr Rudolf Hänsel, qualified psychologist, Lindau/Germany, Current Concerns, no. 46,
5 November 2012 (www.currentconcerns.ch)
Psychiatrist and brain researcher Manfred Spitzer warns parents and educators
The neuroscientist and medical director of the Psychiatric University Hospital Ulm, Professor Manfred Spitzer, met with intense press coverage about his new best-seller “Digitale Demenz. Wie wir uns und unsere Kinder um den Verstand bringen” (Digital dementia. How we drive us and our children mad) and his trenchant theses. Referring to many neurological findings and supplementing new findings Spitzer reinforces in his book previous research of reputable media experts saying that the too frequent use of the Internet can make people dumb. He never denigrated juvenile and adult Internet users however. Reacting to the spiteful attacks by the press, he said in an interview: “I do not pathologize but I state: Where there are effects there are also risks and side effects.”1 However, Spitzer does not just express warnings; he also shows what parents, teachers and politicians can do to protect our youth.
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Psychiatrist and brain researcher Manfred Spitzer warns parents and educators
The neuroscientist and medical director of the Psychiatric University Hospital Ulm, Professor Manfred Spitzer, met with intense press coverage about his new best-seller “Digitale Demenz. Wie wir uns und unsere Kinder um den Verstand bringen” (Digital dementia. How we drive us and our children mad) and his trenchant theses. Referring to many neurological findings and supplementing new findings Spitzer reinforces in his book previous research of reputable media experts saying that the too frequent use of the Internet can make people dumb. He never denigrated juvenile and adult Internet users however. Reacting to the spiteful attacks by the press, he said in an interview: “I do not pathologize but I state: Where there are effects there are also risks and side effects.”1 However, Spitzer does not just express warnings; he also shows what parents, teachers and politicians can do to protect our youth.