VII. Children should not be exposed to inappropriate TV/Social Media programming and images
Children should not be exposed to inappropriate television, social media content, or explicit imagery due to the profound impact these materials can have on their cognitive, emotional, and social development. Research indicates that early exposure to violent, sexually explicit, or otherwise unsuitable content can lead to desensitization, increased aggression, distorted perceptions of relationships, and impaired emotional regulation.
The developing brain is highly impressionable, and repeated exposure to inappropriate media can normalize harmful behaviors, influence self-esteem, and contribute to anxiety or depression. Additionally, excessive screen time and exposure to age-inappropriate content can interfere with healthy social interactions, academic performance, and sleep patterns.
Given these risks, it is essential for parents, educators, and policymakers to establish guidelines that promote safe and developmentally appropriate media consumption, ensuring that children engage with content that fosters positive cognitive and emotional growth.
The challenges are clear, but how these challenges are met are not as straightforward. As the adoption of a global shift in our thinking on how children are best supported, a concomitant shift in the medical model needs to occur simultaneously.
There is the need for an additional call for
ecomedicine; an integrative paradigm for real healing based on holistic health principles and prevention.