Algorithmic and sensor-based research on Chinese children’s and adolescents’ screen use behavior and light environment

• DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1352759
• Publication Date: 2024-02-22T05:20:11Z
• Authors: Jifang Wang; Yang Shen; Jing Zhao; Xiaoying Wang; Zhi Chen; Tian Han; Yangyi Huang; Yuliang Wang; Wuxiao Zhao; Wen Wen; Xingtao Zhou; Ye Xu
• Keywords: China; light environment; Adolescent; viewing distance; Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health; Infant; artificial intelligence; 03 medical and health sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; 0302 clinical medicine; Artificial Intelligence; screen time; Child, Preschool; Myopia; Humans; display terminal; myopia; Public Health; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Child; Pandemics

BackgroundMyopia poses a global health concern and is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The incidence of myopia tends to increase during infectious outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the screen-time behaviors among Chinese children and adolescents and investigated the efficacy of artificial intelligence (AI)-based alerts in modifying screen-time practices.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis was performed using data from 6,716 children and adolescents with AI-enhanced tablets that monitored and recorded their behavior and environmental light during screen time.ResultsThe median daily screen time of all participants was 58.82 min. Among all age groups, elementary-school students had the longest median daily screen time, which was 87.25 min and exceeded 4 h per week. Children younger than 2 years engaged with tablets for a median of 41.84 min per day. Learning accounted for 54.88% of participants’ screen time, and 51.03% (3,390/6,643) of the participants used tablets for 1 h at an average distance <50 cm. The distance and posture alarms were triggered 807,355 and 509,199 times, respectively. In the study, 70.65% of the participants used the tablet under an illuminance of <300 lux during the day and 61.11% under an illuminance of <100 lux at night. The ambient light of 85.19% of the participants exceeded 4,000 K color temperature during night. Most incorrect viewing habits (65.49% in viewing distance; 86.48% in viewing posture) were rectified swiftly following AI notifications (all p < 0.05).ConclusionYoung children are increasingly using digital screens, with school-age children and adolescents showing longer screen time than preschoolers. The study highlighted inadequate lighting conditions during screen use. AI alerts proved effective in prompting users to correct their screen-related behavior promptly.