Abstract:

Modern multimedia, specifically tablets and mobile phones, are currently an integral part of the everyday life of older school-age children (12-15 years). Intensive use of multimedia is associated with a great number of positive aspects (quick source of information, social contacts, etc.), but also brings many negative factors, such as risky behaviour of children on the internet, significant decrease in their physical activity, improper nutrition, or disruption of family interactions, and the like.

The objective of our four-year study was to find out how the time spent by young people changes (n = 251) in the age range of 12 to 15 years by using multimedia (mobile phones, tablets) in after-school time. Through the medium of a structured pen and paper interview, repeated in the 6th, 7th, 8th, and the 9th grades, we were able to collect data on average daily time spent by children with mobile multimedia.

For a statistical evaluation of differences in time spent by children in the age range of 12 to 15 with mobile multimedia, the paired, non-parametric Wilcoxon test was used. The results of this test (z = 10.38; p = 0.00) demonstrate that 12-year-old pupils significantly spend less time using mobile multimedia than 15-year-old pupils. Parameters were expressed by means of frequency, averages, and percentage representation in charts.

The observed data support our hypothesis that time spent by children using mobile multimedia is significantly increased among children in the age range of 12 to 15 years. The measured values of the average daily time were 2h 26min among 12-year-old children, respectively 3h 52min among 15-year-old children, which represents a total increase by 1h 26min (58.61%). The maximum average time (8 hours a day) was reported only by one pupil from the whole research sample, while the lowest recorded result was reported by two pupils, namely 0.5 hours a day.

The results of our study, most importantly with regard to the progression of time spent by using mobile devices, are alarming. During the older school age, children are exposed to the risks associated with the use of the internet (dependence on so-called virtual drugs, information overload, etc.), and there is a significant decrease in physical activity of children, which can result in health problems (obesity, musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, etc.), working with tablets or mobile phones in the “close-up” work position causes excessive overloading of the visual apparatus (and the possible progression of myopia). We can name other negative factors, such as mental health disorders and disrupted social relationships of individuals.

To avoid the above-mentioned risks, it is necessary to take early prevention steps.

Keywords:

Multimedia, younger and older school age, mobile phone, tablet, time, risks, prevention.