@constructivediscourse2021

Have you heard of virtual autism?

I want to bring to your attention a phrase that is likely new to you: virtual autism. This phrase is still new as a field and information; however, it is a very significant one. In previous blogs, I have stated my concerns about how much screen time children under 18 consume. Many parents, teachers and experts in neuroscience have also stressed their concerns about the impact screen time has on young people in several ways. Upon my research, I came across virtual autism, which is what it says on the tin, a theory that autism is being caused by virtual (screen) time. Ever since I came across it, I have become fascinated with some of the work out there because this is an essential area of research. In this blog, I will be diving into virtual autism, explaining what it is, and communicating why I believe this is a well-needed area of study.

My story of virtual autism

As I am completing this blog, I have two children. The eldest is five, and the second born is two. For a long time, something I did not share with my wife was my concerns about the behavioural patterns of my eldest. The parenting script has been a long journey for both my wife and me, and we have bumped heads in this situation plenty of times. One day, as my daughter was having a full-blown tantrum over having to stop watching TV, a thought came to my mind: “Is my child’s behaviour being affected in some way due to the TV?”. I did not share it with my wife initially, and I began to do my research. I discovered I was not alone; many parents had the same issues. I watched many videos on YouTube that suggested minimising screen time. I delved in further to hear testimonies about reducing screen time, and the results were encouraging. It was then I came across virtual autism, which straight away got me thinking if any of my children are displaying some of the attributes (which I will discuss).

My main concern then focused on my second born as one of the symptoms of virtual autism is delayed speech, which she has developed fairly recently. My wife won’t like me labelling it as it could just be part of her development as some children develop differently; however, my initial thoughts on screen have me wondering if it may have to do with screen time. Now, my wife and I, particularly my wife, make a good effort to be present with our children. This means we provide activities for them at home and when they go out to play. Both are very friendly; however, in particular, when my eldest gets in front of a TV, she turns into a zombie that is being programmed. I have only scratched the surface with what I believe I was uncovering when it came to the behaviours of my children; however, virtual autism was the confirmation bias that challenged me to see if this was just indeed confirmation bias or actual reality.

What is Virtual Autism?

According to Andersen of the Autism Parenting Magazine, virtual autism is an excessive use of screens exposed to children under three. In other words, there is an idea that if children under the age of three are exposed to a considerable amount of screen time, they can develop autistic traits (Autism Parenting Magazine, (2023). Symptoms of virtual autism include language delay, shorter than-average attention span and hyperactivity. Jain (2021) added that further symptoms included poor eye contact and an inability to recognise parents and surroundings, which were at their worst. Cristiana BĂLAN stated, “t the screen isolates the child from the human interactions required for the language communication and development skills.”. In addition, “another problem faced by children in need is the inability to learn. With a low motivation, unable to concentrate, with excessive hyperactivity,” thus causing them further challenges in educational environments. Although very recent, the studies are a red flag and an undeniable indication of the need to regulate screen time for our young children. Early stages in school are somewhat called the most important; therefore, if they cannot concentrate to the expected level, this can cause more problems for parents. Parents are concerned about how they would start limiting screen time. In all honesty, that is the least of the problems; the biggest problem is the long-term impact this can have on children. Despite virtual autism studies amongst children between 1-3 years old, I have similar concerns about the general adult population.

My observations – no evidence

Whilst we have progressed so much in the last 100 years and more significantly in the internet age, I have general observational concerns about how humans interact. Before making any observations, the preface is that these are my thoughts only, and I want to clarify that I have no evidence to support the arguments in the section. We are so used to having small devices in our hands that we don’t realise just how uncomfortable we get when put into certain situations. For example, more times than not, whenever I see somebody in the distance and as I am walking closer towards them, they always seem to take their phone out so they can avoid eye contact. Instead of standing straight and looking forward, many people can only walk past somebody if they must take out their phone. Although considering how many predatory men are out here, I see the utility for women sometimes to ensure there is no eye contact.

Another example is when silence is about to occur in team meetings. On so many occasions, people reach for the phone when the conversation has died down, and there is silence. Again, the lack of stimulation in silence almost forces them to go for the phone. I have referenced the above because I have been guilty of this myself. I was getting my phone out at work if I was going to walk past somebody I did not want to say hello to. Being at a club, a friend has gone to the toilet. I am alone and feel incredibly uncomfortable looking around, so I take my phone out. Many of us, including myself, have socially regressed. Many of us cannot deal with silence and lack the tools to remain in a low-stimulated place. It is hard because we are challenged with stimuli everywhere, from our phones to email. Many people now have alerts on their mobile phones when receiving a new email. There is no rest from stimuli, and even when one is preparing for bed, they are on their phones. Lastly, communication with many friends, colleagues, and peers is also an exciting experience. I have already suggested eye contact to be a problem; however, other body language expressions, such as nerves, are increasing. As a teacher, I see this more and more each year. Four five years ago, I never had a student who flat out did not speak in class or did presentations with only me in class. Nowadays, I have students who refuse to talk in class, and I have had a few students adamant about not delivering a small presentation for me when it is part of their unit score. I have made these observations not to diagnose anybody with virtual autism. Instead, I want to share how this has impacted some of us socially.

Schools need to discuss this, and I am trying to figure out why they are not!

My current educational establishment is similar to the others. They like to bring in educational experts who will spew their very best pedagogical strategies. I am becoming increasingly frustrated about why no experts are going around schools highlighting the absolute dangers of screen time. I am not the only individual who has seen a significant change in the average student over the last five years. We are dealing with a generation that is not developing their social queues. Their human experience aligns itself with the virtual experience, which is a massive problem as both require different abilities. I am tired of seeing experts come into schools and discuss how we can improve as teachers while we have a big problem. Social Anxiety is rampant among young people. Highlighting Social Anxiety during Mental Health Week is not enough. Experts need to be invited into our educational establishments for this to be taught and understood by all teachers and those in and around educational establishments. I long for the day we get someone in, or I may have to do it myself.

Final thoughts

The main intention of this blog piece is to share some fundamental theories about virtual autism. It is still relatively new as a concept but still very relevant. I came across the phrase when I began questioning if the television impacted my daughter. Since then, I have gone down the rabbit hole and uncovered much information on virtual autism. Many of you can relate to some of my observations, and if so, I would love to hear from you. This area is intriguing the most, and in the long term, I aim to bring back my podcast and interview someone on this subject. I hope you have learnt something from this blog piece. Until next time, peace and blessings.

References

Andersen, R. (2023) What is virtual autism and how is it assessed? Autism Parenting Magazine. Available at: https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/children-virtual-autism/ (Accessed: 16 May 2024).

Cristiana BĂLAN, Virtual Autism and Its Effects On the Child’s Evolution https://www.afahc.ro/ro/afases/2018/43-CristinaBalan.pdf (Accessed: 16 May 2024).

Jain, R. (2022) Open access journals: Peer reviewed journals, Prime Scholars. Available at: https://www.primescholars.com/proceedings/virtual-autismnew-era-of-autism-spectrum-disorder-outcome-of-indepth-screen-exposure-among-toddlers-aged-14-years-64985.html (Accessed: 16 May 2024).