news update 2026-10-26

Long Hours Viewing a Video Screen

The internet has been transformed from it's humble beginnings in 1983 to what we are familiar with today. Like the tower of Babel, the internet has connected the world in ways that only an elite few may have anticipated, in such a short amount of time. Not only are children from Asia, Europe or Africa able to communicate with someone in North or South America, (despite language barriers and never having to leave their homes), there are people from all over the world using the internet to shop, buy and pay, with relative confidences in the systems. Companies around the world are able to easily access their sister companies as if they lived next door to them. Online learning has developed into Virtual Learning Environments. These VLE's lower the cost of producing books and forgo the need for bus drivers, buses, or fuel to run those buses—not to mention not needing a school full of teachers. There are so many other ways the internet has influenced our lives, but, has this transformation been a positive or negative advancement for the modern christian, not to mention the whole world?

The Bible can have a positive impact on the brain by stimulating various cognitive functions, reducing stress, enhancing emotional well-being, and improving memory and cognitive abilities. Not to mention, drawing us closer to our faith, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God-Rm 10:17; which in turn draws us closer to God.

The Facts

How much time do you spend surfing, or working on the internet? There is great concern over this issue, especially from parents—and with good reason. Are you aware that 90 % of your child's brain development happens in the first five years of life? If children (ages 2-5) spend, on average, 3.5 hours a day glued to a screen, research has shown they develop problems with such social skills as talking and playing with others, which includes actively exploring the world around them. According to psychologytoday.com, “Young brains need interactive conversations for language skills to develop, which is something viewing a passive screen cannot give a child.” Researchers have also discovered that on average American children, ages 8-18, spend up to 7 ½ hours a day watching or using screens—this does not include homework time. (Note: As you may expect, older children should be responsible enough to choose what websites they are visiting, however, without proper over site anyone, adult or child, can get involved with not only spending too much time viewing a screen, but also bad on-line activities that can alter their lives forever.)

According to the AACAP (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, see link below), long hours watching a video screen can produce sleep problems, lower grades in school, disinterest in reading hard or paperback books, and a lack of spending time with family and friends. Long hours viewing a video screen can also produce the lack of outdoor or physical activity. The lack of physical activity, or any in-person social event, can develop into weight or mood problems, poor self and body esteem, even the fear of failing and competing—they do not desire to take part with in-person events which can often lead to feelings of regret and a lack of connecting with, or the ability to just hang out with real people.

According to a survey from the Center For Biblical Engagement, (linked below under bttbfiles.com and biblewisdomhub.org), the question is asked, What does the Bible do to your brain? The answers may surprise you. Quoting from a biblewisdomhub article, The Bible can have a positive impact on the brain by stimulating various cognitive functions, reducing stress, enhancing emotional well-being, and improving memory and cognitive abilities. Not to mention, drawing us closer to our faith, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God-Rm 10:17; which in turn draws us closer to God. (This survey reveals so much more, please review it for yourself, the link is below.)

Final Thought

As Christians, we need to evaluate whether we are spending more time online in vanity pursuits, or are we honoring God by redeeming our time? Certainly, there are many useful websites for Christians as they study and research the word of God, but it is arguably more important for you to have a hard or paperback Bible and study or research materials, in addition to the online versions. Do not depend on the internet to be your only Bible. What happens when the internet goes down, or you lose connectivity for some reason. When you may need it the most, without possessing a real, in your hand Bible, you will be left without truth, encouragement and strength. You will be left to your own thoughts, your own counsels, and very quickly you will begin to gradually fall back into your old ways, which will easily lead you away from Christ. It is written in Scripture,...to make you understand that a person does not live on food alone but on everything that comes from the mouth of Adonai (the Word of God, the Scriptures)-Deut 8:3 CJB.

Sources

https://www.psychologytoday.com;

https://www.aacap.org

https://reasons.org;

https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections/what-does-reading-do-to-your-brain;

https://bttbfiles.com;

https://www.christianlearning.com;

https://biblewisdomhub.org;

https://healthcare.utah.edu/press-releases/2014/02/new-religious-brain-project-seeks-uncover-brain-activation-during-religious;

https://www.clrn.org