While some people believe that allowing children to watch online content without supervision gives both parents and children a welcome sense of freedom, others think otherwise, saying that this practice is likely to do young viewers more harm than good. Personally, I am of the latter school of thought, as the drawbacks of this practice far outweigh its benefits.
Granted, there is some truth in the view that unsupervised screen time brings a few minor benefits. The most obvious of these is that parents, especially those in full-time employment, are given precious time to finish their work or simply to rest while their children are kept occupied in front of a screen. This brings them not only a break from the constant demands of childcare, but also the energy they need to look after their family properly. From the children’s perspective, given how they are free to choose what they want to watch, they can enjoy a sense of independence rather than feeling that every minute of their day is controlled by adults.
However, I would argue that these benefits are far outweighed by the drawbacks. The key problem is that the internet is full of material that young children are not yet mature enough to recognise as harmful, and without an adult nearby, they can easily be exposed to inappropriate content such as violent or sexual material. For example, a child who starts by watching a cartoon on YouTube may, within a few clicks of recommended videos, end up watching graphic fight scenes or sexually suggestive clips. Another major concern is the rise of so-called “brain rot” content, the endless stream of short, low-quality videos on platforms such as TikTok, which trains children to expect constant stimulation. This type of exposure can have serious negative effects on young viewers, ranging from imitating aggressive or inappropriate behaviour to shorter attention spans and slower cognitive development, all of which pose a significant threat to their long-term well-being.
In conclusion, it is true that unsupervised screen time can give parents some time for themselves and children a sense of freedom. However, the answer is unequivocal: these minor benefits pale in comparison with the serious dangers of leaving young children alone with online content, unless parents set clear limits and use parental controls to protect their children from inappropriate material and its concomitant behavioural and developmental problems.