I recently saw a headline in the Epoch Times, which read “A new type of autism threatens American children” and I immediately thought, that is interesting.  Something new in the research?  So, I decided to review the article and see what I could find out. Marius Teodor Zamfir, a Romanian psychologist, has conceived the term “virtual autism” based on a study of children birth to 3 who spent more than 4 hours daily fixated on screens and then experienced profound states of sensory motor and socio-affective deprivation.  

This condition then triggered behaviors and characteristics resembling those in children diagnosed with autism.  Mr. Zamfir believes that the nervous systems of babies and toddlers are not equipped to deal with the overstimulation from screens.  Mr. Zamfir does note that “although there is no medical diagnosis for virtual autism at this moment,” he hopes that this will change soon. 

So, although this is not a medical diagnosis, it does highlight the potential negative impact of prolonged screen exposure on toddlers’ development. My takeaways form this study are: 

Limiting screen time for children under 3 is critical.

Encourage other activities that promote social engagement, physical movement, and outdoor play.

Technology does play an essential role in all our lives, but ensuring healthy screen habits for all, whether children or adults, is essential.