So I am sitting here, having discovered using ChatGPT to generate fiction (it’s like a Choose Your Own Adventure book, or playing freeform D&D with a questionable DM!), and I suddenly remembered that “screen time” has been a big thing in the past, regarding its negative effects. I’m wondering what those negative effects are, and would they apply if you read text on a screen versus reading text on a book?
Flaired for neuroscience, as it fits both biology and psychology.
Comments
Screen time isn’t great because it’s passive. Your brain is less active watching video than just sitting quietly by yourself. Also not great for your eyes because the distance never changes, you’re always at the same focal range. With print media you tend to move more and change focal distance more. And reading requires more brain power than watching a video.
So to your point, something interactive like a choose your own adventure involves reading and active thinking and won’t be terrible, might even be good for your mind. Less so for your eyes and body. Remember to occasionally look at something far away, get up and stretch, change positions, and move.