I arrive at the hospital and switch on the computer to call my first patient. In the waiting room is Antonio, a 14-year-old teenager, who is watching videos and sits between his mother, who quickly stops a video conference when she sees me, and his father, who was catching up on the news on his phone. 

Parents come into the room complaining that their child spends too much time in front of the screen. “Me too”, I think, and I ask them the crucial question: “What about you?” They swallow as the teenager looks at them, waiting for their parents’ response. We throw that same question to the readers: What about you? 

Many families come to the practice with complaints about their teenagers’ use of screens. Some have serious problems, others less so. But, undoubtedly, more and more of them are suffering the consequences of excessive or inappropriate use of digital devices with internet access. This is what a typical morning at work looks like. 

This article was originally published in The Conversation.