I can only imagine the problem getting much worse in the future. Wherever I go, I see kids of all ages hooked on cell-phones - either on mobile games, youtube videos or on instagram/snapchat. This is probably significantly cutting down their natural light exposure.
Why would cell phone use cut down on natural light exposure compared to books or TV? The whole point of a cell phone is that you can use it anywhere, including outside. Based on the thesis of this article, all you need to do is play on your cell phone while you're outside to prevent myopia.
I use my cell phone a lot more indoors than outdoors. I don't go outdoors because my cell phone enables me to connect with people indoors when I would normally be required to go outdoors to connect with them without a cell phone.
When I was a young child I was on my computer or playing video games on a TV all day, rarely going outdoors. When I got my first smartphone, it was actually very liberating. Now I could be outside anywhere, and still surf the internet and play any number of games at any time.
Afaik that's a very generational thing, people a bit older than you spend a whole lot more time outside.
My first smartphone (the first iPhone one) gave me the same liberating feeling you describe there, but it didn't take long for me to realize that mobile gaming isn't for me and while I can do most stuff I want on a smartphone, I can do it better and more efficiently on a full-blown desktop/laptop with proper peripherals, so that's where I still end up doing most of it.
In recent years my smartphone even feels more of an annoying hassle than an actual asset, except for the occasional use for navigation and regular use as mp3 player.
> I would normally be required to go outdoors to connect with them without a cell phone.
Forgive me for being a pedant and a devil's advocate, but would you _really_ otherwise be going outside to spend time with people, and in such a capacity that cell phone use could replace it?
When I think of "spending time outside with people," I think, "afternoon in the park" or "at a restaurant or cafe on a patio" or "hiking." I can't think of any outdoor activities with other people that would otherwise could be supplanted by cell phone use. Playing the Facebook messenger basketball isn't going to replace a walk with a friend.
My understanding is that myopia onset is linked with natural light exposure in preteen-adolescent years. While there is always going to be some segment of people who stay in (who are likely overrepresented on HN) there would have been plenty of children playing sports or playing in dirt who nowadays are on their mobiles, probably indoors because the sun glares the screen.
Screens have glare. When I read a book I want basically all the light I can get, eg. being outside is fine. When I'm on a screen, it needs to be dim around me so I can see.
I've had several optometrists suggest to me, based mostly on anectodal evidence, that excessive use of small screens lead to more cases of astigmatism than simply myopia, which is even harder to correct.
