Technology advisor Akin Ibitoye has cautioned Nigerians on the harmful effects of excessive screen exposure, particularly highlighting its impact on eye health and sleep patterns.
Speaking during an interview on Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Ibitoye explained that prolonged screen time especially on phones and laptops increases strain on the eyes and can lead to long-term discomfort if not managed properly.
“The more time you spend staring at screens, the more strain it has on our eyes as time progresses,” he noted on the show. “There are definitely a few things to do to get our health back, especially in terms of our eyes.”
He noted that the average person uses their phone for over two hours daily, largely due to engaging content, but warned that habits like this come with hidden risks. A major concern, he said, is blue light — the artificial light emitted from screens which disrupts sleep by interfering with melatonin production.
“One very harmful thing is blue light,” he stated. “It prevents you from sleeping.”
To reduce these risks, Ibitoye recommended adopting the “20-20-20” rule, a simple practice by eye health professionals worldwide.
Every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. It exercises your lenses and reduces strain,” he said on the breakfast show.
Ibitoye stressed that eye wellness should be taken as seriously as physical fitness or mental health.
He encouraged users to take screen breaks, use blue light filters, and reduce screen brightness where possible.
Ibitoye stressed that eye wellness should be taken as seriously as physical fitness or mental health. The expert encouraged users to take regular screen breaks and embrace more offline activities.
