According to a global study, the impact of children spending too much time in front of screens can be compared to, or even greater than, factors such as parental behavior and premature birth.
“Elchi” reports that researchers who analyzed data on more than 2.8 million children from 64 countries concluded that high levels of screen exposure can affect children in areas such as academic achievement and emotional well-being.
This study is one of the most extensive pieces of research conducted on the subject to date.
The study noted that the effects of screen time were on the same scale as, or had a stronger impact than, other factors related to child development and mental health—such as the family’s socioeconomic status, parental behavior, and whether the child was born prematurely.
Research shows that increased use of screens for games, social media, and streaming platforms can lead to lower academic achievement and problems with language development.
Screen time and mental health issues
Some experts highlighted limitations in the report, stating that the findings do not confirm the idea that screens are the primary cause of anxiety or psychological distress among adolescents.
In a review published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, researchers found that children who spent more time in front of screens exhibited more social-emotional and mental health problems. The scientists conducted a comprehensive assessment summarizing the results of previous major reviews on the topic.
Researchers found that increased use of digital tools and social media is associated with more negative outcomes in a number of measurable areas related to children’s developmental health. The analysis covers various devices, from smartphones to televisions, and different types of activities, such as browsing social media, playing games, and making video calls.
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