A recent study has found a correlation between the amount of time children spend on screens and their development, with those spending more time on screens exhibiting poorer outcomes in learning, speech, and emotional regulation. The study, which reviewed decades of research on the impact of screen time on child development, analyzed data from nearly three million children aged 18 and under from 64 countries. The findings suggest that greater screen time is associated with poorer outcomes for children across several areas of development.
The study's senior author, Sheri Madigan, a professor of psychology at the University of Calgary, Canada, noted that while the associations between screen time and child development were relatively small, they were still significant, particularly given the near universality of screen time in children's lives. Madigan suggested that the changing nature of screen time may be a contributing factor to the stronger associations found in newer studies. Twenty years ago, children may have spent an hour watching television, whereas today, devices are ubiquitous, interactive, and responsive to the individual.
Madigan emphasized that parents should not conclude that screens are inherently bad for children but rather pay attention to how they are used. Technology can be a valuable tool for supporting children's learning, creativity, and connection, but it can also displace essential activities such as sleep, physical activity, human connection, learning, and play. Parents can start by identifying areas or times where screens interfere with their children's needs and establishing device-free times or periods, such as during meals or before bed.
Governments also have a role to play in managing children's screen time, according to Madigan. She suggested that governments should provide guidance for families, education, research, and safeguards to protect children from online harms. By taking a proactive approach, governments can signal to parents, schools, and technology companies that screen use is a serious concern. This can help parents make informed decisions about their children's screen time and ensure that they are using technology in a healthy and balanced way.
The study's findings were welcomed by experts in the field, including Tatiana Íñiguez Berrozpe, senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Zaragoza, Spain, who described the study as "methodologically very sound" and praised its large sample size. Berrozpe noted that the study's results confirm what research has been showing for years: that there is a small but significant association between screen time and poorer indicators of mental health and academic performance.
However, experts also highlighted some limitations of the study. Esther van Sluijs, professor of behavioral epidemiology at Loughborough University in the UK, noted that the study could not draw robust conclusions about specific types of screen use, such as social media or gaming, due to a lack of data. Van Sluijs cautioned that the results should be interpreted with caution in the context of young people's current screen use habits.
The study, which was published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, contributes to the growing body of research on the impact of screen time on child development. As the researchers continue their investigation, they aim to disentangle the direction of the associations between screen time and developmental outcomes and identify which children are more affected by different digital experiences. By better understanding the complex relationships between screen time and child development, researchers and policymakers can work together to promote healthy screen use habits and support children's overall well-being.
Key points
- The study found a correlation between increased screen time and poorer child development outcomes in learning, speech, and emotional regulation.
- The study's senior author, Sheri Madigan, emphasized that parents should pay attention to how screens are used, rather than simply limiting screen time.
- Governments have a role to play in managing children's screen time, including providing guidance for families, education, research, and safeguards to protect children from online harms.
