What does research say about screen time and children?

Research on screen time and children is mixed: it finds associations with several problems, but mostly cannot show that screens are the cause. Digital media use has been associated with both positive and negative effects on children's development, and the relationship is complex, varying with the individual, the platform and how it is used. The evidence, though mostly of low to moderate quality, shows a correlation between heavy screen time and a variety of physical and mental health problems.

On attention, associations have been observed between excessive digital media use and anxiety, depression and attention difficulties, but causality has not been established. For ADHD, meta-analyses show a link with internet use, gaming and social media, yet the causality is not clear, and there is some evidence of a relationship that runs both ways. For autism, a 2018 review of 47 studies was inconclusive, and a 2023 meta-analysis of 46 studies found no significant association once publication bias was accounted for.

Some findings are more specific. A 2010 review concluded that electronic media use by children and adolescents has a negative impact on sleep, though the mechanisms are unclear. A Korean study of toddlers found those watching three hours of TV a day were three times as likely to have a language delay.

The effects depend on levels and content of exposure, and academic performance can even be improved by some screen time. This lesson reports the research and gives no parenting advice.