Screen Time Among New Zealand Children Is Increasing Over Time
Yes, screen time among New Zealand children has been increasing over time, with New Zealand children having among the highest rates of screen use in the world. 1
Evidence of Increasing Screen Time
The systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics (2022) provides key insights into screen time trends among children:
For children younger than 2 years, the prevalence of meeting screen time guidelines (no screen time) was higher in more recent studies, suggesting that while awareness of guidelines may have increased, the majority (75.3%) still exceed recommended limits 2
For children aged 2-5 years, adherence to screen use guidelines has not substantially changed over time, with 64.4% exceeding the 1-hour daily screen use guideline 2
The pattern of screen use is changing with age and technological developments:
- Younger children tend to consume more TV/movies
- Older children engage in a wider variety of screen activities (TV/movies, tablets, computers, video games) 2
New Zealand-Specific Context
New Zealand children specifically show concerning trends:
Recent evidence indicates that New Zealand children "have among the highest rates of screen use in the world" 1
A 2025 longitudinal study using data from the Growing Up in New Zealand cohort showed high and increasing levels of screen time among New Zealand children 3
A 2016 survey of early childhood education settings in New Zealand found a notable absence of written policies regarding screen use, suggesting insufficient institutional attention to managing screen time in educational settings 4
Impact of COVID-19 on Screen Time
The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have exacerbated screen time issues:
A systematic review of school-aged children (6-14 years) found that the average rates of children with screen time ≥2 hours per day increased from 41.3% before January 2020 to 59.4% after January 2020 5
While some populations saw screen time return to pre-pandemic levels by 2021, children living in poverty continued to show elevated screen time levels 6
Age-Related Trends
The evidence shows a clear pattern of increasing screen time with age:
A systematic review including 387,437 participants across 23 countries found that "increasing age was associated with a lower prevalence of meeting the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines overall" 2
As children get older, they use a greater number and type of electronic devices with less parental control 2
Adolescents show greater autonomy in behavioral choices and fewer parental restrictions regarding screen use 2
Health Implications
The increasing screen time among New Zealand children raises significant health concerns:
More than 1.5 hours of daily direct screen time at age 2 was associated with below-average language and educational ability and above-average levels of peer relationship problems at age 4.5 3
Exposure to more than 2.5 hours of daily direct screen time was associated with higher than average peer relationship problems at age 8 3
Frequent and extended use of screen-based digital tools is associated with negative impacts on child health in areas such as eye health, noise-induced hearing loss, and pain syndromes 1
This evidence clearly indicates that screen time among New Zealand children is increasing over time, with concerning implications for their health, development, and social functioning.