Factors Contributing to Increased Screen Time Among Children
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a primary driver of increased screen time among children, with research showing children engaged with screens more than 50 minutes longer during the pandemic than before, primarily due to increased entertainment use (40 minutes) and educational app use (20 minutes). 1
Key Factors Behind Increased Screen Time
Pandemic-Related Factors
- COVID-19 disruptions: The global pandemic necessitated digital alternatives for education, socialization, and entertainment 1
- Social distancing requirements: Limited in-person interactions pushed children toward digital means of connection
- School closures: Remote learning increased educational screen use significantly
- Parental work-from-home situations: Reduced supervision and increased reliance on screens for childcare
Technological Accessibility Factors
- Growing availability of devices: Increased access to smartphones and tablets has made screens more accessible to younger children 2
- Proliferation of child-targeted content: More digital content specifically designed for children
- Bedroom television presence: Having TVs in children's bedrooms at age 6 is associated with developmental impacts by age 8 3
Socioeconomic Factors
- Socioeconomic disparities: Children from lower socioeconomic status households showed greater increases in both entertainment and educational screen use during the pandemic 1
- Digital divide considerations: As education and social activities moved online, screen time became necessary for participation in basic activities
Concerning Trends and Impacts
Prevalence of Excessive Screen Time
- 70.3% of preschoolers (0-5 years) and 80.2% of children/adolescents (6-17 years) have excessive screen time 4
- Screen time has continued to increase with the growing availability of mobile devices 2
Developmental Impacts
- Language and educational impacts: More than 1.5 hours of daily direct screen time at age 2 is associated with below-average language and educational ability at age 4.5 2
- Social development: Higher levels of screen exposure are associated with peer relationship problems 2
- Emotional understanding: More TV watching at age 4 predicts lower levels of emotion understanding at age 6, with stronger effects observed in girls 3
- Gaming effects: Gaming specifically forecasts lower levels of emotion understanding in boys 3
Health and Behavioral Concerns
- Dose-response relationship: Excessive screen time shows a significant dose-response relationship with behavioral problems, developmental delays, speech disorders, learning disabilities, ASD, and ADHD 4
- Obesity and diet: Moderately strong evidence links increased screen time with greater obesity/adiposity and higher energy intake 5
- Mental health: Moderately strong evidence connects screen time with higher depressive symptoms and poorer quality of life 5
Vulnerable Populations
- Preschoolers: The association between excessive screen time and developmental/behavioral problems is stronger among preschoolers than older children 4
- Gender differences:
Important Caveats
- Limited evidence suggests small amounts of daily screen use may not be harmful and could have some benefits 5
- The quality and context of screen time (educational vs. entertainment) may have different impacts
- The rapidly evolving digital landscape makes long-term studies challenging