Heavy screen use has negative impacts on children of all ages
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Children and teens are using technology earlier and more often than they ever have, and research from 2024 documented the consequences of heavy screen use among youth.
Two studies reported that young children with high amounts of screen time had poorer executive functioning skills and were more prone to anger compared with children with less screen time.
“Parents can ... be advised to avoid using screens as a calming tool, or digital pacifier,” Caroline Fitzpatrick, PhD, associate professor in the department of preschool and elementary school education at Université de Sherbrooke in Québec, Canada, who was involved in both studies, told Healio. “Clinicians can also encourage parents to put in place a family media plan to help them establish balanced family media habits.”
In older children and teens, researchers learned that nighttime screen use delayed sleep minute for minute, and was associated with higher prevalence of cyberbullying and poorer mental health.
Below is a list of Healio’s top stories about screen use from 2024.
Screen use in bed associated with delayed sleep, psychological distress in children, teens
Although screen use before bedtime did not affect sleep onset or duration in children, using screens in bed not only impacted sleep quality but was also associated with cyberbullying and psychological distress, research showed. Read more.
Study: Tablet use may inhibit toddlers’ interaction with parents
Frequent use of touch-screen tablet games by toddlers may inhibit crucial interactions with their parents, according to preliminary research published in JAMA Network Open. Read more.
Screen time associated with poorer executive function in preschoolers
Greater amounts of screen time appeared to be associated with lower executive functioning among preschool-aged children, according to findings published in Academic Pediatrics. Read more.
Tablet use in toddlers linked to symptoms of anger, frustration
Higher daily screen time for toddlers appeared to be associated with more intense expressions of anger as they got older, according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics. Read more.
APA video guidance for teens calls for education, limited exposure to certain content
The American Psychological Association released its first ever set of recommendations regarding healthy video consumption by teenagers, who have greater access to a larger volume of video content than ever before, according to the report. Read more.
Surgeon general calls for social media warning labels
The United States surgeon general asked Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms to help protect children. Read more.
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