Screen Time Can Be

Dangerous for Kids’ Mental &

Physical Health
By: Nicole Beurkens · November 18, 2017 · 2 Comments
One of top concerns raised by parents at my clinic is the
amount of time children spend on electronic devices, and
how to manage this issue without constant fights,
arguments, and distress for everyone involved.

The number of devices and types of digital media has exploded over the past
20 years and continues to grow. Parents and professionals have many
questions and concerns about the impact these devices have on children, and
the best ways to manage them to keep kids safe and healthy.

While electronic devices and digital media have certainly improved our lives in
many ways, research has shown that many problems can result from
overexposure. As both a clinician and a parent, I see firsthand the numerous
mental and physical health issues that can happen to children, teens, and
young adults when they spend too much time in front of screens, and too little
time engaged with the people and activities around them. There are many
areas of health and function that can be negatively impacted, and parents
need to be aware of these problems in order to set expectations and
boundaries that help kids develop healthy device habits.

Sleep Issues
Many people aren’t aware of the direct connection between electronic device
use and sleep problems. Overuse of devices, particularly close to bedtime,
can negatively impact sleep for children and adults. Use of electronic devices
makes it harder to fall asleep, disrupts sleep during the night, and causes
poorer quality sleep in general.1 These devices emit a type of blue light that
tricks the brain into thinking it is daytime. Using devices near bedtime
increases the likelihood of problems falling asleep. This is especially
problematic for children because they need more sleep than adults. Loss of
even a half hour of sleep can negatively impact their behavior the next day.
The use of electronic devices can also create difficulties with staying asleep.
Notifications, ringtones, and other sounds coming from devices during the
night can wake children and disrupt their sleep.2 If the child wakes to answer a
text or look at the Instagram post, it not only reduces the amount of sleep they
are getting but makes it harder for them to go back to sleep. It is not unusual
for my teenage patients to report that they are awakened multiple times each
night to respond to notifications on their smartphones. Then they struggle to
fall back to sleep because they are thinking about whatever happened via text
or on social media. These nighttime interruptions can have highly negative
effects on the child’s mood, behavior, focus, and all other aspects of behavior
the next day. Sleep disrupted like this over time can cause severe sleep
deprivation that can result in serious physical and mental health problems.

Mental Health Problems

Most parents would agree that the more time our kids spend in front of
screens, the grumpier they get! As a parent, I can absolutely say that this
happens to my four kids; and parents at my clinic note this for their children as
well. Kids can quickly become overstimulated from screen time without
realizing it, which leads to worse moods, more anxiety, higher levels of
irritability, and poor behavior.

Many research studies have explored the connections between children’s use
of electronic devices and mental health, and the results are clear: As use
increases, so does the risk of mental health problems including depression,
anxiety, ADHD, mood disorders, and suicidality. Teens who use electronic
devices for more than two hours per day report significantly more mental
health symptoms, increased psychological distress, and more suicidal
ideation.3 Children using devices for more than 2 hours per day have
increased risk of depression, and that risk rises as screen time increases. The
lowest risk is observed in children who use devices for less than 1 hour
daily.4 Studies have shown that children with ADHD symptoms spend more
hours engaged in screen time activities than children without ADHD.5 As the
amount of time spent with devices increases, so do symptoms of ADHD.
There is clearly a connection!

Kids frequently attempt to reach out for support or validation on social media
in the form of likes, clicks, or comments. When they do not get the feedback
they are looking for, however, stress levels increase and the risk of
depression rises.6Fear of missing out on what others are saying and doing
online also drives up stress and anxiety levels.7,8 Many feel a need to be
constantly responsive to messages on social media, texts, and chats, which
increases anxiety and also interrupts sleep-which further worsens anxiety
symptoms.9

The content children are exposed to online can also lead to mental health
problems.10 Many parents are not aware of the vast amount of online content
that glorifies and perpetuates serious mental health problems such as
promoting eating disorders, and sites dedicated to demonstrating self-harm
and drug use. There are also sites about body image that can have very
negative impact on the self-esteem and body perceptions of girls in
particular.11 Excessive time spent on Internet games can lead to depression,
aggression, impulsivity, substance use, and physical brain changes.12, 13

Pornographic content is rampant online, and children are exposed much more
than adults realize. In the US, 73% of young people in the US (93% of boys
and 62% of girls) report that they have been exposed to online pornography
before the age of 18.14 Exposure to this type of content can lead to significant
negative consequences if parents are not aware and the issue is not
discussed and addressed for the child.
People casually use the term “Internet addiction” or “phone addiction” to
describe the obsessive use of devices. Unfortunately, this is a very real
phenomenon that has developed in the past decade, with even young children
demonstrating symptoms of addiction.15 Centers now exist all over the country
to address serious digital media addiction problems for children, teens, and
young adults, as some children become so enmeshed in this behavior that
inpatient specialty treatment is necessary to provide detox and rehabilitation
supports. All parents should be motivated to address these issues with their
children before this level of intervention is required!

Physical Health Issues

Research has shown that increased time with electronic devices can lead to a
wide variety of serious health problems including insulin resistance, obesity,
increase abdominal fat, and higher risk of Type 2 Diabetes.16, 17 There seem to
be several reasons for the increase in these physical health problems when
screen time increases: Kids are more sedentary and move less, they tend to
eat more, and they make poorer food choices. The more time children spend
watching TV, movies, and engaging with online media, the more they are
exposed to food and restaurant advertisements aimed at children. This
Impacts their preference for certain foods, the vast majority of which are not
healthy and promote obesity, high blood sugar, and other physical health
concerns.18 Children and adults also tend to eat more mindlessly when
engaged in screen time, which can lead to overeating.

There is also the obvious issue that screen time is primarily sedentary in
nature, meaning that children are sitting or lying around while using devices.
Most children in the US spend the majority of their time sitting, both inside and
outside of school. More time spent sitting leads to weight gain, poor muscle
development, and many other physical problems. Lack of physical movement
also negatively impacts brain development, as it is needed to form brain
connections necessary for everything from physical coordination to
communication to social skills. Kids who don’t move enough risk
developmental and learning problems, motor skills challenges, mental health
problems, and more.19 Movement supports all aspects of physical and brain
health, and kids aren’t getting enough of it when they are spending hours
each day sitting in front of devices.

Vision Issues
The more time kids spend looking at screens, the higher the chance of
developing various types of eye and vision-related problems. Dry-eye disease
has become a more common issue eye doctors screen for in children during
eye exams, as frequent viewing of screens changes our rate of blinking. This
can lead to chronic dry eyes and difficulty tolerating contact
lenses.20 Computer Vision Syndrome is the term for the negative impact that
frequent electronic device use can have on our eyes and visual function. The
strain of constantly using near-point vision on electronic devices is especially
problematic for children, many of whom are becoming nearsighted as a result.
Children may also develop problems shifting their vision from near to far, and
integrating their vision and motor skills.21 This has the potential to make
handwriting, cutting, sports activities, and any other skill involving the
coordination of vision and motor skills more difficult. These kinds of vision
problems also make it much more difficult for children to function in school
classrooms.

Poor Relationships, Communication Problems, and Social Disconnection

Technology has the potential to bring people together and encourage
relationships; and there can certainly be social benefits for children using
digital media, including social media. Children and teens with social anxiety
disorders and other issues can practice with social interaction and gain social
support in a less intimidating way.22 Many support groups and other types of
online communities are available where kids can benefit from sharing their
experiences, and receive support from others in similar situations.

However, research shows that increased technology use has the potential to
create social disconnection, and negatively impact the development of social
and relational skills. Kids who are exposed to violent videos games, TV
shows, and movies tend to have more aggressive behaviors, poorer
perspective-taking abilities, and reduced moral development.23, 24 Technology
use can also negatively impact children’s understanding of how to engage
with others. Research showed that just one week of engagement in typical
overnight camp activities, with no screen time, led to a significant
improvement in children’s ability to read non-verbal emotional cues.25 Non-
verbal cues are a critical component of social communication, and deficits in
this area create difficulties for children in forming relationships and
communicating effectively with others.

Excessive screen time also leads to a reduction in quality family time, and an
increase in serious parent-child conflicts can result from frequent use of cell
phones and social media.26 Too much time spent on digital media
consumption, including Internet use, takes away from time spent socializing
with friends, working on learning activities, and engaging with the world
around them.27 This reduction in the amount of time spent engaging in face-to-
face interactions with adults and peers can result in poorer social skills,
increased social anxiety, and lower quality relationships overall.

Cyberbullying is another significant social issue, as the anonymity of online

interaction can lead children to utilize less self-control and behave in ways
they would not offline.28 Many children and teens report being bullied in some
way online. Parents are often unaware that their children are victims of
cyberbullying, and this is unfortunate as cyberbullying leads to significant
long-lasting negative effects such as anxiety, depression, increased stress,
and suicidality.29 Protective factors against cyberbullying include consistent
parent monitoring of Internet use, and boundaries on time spent on the
Internet and content consumed.30 Here’s another article I published that goes into
more detail about electronics and the effect on communication.
Cognitive Skills Development
Some people argue that playing video games and engaging with online
activities encourages the development of various types of cognitive skills. It is
true that kids may get benefits from certain video games in the areas of
improved visual attention, processing speed, and mental rotation. However,
research also shows that important higher-level cognitive skills such as critical
thinking, reflection, and imagination may get weaker as a result of these same
types of video games and online activities.31 Executive functions of the brain,
including sustained attention, working memory, and ability to inhibit impulses,
develop throughout childhood and adolescence. The development of these
executive functions can be impaired by overexposure to digital media,
particularly shows and games that are very fast-paced and focused on fantasy
rather than reality.32

Of particular concern is the impact of digital media on children’s ability to

control their attention and delay gratification. Children who spend time flipping
from one game or online activity to the next develop a higher threshold for
stimulation and tend to become more easily bored with tasks that are not fast-
paced and constantly shifting from one type of stimulation to the next. These
children also tend to be more focused on immediate gratification and struggle
to make decisions based on anything beyond what is immediately in front of
them.33 This leads to lower frustration tolerance, and the tendency to give up
on tasks and situations without persevering or problem solving before just
moving on to the next thing.
We know that exposure to digital media below 2 years of age negatively
impacts language and cognitive development.34 Even background exposure to
TV has negative effects on child development, as it competes for attention
with playing with toys and interacting with others.35 Too much time spent
watching TV and playing video games, including online games, is associated
with greater levels of attention problems;36 and playing these games for over
an hour each day sets kids up for more issues with focus and
attention.37 Young adult students report that they are less focused and behave
in more impulsive and hyperactive ways as their use of electronic devices
increases.38

Academic Problems and Learning Challenges

Increased time on electronic devices is also associated with poorer academic
outcomes.39 The more time children spend consuming digital media, the less
time they tend to spend reading.40 This has negative effects on learning as
students progress through school. While many schools are moving to
computerized instruction and tablet-based learning, the reality is that there is
no strong research evidence to support that this is beneficial for students.41 It
is problematic that students are now spending a significant amount of time in
front of screens during the school day, which increases the overall amount of
screen-time exposure each day and week–and there is no real evidence that
this is helpful or supportive for learning!

One of the specific learning issues relates to increased computer/keyboard

use. Children benefit from handwriting more than typing, especially at young
ages, as handwriting helps them develop reading skills.42 Handwriting also
involves fine motor skills, which are beneficial for improving reading and
writing in children.43 The more time kids spend typing or using touch screens,
the less time they are spending on small motor skills such as forming letters
and coloring with crayons or pencils. This has a negative impact on their brain
development and academic functioning.

EMF Exposure
One growing area of concern is the research evidence showing that human
brains may be harmed by overexposure to the actual electronic devices
themselves and that children are especially susceptible.44 The electromagnetic
fields (EMFs) created by these devices can impact health both physically and
mentally and may cause problems for memory, learning, behavior, attention,
and physical brain development. While EMF exposure in smaller doses
doesn’t appear to be a concern over short periods of time, the more frequent
and intense the exposure the more problems that can result. This is especially
true for children, as their brains are rapidly growing and changing from birth
through adolescence.

Holding devices close to the head during a phone conversation, for example,
exposes the brain to more artificial EMFs than having the phone on the table
and using speakerphone. Children who use devices close to their faces/heads
for lengthy periods of time throughout the day are potentially more at risk for
the damaging effects of EMF exposure than those who use these devices less
often and for briefer periods of time. The reality is that we don’t yet understand
the full impact of exposure to these devices, as they are continually evolving
and too new to have long-term research.45 Parents would be wise to
understand the potential for physical and neurological problems, and this is
yet another reason to monitor and enforce limits for children around device
usage.

If you weren’t already convinced that overuse of electronic devices can cause
problems for kids, I hope this information has improved your awareness of the
issue. Most parents I see in my clinic don’t understand the direct connection
between electronics use and their child’s mood, attention, anxiety,
hyperactivity, and behavior issues. There are many simple strategies and
expectations parents can implement to reduce these problems, including:

 Reduce electronics use before bedtime

 Avoid electronics in kids’ bedrooms

 Spend less time overall on devices

 Take movement breaks periodically to avoid sitting for too long

 Monitor your child’s Internet use and social media accounts

 Look at the content and digital books together with young children

 Make sure time is spent on developmentally appropriate activities such

as coloring, playing with toys, socializing with friends, doing outdoor
activities, etc.

 Avoid holding devices close to the head for long periods of time

 Make sure that kids have other interests and activities beyond screen
time

To help you address these issues, I’ve created a comprehensive guide that shows
you exactly what to do to help your children (birth through young adults) use
electronic devices in healthy ways–without feeling like you might lose your
mind in the process!
It covers how to set and enforce expectations around device use, avoid
arguments and conflicts with your kids about electronics, keep your children
safe, and ensure better mental and physical health for them now and into the
future.

To get the complete guide for free, enter your information below
and you’ll have it in your inbox right away.

SUBMIT

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