Excessive screen use harms physical health and early childhood development

New research highlights that prolonged use of smartphones, computers and other digital screens can damage physical health. Frequent neck flexion while looking at devices creates a “tech‑neck” syndrome that strains cervical discs, reduces lung capacity and may accelerate spinal degeneration. Wearable devices worn for long periods can cause skin irritation and eczema, while insufficient outdoor exposure, not screen time itself, is linked to rising myopia.

A separate report advises that children under two years should not have regular screen exposure. Experts from several UK universities warn that early screen use may impede caregiver bonding, language development, sleep quality, eye health, increase obesity risk and limit the development of fine motor skills. While causality is not proven, the authors call for clearer guidelines, parental education and tools to assess screen‑time risk for infants.