Health experts warn of developmental risks from excessive screen time in children

Health experts and researchers are raising alarms regarding excessive screen time among children in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In New Zealand, research highlighted by the Public Health Communication Centre indicates that nearly two-thirds of children under the age of two exceed recommended screen-time limits.

University of Auckland researcher Dr. Samantha Marsh noted that screen use may replace essential developmental activities, such as face-to-face interaction, active play, and exploration. While direct causation is still being studied, experts link excessive exposure to potential issues with sleep, language acquisition, communication, and problem-solving abilities.

In England, a group of over 150 clinicians, including GPs and pediatricians, has urged the government to reduce screen use in classrooms. The clinicians warned that the widespread use of tablets and laptops in schools may be contributing to a rise in short-sightedness, noting that global rates of myopia in children and adolescents rose from approximately 24% in 1990 to nearly 36% by 2023. They expressed concern that children are using screens in lessons for longer than the recommended daily limits, potentially impacting long-term physical and developmental health.