Mental health experts warn of screen time impacts on brain function

Mental health specialists are raising alarms regarding the impact of excessive screen time on cognitive function and social development. Psychiatrist Marian Rojas Estapé warns that constant hyperstimulation from social media and short-form content triggers continuous dopamine release, which can lead to a “crisis of attention” and the deterioration of the prefrontal cortex. This neurological effect impairs impulse control, decision-making, and the ability to sustain effort, often leaving individuals in a “survival mode” characterized by constant distraction.

In Argentina, the “Manos Libres” movement is advocating for delayed digital access to mitigate social and developmental pressures. The initiative recommends that children wait until at least 14 years of age to receive their own mobile phones and suggests delaying access to social media until age 16. Psychologists note that these family decisions are often complicated by conflicting demands from schools and the social pressure to conform to digital trends among peers.