Research links high screen time to impaired child development

A comprehensive study published in JAMA Pediatrics indicates that increased screen time is associated with negative outcomes in children's developmental health, including academic achievement and language skills. The analysis covered various activities such as social media browsing, gaming, and video calls across devices ranging from smartphones to televisions.

Findings suggest that children with higher screen exposure experience more socio-emotional and mental health challenges. Specifically, children using screens for four or more hours daily showed a significantly lower ability to calm down through communication compared to those with less than one hour of daily use. In the latter group, 34% could calm down by talking, whereas this dropped to 14% for heavy users.

Additionally, the research highlights difficulties in emotional expression and conflict resolution. While 25% of children attempt to find mutually acceptable solutions to problems, others tend to withdraw or express only their own discomfort. In response to these findings, an educational program has been launched in collaboration with TEGV and LC Waikiki to support children's social and emotional development, aiming to reach 27,000 children across 22 cities.