Impact of Screen Time on Children’s Development: Cognitive, Language, Physical, and Social and Emotional Domains

Abstract

Technology has become integral to children’s lives, impacting many aspects, from academic to socialization. Children of today’s generation are growing up with digital devices, such as mobile phones, iPads, computers, video games, and smart gadgets; therefore, screen time has become ubiquitous in children’s daily routines. This paper provides a review of screen time usage and its impact in children across multiple developmental domains: cognitive, language, physical, and socio-emotional domain of children under eight years of age. The cognitive domain considers factors such as attention span and memory; language domain examines vocabulary, speech, and language development; physical domain focuses on motor development, exercise, sleep, and diet; and social-emotional domain considers relationships, self-identity, and emotional behaviors/regulation. Our findings are mixed, as there are both benefits and drawbacks in technology use, but screen time in children requires controlled observation and monitoring for sustainable improved progress across developmental domains. Specific recommendations advise that children’s screen time per day should be limited to zero minutes (min) (0–2 years), <60 min (3–5-years), and 60 min (6–8 years).

Evaluation of Screen Time in Children Under Five Years Old

“…Technological gadgets, such as smartphones, tablets, and computers, constantly surround individuals of all ages in various settings, including their homes, schools, and workplaces [1]. As technology continues to progress quickly, the number of activities involving children is also increasing, and the nature of these activities is evolving.…”

“…The child's own characteristics (biological, behavioral, and demographic), the child's media environment (type of child care, rules regarding media access), and the child's broader sociocultural environment (location, laws, and time of year) influence the caregiver's characteristics (biological, behavioral, and demographic) in this inverted model [4]. The family's opinions, attitudes, and beliefs about media culture influence the screen time of children [1,5]. Research findings revealed a positive correlation between children's screen time and being the eldest child, having a working mother, and an overall rise in the family's screen time [1,[6][7][8][9][10].…”

Relationship Between Speech Delay and Smart Media in Children: A Systematic Review

“…Studies have highlighted an association between excessive screen usage and speech delays in young children [3][4][5]. However, proving a direct cause-and-effect association is complex due to various influencing factors like parenting methods, socioeconomic status, and the overall communication environment [6]. A prominent theory suggests that excessive screen exposure could replace crucial face-to-face interactions between parents/caregivers and children, negatively impacting language development [7][8][9].…”

Exploring Video Game Engagement, Social–Emotional Development, and Adolescent Well-Being for Sustainable Health and Quality Education

“…By immersing themselves in a virtual world, players can experience emotions and situations that may help them process their own feelings and confront challenges in a safe manner [8,20,21]. On the other hand, concerns have also been raised that excessive or problematic video game use could have negative effects on social-emotional development [22,23], as well as mental health problems such as sleep disorders, disruptive behavior, and/or social isolation [24][25][26]. It is important to note that the relationship between video games and social-emotional development is complex and multifaceted.…”

“…The lack of integration and sufficient attention to the negative implications of video games on social-emotional development has persisted in existing research [22,23]. Our decision to explore these adverse repercussions is based on the need to fill this gap and contribute to a more complete understanding of the impact of video games and adolescent development.…”