The first systematic review to track long-term trends in the period before and after the pandemic has found a dramatic increase in screen use among children and teens.
Screen time among children and adolescents has increased significantly over the past three decades, with the clearest increase following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new systematic review conducted at the University of Turku, Finland.
The review analyzes 60 peer-reviewed studies published between 1991 and 2022 and is the first to comprehensively examine long-term trends in screen time use among individuals aged 0-19 years in both pre-pandemic and pandemic periods.
Shared lead author Yuko Mori, postdoctoral researcher at the Child Psychiatry Research Center at the University of Turku, Finland, explains that the nature of screen use has changed dramatically, shifting from traditional television to more interactive and personalized digital devices, such as mobile phones and video games. Earlier studies focused primarily on TV viewing, but since the mid-2010s, research has begun to include new devices such as smartphones and tablets.
“Interestingly, television viewing continued to decline even during the pandemic,” says Mori.
Dependence on screens increased due to school closure during pandemic
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, research showed a mixed picture, as most studies indicated an increasing trend while others showed mixed results. Most studies conducted after the pandemic found dramatic increases in both total and leisure screen time among children and teens.
Across age groups, older children and teens generally reported more screen time than younger children.
“This probably reflects evolutionary factors,” says shared lead author Sanju Silval, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Turku. “Adolescence is a life stage where peer relationships, online social interactions and romantic relationships are becoming increasingly central.”
The increase in screen time was seen across all socio-economic groups, but was more pronounced in children from higher socio-economic backgrounds. The authors suggest this may reflect greater access to personal digital devices.
Guidance needed for healthy screen use
The continued increase in screen exposure raises concerns about potential effects on physical health, mental well-being, sleep, and development. In addition to time spent on digital devices, the digital environment can expose youth to cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and unrealistic body ideals.
Many countries have introduced regulatory measures in response to growing concerns about youth digital media use. The authors emphasize that effective responses must be based on high-quality evidence.
Most research has focused on the duration of screen use rather than the quality, context, or content of digital activities. The authors call for future research to take a more nuanced and multidimensional approach, examining not only how much time children spend on screens but also what they are doing online and how this affects their well-being.
“Technology offers tremendous opportunities, but it also presents risks,” says Silwal. “To ensure that children benefit from digital environments, we need continued research, evidence-based policies and coordinated efforts from families, schools, communities and governments.”
This systematic review was funded by the Research Council of Finland and the Investment Flagship Program of the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
