Screen time does not harm children's brains or wellbeing, study finds

The conclusion was drawn after analysing data from the longest research of its kind in to the effect PCs, TVs and phones have on kids

Whether it's staring at phones, playing on games consoles, or going pie-eyed in front of the goggle box, screen time can be 1 of the major sources of family rows - not to mention concerns for parents about how much time their kids spend in front of electronic devices.

Well in news we may not want our nippers to hear, researchers have concluded there is no evidence to support the theory that too much screen time is harmful to children's wellbeing or thinking abilities.

The study found that even when youngsters spent hours and hours on their devices each day, there was no sign of brain function impairment, or damage to their mental health.

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The research, which was a joint project between University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge, as well as US institutions, involved around 12,000 children, aged between 9 and 12.

What did the researchers look for?

The scientists who undertook the research looked at data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, which is the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States.

For over 2 years, youngsters in the study logged how long they spent engaging with screens every day, including watching television or films, online content such as YouTube videos, and playing video games.

They also noted how long they spent connecting with others via apps, calls, video calls and social media.

The youngsters recorded times ranging from 0 through to 4 hours a day.

This data was examined along with the results of MRI scans of their brains, and the outcomes of physical and mental health assessments.

What did they find?

The study's authors said while patterns could be observed in brain scans that linked to patterns of screen use, there was no meaningful association between the amount of screen time the kids had, and their measures of cognitive and mental wellbeing.

Latest research from @oiioxford finds no evidence screen time is negative for children’s cognitive development and well-being. Lead author Jack Miller, co-authors; Kathryn L. Mills, @vuorre, @OrbenAmy @ShuhBillSkee. https://t.co/ng9Gl4U79T

— Oxford Internet Institute (@oiioxford) November 20, 2023

What did the study's authors have to say?

Jack Miller, of the Oxford Internet Institute, and the first author of the study, said in conclusion, they had seen nothing in their research that made them believe that screen time had a negative impact on a child's health.

He said: 'If screen time had an impact on brain development and wellbeing, we expected to see a variety of cognitive and wellbeing outcomes that this comprehensive, representative research did not show.'

'Environmental influence'

Professor Andrew Przybylski, who supervised research, added: 'We know that children’s brains are more susceptible to environmental influence than adults. As digital screen time is a relatively new phenomenon, it’s important to question its impact.'

'Heated debates'

'Our findings should help guide the heated debates about technology away from hyperbole and towards high-quality science. If researchers don’t improve their approach to studying tech, we’ll never learn what leads some young people to flounder and others to flourish in the digital age.'

Meanwhile, Professor Matti Vuorre from Tilburg University in the Netherlands, a co-author, said the analysis plan had been reviewed by experts before they saw the data.

He said: 'One also suggested we take a look at social media on its own because it’s a source of worry for many [but] we did not find anything special.'

“The Online Safety Act is hugely welcome and will help protect people’s mental health across the UK.” - @mentalhealth

This new law will tackle illegal content, protect children and give adults greater control online.

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— Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (@SciTechgovuk) November 17, 2023

What did the study conclude?

The researchers said that in conclusion, the study 'does not support policies centered around limiting screen time to protect neurocognitive development'.

However, other studies into screen time have previously suggested that too much of it can be linked to delayed development in youngsters, with 1 theory being because it replaces time playing or conversations with family.

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