Digital Overload: Screen Time Taking a Mental Toll on Kids

Increased screen time is associated with higher depression and brain changes in teens. A Pitt study questions the role of lack of sleep

“With one hour of daily screen time, we started to see significant effects on sleep,” the lead author of the study said.

Digital overload: Screen time taking a mental toll on kids

Children today are spending more time than ever in front of screensand health experts say the emotional consequences are becoming harder to ignore.New research shows families are spending more than 96 hours a year arguing over screen time. Thats the equivalent of two full workweeks lost to tech-related tension. But pediatricians warn the emotional toll on kids is even greater.Doctors are reporting an increase in screen-driven issues like tantrum…

UK kids may spend more time on screens than sleeping this summer – a new parent-led tool offers families a way out

With schools now out, UK children aged 5–7 are on track to spend more time in front of screens than asleep - with some exceeding 6+ hours of daily screen time, according to national estimates. Experts warn that excessive screen exposure is not just a summer issue - it’s a growing public health concern with serious consequences for learning, mental health, and emotional development.