New research highlights how children in India lag behind the global average screen time guidelinesWith lasting effects on health and cognitive abilitiesMultiple screens have become an integral part of children’s lives. But is it safe for young teens to spend so much time on screens? Existing research findings suggest that devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, and TVs can aid learning, but their excessive use is associated with adverse health and developmental outcomes.A recent study* published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry examined children and adolescents with mental disorders to assess their screen usage habits. The findings are shocking: The average daily screen time was 3.1 hours. Importantly, two-thirds of the 212 study participants (average age 13 years) exceeded the recommended screen time limits set by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO). These guidelines recommend no screen exposure for children under two years of age (except video calls), less than one hour per day for ages two to four years, and a maximum of two hours per day for children ages five years and older.

The study revealed that television (66%) and mobile phones (70.3%) were the most commonly used devices among the 212 children and adolescents who were part of the study. Alarmingly, 22.2% of children meet the criteria for screen media addiction based on DSM-5 standards for Internet Gaming Disorder. DSM-5 is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, a guide used by researchers to diagnose, classify, and treat mental health disorders.Addiction was more prevalent among boys from joint or extended families and among children suffering from neurodevelopmental or disintegrative disorders.Excessive screen use contributes to obesity, sedentary behavior, poor dietary habits, and disrupted sleep. Cognitively, prolonged exposure can impair language development, executive functioning, and emerging literacy skills. Research also shows that structural brain changes occur in preschool children with high screen exposure, particularly affecting white matter pathways (which act as the brain’s communication network), which are important for learning and communication.Psychosocially, children addicted to screen media often display deception (hiding or lying about using devices), preoccupation, withdrawal symptoms, and conflict within families. Screen use also interferes with friendships and family activities, while increasing susceptibility to cyberbullying, unsafe online content, and negative emotional states.The study underlines the urgent need for parental awareness and regulation. Parents often allow children with neurodevelopmental disorders extra screen time as a coping measure, but this leads to more problems. In a joint family setting, inconsistent parenting rules can further compound the problem.In conclusion, screen media use among children is not inherently harmful, but excessive and unregulated use poses significant risks to physical health, cognitive development, and emotional well-being. With approximately one-quarter of children in psychiatric care showing signs of addiction, regular assessment of screen habits and strict adherence to recommended guidelines are essential steps to protect the next generation.(*Problematic screen media use among children and adolescents attending child and adolescent psychiatric services in a tertiary care center in North India, by Venkatesh Raju, Akhilesh Sharma, Ruchita Shah, Ravikant Tangela, Sana Devi Yumnam, Jyoti Singh, Jayvinder Yadav and Sandeep Grover)