Overview

• Peer‑reviewed research in JAMA Network Open linked higher exposure before age eight to reduced odds of meeting higher achievement levels on Ontario’s EQAO tests.
• Each additional hour per day in early years corresponded to roughly a 9–10% lower likelihood of higher performance in Grade 3 reading and math and Grade 6 math, with limited effects on writing.
• The longitudinal study followed more than 3,000 children from 2008 to 2023, pairing parent‑reported use at average ages 5.5 and 7.5 with later standardized test outcomes.
• TV and other digital media were consistently associated with lower scores; reported video game use correlated with lower Grade 3 results among girls, though only about 20% reported gaming.
• Researchers plan to analyze content and context of use and broader academic measures, while outside experts caution the findings do not establish causation.