Overview

• The June 2025 Psychological Bulletin meta-analysis reviewed 117 longitudinal studies following over 292,000 children worldwide.
• Data show that increased screen time predicts higher rates of socio-emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, aggression, and low self-esteem.
• Children with existing emotional or behavioral issues are more likely to increase screen use, especially gaming, as a coping mechanism.
• Older children (6–10 years) and girls are more vulnerable to negative screen effects, while boys tend to escalate device use in response to distress.
• Educational content and parent-child co-viewing exhibit minimal harm, highlighting the need to focus on screen quality and context.