Khanani Muhammad I, Khan Muhammad R, Farooqi Mohammed F, Fazal Jawad, Aabideen Zainul, Alkuwaiti Najla S
Medicine, Burjeel Royal Hospital, Al Ain, ARE.
Internal Medicine, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohammed Medical City (STMC) and Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, ARE.
Cureus. 2025 Jul 20;17(7):e88373. doi: 10.7759/cureus.88373. eCollection 2025 Jul.
The pervasive rise of digital media and screen-based entertainment has transformed the developmental landscape for children and adolescents. The COVID-19 pandemic further amplified screen exposure, exacerbating public health concerns. While digital media offers educational, social, and recreational benefits, growing concerns have emerged regarding its adverse health outcomes. Several international guidelines recommend limited screen time particularly for children under five; however, adherence remains inconsistent. This review combines recent global data and research findings to examine the physical, mental, cognitive, developmental, and emotional health consequences of digital media use and excessive screen time among youth. Physical effects include increased risks of obesity, sleep disturbances, visual impairments, and musculoskeletal pain, particularly with prolonged sedentary behaviors. Mental health outcomes are equally concerning, with excessive screen exposure associated with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and, alarmingly, self-harm and suicidal tendencies. Screen time exceeding 2-4 hours per day is consistently linked with increased cognitive and developmental health risks, though the threshold for harm remains debated. Despite some potential benefits of high-quality, interactive content, the evidence highlights the need for balanced media use, age-appropriate limits, and active parental guidance. By integrating findings from international studies and public health recommendations, this review provides a comprehensive foundation for clinicians, educators, and policymakers to develop targeted strategies that promote healthier digital behaviors in children and adolescents.
数字媒体和基于屏幕的娱乐的普遍兴起改变了儿童和青少年的发展环境。新冠疫情进一步增加了屏幕暴露时间，加剧了公众对健康的担忧。虽然数字媒体具有教育、社交和娱乐等益处，但人们对其不良健康后果的担忧也日益增加。一些国际指南建议限制屏幕使用时间，尤其是对五岁以下儿童；然而，遵守情况并不一致。本综述结合了近期的全球数据和研究结果，以探讨青少年使用数字媒体和过长屏幕时间对身体、心理、认知、发育和情绪健康的影响。身体影响包括肥胖、睡眠障碍、视力损害和肌肉骨骼疼痛风险增加，尤其是长时间久坐不动的行为。心理健康结果同样令人担忧，过多的屏幕暴露与抑郁、焦虑、自卑有关，令人担忧的是，还与自我伤害和自杀倾向有关。每天屏幕使用时间超过2至4小时始终与认知和发育健康风险增加有关，尽管危害阈值仍存在争议。尽管高质量的互动内容有一些潜在益处，但证据表明需要平衡媒体使用、设定适合年龄的限制，并给予积极的家长指导。通过整合国际研究结果和公共卫生建议，本综述为临床医生、教育工作者和政策制定者制定有针对性的策略提供了全面的基础，以促进儿童和青少年更健康的数字行为。
