Why Parents Should Be Worried About Screen Addiction In Their Children

As concerns mount among parents over how much time their children spend on screens, a new study suggests it’s not the number of hours that matters most, but how they’re using the technology.
According to a study published Wednesday, June 18 in JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association, there was no significant link between the amount of time children spent on social media, mobile phones, or video games and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, rule-breaking behavior, or even suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Instead, researchers found that the key risk factor was addictive use described as “excessive use” that interferes with responsibilities at home, schoolwork, or other daily activities.
“They find a craving for it and cannot stop using it,” said Yunyu Xiao, lead author of the study and assistant professor in the department of population health sciences and psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.

The study tracked over 4,000 U.S. children over four years, beginning when participants were 9 or 10 years old. Findings showed that nearly half the children exhibited a high-risk pattern of addictive mobile phone use, while more than 40% showed signs of addictive video game use.
Children with high or rising trajectories of social media or phone addiction were two to three times more likely to report suicidal ideation and behaviours compared to their peers. High or increasing social media use was also linked to increased symptoms of mental health issues. Similarly, heavy video game use was associated with a higher risk of suicidal behaviour and psychological symptoms.

The study also found gender differences: girls were more likely to develop addictive patterns with social media, while boys leaned more toward addictive video game use.
Xiao acknowledged limitations, noting the findings were based on self-reported data and did not account for other factors like genetics or environment.
Experts say the results offer a clear message for parents: focus on addiction prevention, not just screen-time limits.
“Set boundaries early on,” said Melissa Greenberg, a clinical psychologist at the Princeton Psychotherapy Centre in New Jersey. Greenberg was not involved in the study but emphasised the need for screen-free times, especially during meals and bedtime. She recommended no phones in teens’ bedrooms after a set hour each night.
Greenberg also encouraged parents to help plan screen-free activities, such as hanging out with friends in person. “When I talk to parents, I tell them to let their kids hang out with their friends more. A lot of parents worry about kids’ safety when they get together in person, but it’s often far more dangerous for them to be in their bedrooms on social media, where they could connect with predators or sextortionists or simply get addicted.”
She also urged parents to model healthy digital habits. “Parents should be mindful of their own use of devices around their kids and show them by example how to balance screen time and screen-free time.”
Some parents are turning to creative solutions. Last summer, The Anxious Generation movement, inspired by Jonathan Haidt’s book of the same name, launched a challenge encouraging teens to commit to screen-free Fridays. The movement is gaining traction again this summer.
“We can try it by going for walks (sans headphones), sitting and watching a sunset or lying around in a hammock,” one speaker told summer camp counsellors in Wisconsin and New England this week. “Learning to get comfortable with ourselves and our own thoughts … is, unfortunately, a skill that requires practice these days.”
Greenberg also recommended talking to kids about digital addiction in a nonjudgmental way. “Screens are meant to grab our attention … and social media platforms are designed to keep us going back for more. It’s important for us all to be aware of this.”
Finally, she advised creating device agreements with teens. “Involve your teen in this process,” Greenberg said. “Let them help decide what’s acceptable use, what the limits are, and what the consequences should be. That way, they’ll better understand the reasons—and be more likely to follow them.”