Impacts of screen time on children

Excessive screen and social-media use may undermine children’s attention and sleep, with practical safeguards focused on delaying access and protecting screen-free time.

• Rapidly shifting content and attention: Smartphones deliver frequent, fast context switches that may make it harder to sustain attention for school, work, and relationships. Huberman describes this pattern as potentially inducing “a sort of ADHD,” while noting that research was ongoing. 1
• Bedtime and overnight device access: Children may stay up later using devices and wake during the night and return to them, reducing sleep and affecting sleep quality. 2
• Suggested safeguards: Delay children’s social-media use until after middle school, and keep the hour before bedtime and the night itself technology-free. 3