The impact of excessive screen use on children’s cognitive and behavioral development

Abstract

The impact of excessive screen time on child development is a worrying issue in the current context, characterized by the increasing digitalization of society. This study aims to analyze the impact of excessive screen time on child cognitive and behavioral development, providing support for public policies, pedagogical practices, and family guidance that promote children’s well-being in a digitalized environment. This is a qualitative narrative literature review research, carried out between October and December 2024, analyzing studies published between 2020 and 2024. The search was conducted in academic databases such as SciELO, Google Scholar, and PubMed, using strategic descriptors such as “Child Development,” “Early Childhood Education,” and “Technology Dependence.” The inclusion criteria considered articles published in Portuguese, between 2020 and 2024, with solid methodological approaches and relevant to the topic. The exclusion criteria eliminated articles with inadequate methodologies, inconsistent, or incomplete results. It has been found that excessive screen time can compromise children’s cognitive, behavioral, and physical development. From a cognitive perspective, difficulties such as fragmented attention and lack of reflection are observed. Behaviorally, there are impairments in social skills, such as empathy and verbal communication, in addition to increased anxiety and irritability. Physical effects include a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and postural problems, in addition to sleep deprivation, which affects school performance and emotional regulation. In view of this, balance is essential, and supervision by parents, educators, and health professionals is indispensable.