Screen Time and Educational Outcomes of Children and Adolescents: A complex, multifaceted relationship

This literature review explores the relationship between screen time and academic achievement in children and adolescents.  While the rise of technological innovations offers numerous advantages, concerns have arisen about the potential negative effects of excessive screen time on their lifestyle behaviours, physical health, socioemotional functioning, and academic performance. 

Several possible mechanisms were identified that suggest high screen time to be associated with changes in brain development and functioning in vulnerable developmental periods, changes in executive functioning, loss of sleep and decreased psychological well-being and mental health, which in turn may negatively affect academic performance. In addition, emphasis is placed on the importance of considering the nuances of screen time use in regard to its quality and beyond its quantity.