Children today are spending more time online than any generation before them. But what does decades of research tell us about how digital media is shaping their development?
A new international review published in JAMA Pediatrics offers one of the most comprehensive answers yet.
The study analysed 153 longitudinal studies involving children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years, some of which followed participants for up to 20 years.
The findings point to consistent links between higher levels of digital media use and poorer social, emotional and academic outcomes over time.
What the research found
Across the studies examined, heavier digital media use was associated with increased risk of depression, lower self-esteem, substance use, self-harm behaviours and poorer academic performance.
Social media stood out as a particular concern, with stronger associations with social and emotional outcomes than other forms of digital media.
The review also explored online gaming, which showed a different pattern. While persistent gaming was linked to higher levels of aggression and behavioural problems, the research also pointed to improvements in attention and executive functioning, potentially reflecting the cognitive demands of some games.
Together, the findings highlight the complex relationship between young people and digital technologies, and the need for nuanced, developmentally informed guidance and policy.
Why platform design matters
The review also highlights the role of digital platform design in shaping how young people engage online.
Many platforms include features designed to maximise engagement and encourage users to spend longer periods scrolling, interacting and returning to apps.
Professor Delyse Hutchinson, Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor at the Deakin Lifespan Institute, and senior author on the study, says the findings underscore the importance of considering how these digital environments are designed.
‘This is not just about individual families managing devices,’ Professor Hutchinson said. ‘Digital platforms are intentionally designed to maximise engagement. Governments set regulatory standards and technology companies determine the architecture of these environments.’
“If we are seeing consistent links between heavier use and poorer developmental outcomes, then responsibility must also sit with those designing and governing these systems.”Professor Delyse HutchinsonClinical Psychologist and Associate Professor at the Deakin Lifespan Institute
A growing policy conversation
The findings arrive at a time when governments around the world are considering how best to support young people in increasingly digital environments.
Australia has recently introduced world-leading legislation banning children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, reflecting rising concerns about the potential impacts of prolonged social media use.
Large-scale evidence reviews such as this help inform these conversations by bringing together decades of research on how digital media use may influence development across childhood and adolescence.
Professor Hutchinson says the growing evidence base ultimately points to the need for stronger safeguards in young people’s digital environments.
‘Digital technology brings real benefits, but we need systems that prioritise children’s wellbeing,’ she said.
She believes priorities should include platforms that are age-appropriate by design, reducing persuasive or addictive features, stronger privacy protections for children, and clearer accountability mechanisms for platform operators.
The question is no longer whether young people will grow up online – but how we ensure those digital environments support their wellbeing.
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