In the digital age we live in, it comes as no surprise to learn that 34% of six to 11 year olds (Gen Alpha) prefer playing on a tablet than playing with their real-life friends. Back in 2023, a study found that 80% of children have access to an iPad, and a 2025 study found that 40% of children in the US have an iPad by age two, and 60% by age four—but what is the hidden cost of too much screen time on the brain, and is this something that we should be worried about as the newer generations grow up?
Unfortunately, the answer seems to be a resounding yes. And, with additional hurdles to navigate such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which has proven to negatively impact emotional and social skills in children even in 2025, there may be some notable concerns that need to be remedied in young children today.
Beyond Eye Strain: The Real Impact of Screen Time on the Brain
Too much screen time can negatively impact the brain long-term due to impacting the development of different parts of the brain, stunting social skills, and executive functioning, among others. When these different areas are impacted as we grow up, we will struggle in many aspects of our lives.
Children who excessively use screens may have trouble with making friends and maintaining friendships, communicating effectively, and experience difficulty in staying focused on tasks and retaining information. As such, it is imperative that screen time is limited, and healthy boundaries are put in place from a young age to encourage healthy development.
The hidden cost of too much screen time includes more anxiety and depression symptoms, moodiness, and sleep disruption. However, children will respond differently, and over time, more and more effects are likely to be seen as children grow up and have to interact with the real world more.
Some hidden effects to too much screen time in children include:
- Moodiness
- Increased anxiety
- Increased depression
- Sleep disruption
- Impaired use of language
- Impaired social growth
- Impaired emotional growth
- Impaired ability to interpret emotions
What are the Emotional Consequences of Too Much Screen Exposure?
It is accepted that excessive screen time in children results in higher levels of anxiety and social anxiety, bullying, aggression, and defiance. As a side-effect, this can also negatively impact sleep and cause behaviours such as bed rotting, which can worsen mental and physical health.
With that being said, it is important to point out that the impact of different screen behaviours will be different, and the information that is being taken in will have a different impact. For example, innocent videos on TikTok have been linked to brain rot, but this does not necessarily mean that the content being viewed is inappropriate, or is negative news that results in doom scrolling. However, it can still be harmful as it can reinforce passive habits and make a child not want to get out of bed due to avoidance and other issues.
Other behaviours, such as doom scrolling, can have a more significant and immediate impact on children, as constantly receiving negative news can reinforce catastrophizing thinking, worsen anxiety and depression, and make overall mental health worse.
These two behaviours are different and can have different negative consequences, but both of them are likely to result in emotional consequences for the child, whether that is through worsening mental health and thinking patterns, or through not engaging with the real world and missing out on communication and what is right in front of them.
Does Screen Time Cause Cognitive Fatigue and Reduced Attention Span?
One hidden cost of too much screen time that many people do not realise is digital and cognitive fatigue, where you are tired after using a screen all day. This is due to prolonged screen exposure, and can cause symptoms such as mood swings, brain fog, and trouble with focusing, which can impact daily life and cause trouble in your day-to-day activities.
How is Disrupted Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Imbalance Linked to Excessive Screen Time?
Screens emit blue light, which can disturb sleep cycles and impact your circadian rhythm (the brain and body’s 24-hour clock that regulates the cycles of sleepiness and alertness based on the environment’s light) — leading to difficulty going to sleep and staying asleep. This in itself can lead to numerous other issues, including mood swings, fatigue, brain fog, and more as yet another hidden cost of too much screen time.
Is There a Link Between Screen Time and Anxiety or Irritability?
Studies have shown that there is a link between excessive daily screen time and issues like anxiety, depression, irritability, inattentiveness, and more. These problems can make overall mental health worse, which can lead to additional struggles, and make life more difficult, particularly as you get older.
Does Screen Time Impact Emotional Regulation in Children?
A major hidden cost of too much screen time for children is the impact on their emotional regulation. While handing a crying toddler an iPad to calm them down might work, all you are doing is showing your child that their tantrum works to get what they want—and this actively works against emotional regulation.
It is crucial for children to grow up and learn how to manage their emotions appropriately and identify their feelings in a way that is not harmful to themselves or others. As parents and guardians, it is crucial that we teach our children regulation from a young age, and help them to thrive and succeed in life, as they will not be able to rely on the same crutches as they get older, go into school, and eventually start working as adults.
Is Screen Time Rewiring Young Minds?
Too much screen time is literally rewiring young brains, with research using MRI scans showing that there are notable changes in the brains of young children who spend an excessive amount of time on screens. The hidden cost of too much screen time can and will have long-lasting effects on children, and it may take years for us to fully understand the extent of these impacts.
With that being said, however, it is important not to demonise screen time and technology, as they can be incredible tools for both adults and children to use alike. The key is for technology to be used in moderation and with supervision. Letting children do as they please on devices and the internet can be incredibly dangerous, and can lead to a plethora of additional troubles that are better left alone.
What Are Some Tips for Managing Screen Time?
Managing screen time is key, and there are several steps that you can easily take to try and combat too much screen time in your house. From setting daily limits and creating screen-free zones in the house, you need to take charge and set a good example for your children in whatever you do.
Below are some tips for managing screen use in households:
- Set clear boundaries that work for everyone involved
- Set daily screen limits
- Set screen-free zones in the house
- Set screen-free hours
- Look for screen-free entertainment alternatives
- Allow your children to get bored (boredom ignites creativity)
How The Brain Workshop Helps Rebalance Digital-Affected Brains
Worried about the long-term impact of screen time? Contact The Brain Workshop to explore tailored brain training and behavioural solutions that support focus, calm, and cognitive health. Or, find out more about how doomscrolling affects a child’s developing brain, the impact that Ramadan has on your brain, how to stay productive in school during the holy month, and how to manage exams during this time.
There is a hidden cost of too much screen time that many of us are only just starting to learn about, and we as parents, professionals, and guardians need to act to make healthy changes as soon as possible. We need to encourage balance and a healthy lifestyle, and lead by example to avoid the lasting effects of excessive screen use in the digital age we live in.
Learn more about us at the Brain Workshop, meet our team, check out events, or even read our FAQ.
