The study, published in JAMA Pediatrics on 28 September 2026, analysed evidence from 23 previous meta-analyses involving 2,817,252 children across 64 countries.
Researchers from the University of Calgary in Canada and other institutions conducted the umbrella review to assess the overall evidence on the relationship between screen-based media use and child development and mental health.
The review found that greater screen exposure was associated with lower overall academic achievement and language development, as well as higher levels of internalising and externalising behavioural problems, emotional difficulties and peer problems.
The researchers also found that social media use was associated with higher levels of internalising problems, while the strength of some associations varied according to the type of screen use and the age of the child.
The authors said the strength of some of the associations was similar to or greater than those reported for established predictors of children's outcomes, including socioeconomic status, parenting behaviour and premature birth.
However, the researchers did not conclude that screen use was more harmful than poverty or that screen exposure directly caused the difficulties observed.
The study was an umbrella review of existing meta-analyses, meaning it assessed associations identified in previous research rather than establishing direct cause-and-effect relationships.
The researchers noted that children experiencing academic, emotional or behavioural difficulties could also spend more time using screens, while family circumstances and other underlying factors could influence both screen use and children's wellbeing.
The findings showed that screen exposure was not significantly associated with some outcomes, including executive functioning, prosocial behaviour, mathematics, science and reading scores.
The researchers concluded that screen use is a potentially modifiable factor relevant to children's developmental and mental wellbeing, while calling for evidence-based guidance on children's use of screen-based media.
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