Research

New WHO/HBSC report sheds light on adolescent digital behaviours across Europe, Central Asia and Canada

It off ers a nuanced picture ofhow adolescents are engaging with social media anddigital games, highlighting both concerning trendsand positive aspects of digital engagement.

Teens with problematic smartphone use are twice as likely to have anxiety – and many are eager to cut down

Two new studies of smartphone habits in teenagers have identified links between problematic smartphone use (PSU) and depression, anxiety, and insomnia. 

Mobile Phone Addiction Among Children and Adolescents

The review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of mobile phone addiction among children and adolescents.

Prospective relationship between family screen time rules, obesogenic behaviours, and childhood obesity

Family screen use rules (FSRs) could plausibly protect against the development of childhood obesity, although the mechanisms underlying these protective effects remain largely unexplored. These findings suggest the potential benefits of promoting the adoption of FSRs as a promising population-based strategy to enhance child health behaviours and mitigate the risk of childhood obesity.

Does TikTok contribute to eating disorders?

TikTok employs sophisticated algorithms to deliver users increasingly personalised content over time.  Our results provide preliminary evidence that the TikTok algorithm might exacerbate eating disorder symptoms via content personalisation processes that are desensitised to volitional user actions (i.e., “liking” videos)

Is excessive smartphone use associated with weight status and self-rated health among youth?

This study aims to investigate the unique relationship between smartphone-specific screen time and physical health outcomes.

Five or More Hours of Smartphone Usage Per Day May Increase Obesity

In a recent study university students who used their smartphones five or more hours a day had a 43 percent increased risk of obesity.

New report highlights increase in number of children and young people with eating disorders

The report also reveals a significant rise in those being diagnosed with eating disorders, including a 10% increase among young men and women aged 17-19.

The social media diet: A scoping review to investigate the association between social media, body image and eating disorders amongst young people

To systematically map out and critically review the existing global literature on the relationship between social media usage, body image and eating disorders in young people aged 10–24 years.

Screen Media Exposure and Obesity in Children and Adolescents

Current evidence suggests that screen media exposure leads to obesity in children and adolescents.

Teenage social media use strongly linked to anxiety and depression, UK study finds

Academics from Oxford university, who are carrying out the largest global study of teenage mental health, said their initial research had found about 60 per cent of 16- to 18-year-olds spent between two and four hours a day on social media sites. “We found a linear relationship between higher rates of anxiety and depression and…

The association between use of social media and the development of body dysmorphic disorder and attitudes toward cosmetic surgeries: a national survey

This study reveals thatheavy use of these platforms is associated withnegative appraisals about one's physicalappearance, and it fosters one's tendency towardcosmetic surgery, especially among females.

Teens with problematic smartphone use are twice as likely to have anxiety – and many are eager to cut down

Two new studies of smartphone habits in teenagers have identified links between problematic smartphone use (PSU) and depression, anxiety, and insomnia. 

A multi-school study in England, to assess problematic smartphone usage and anxiety and depression

To assess the association between problematic smartphone usage and anxiety and depression in adolescents.

Brain Drain: The Mere Presence of One’s Own Smartphone Reduces Available Cognitive Capacity

Results from two experiments indicate that even when people are successful at maintaining sustained attention—as when avoiding the temptation to check their phones—the mere presence of these devices reduces available cognitive capacity.

Adolescent internet use predicts higher levels of generalized and social anxiety symptoms for girls but not boys

The present study aims to fill existing gaps in the literature by exploring the directions of the associations between adolescent internet use and the development of generalized and social anxiety symptoms

Social Media and Youth Mental Health

We must acknowledge the growing body of research about potential harms, increase our collective understanding of the risks associated with social media use, and urgently take action. mental health and well-being during critical stages of development.

Does the Brain Drain Effect Really Exist? A Meta-Analysis

In the present article, a meta-analytic approach was adopted in order to verify these findings. Here we show a significant overall negative effect of smartphone use and presence.

Is adolescent internet use a risk factor for the development of depression symptoms or vice-versa?

Clarify the strength and direction of associations between adolescent internet use and the development of depression symptoms using a longitudinal modeling approach.

Prevalence of problematic smartphone usage and associated mental health outcomes amongst children and young people:

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the prevalence of PSU and quantify the association with mental health harms.

Cure for tantrums? Longitudinal associations between parental digital emotion regulation and children’s self-regulatory skills

Bedtime screen use behaviors and sleep outcomes: Findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study

To determine associations between bedtime screen time behaviors and sleep outcomes in a national study of early adolescents.

Babies need humans, not screens

Find out why, and how, too much screen time can harm your child.

Association Between Screen Time Exposure in Children at 1 Year of Age and Autism Spectrum Disorder at 3 Years of Age

To examine the association between screen time in infancy and the development ofautism spectrum disorder at 3 years of age.

Youths’ sensitivity to social media feedback: A computational account

Early-Childhood Tablet Use and Outbursts of Anger

To estimate how child tablet use contributes to expressions of anger and frustration across the ages of 3.5 to 5.5 years at the within-person level.

Functional connectivity changes in the brain of adolescents with internet addiction: A systematic literature review of imaging studies

This literature review aims to summarise and analyse the evidence of various imaging studies that have investigated the effects of IA on the FC in adolescents.

Child development ages, stages and online behaviour

Ee examined a variety of sources to understand key ages and stages in child development and online behaviour, and the implications for risk of harm online.

Infant Cognitive Development and Screens

Importance of the first two years for cognitive development.

Preschooler Screen Time During the Pandemic Is Prospectively Associated With Lower Achievement of Developmental Milestones

The aim of this study was to assess the developmental risks associated with total screen time, and specifically newer mobile devices, in the context of the pandemic.

The relationship between smartphone use and subjective musculoskeletal symptoms and university students

This study was to investigate the use of smartphones by university students in selected areas, their musculoskeletal symptoms, and the associated hazard ratio.

The surprising cure ‘tech neck’ sufferers are embracing

Smartphone users are increasingly turning to Botox jabs to cure “tech neck” –pain and inflammation from time hunched over devices.

The Real State of Beauty: A Global Report

Offers unique insight into how technology – particularly the explosive growth of social media – is continuing to shape our perceptions of beauty and the way we feel about our bodies.

Predictors of Musculoskeletal Pain among Primary School Students Using Smartphones in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

This study aimed to examine risk factors for musculoskeletal pain amongprimary school students using smartphones.

The effects of smartphone use on upper extremity muscle activity and pain threshold

The purpose of this study was to determine whether muscle activity and pressure-inducedpain in the upper extremities are affected by smartphone use, and to compare the effects of phonehandling with one hand and with both hands.

Sleep and Screens – Research at a Glance

A Research at a Glance summary of Screens and Sleep

Future Directions for Screen Time Interventions for Sleep

The recent study by Pickard et al indicates that reducing before-bed screen use may help with some sleep outcomes among toddlers.

Toddler Screen Use Before Bed and Its Effect on Sleep and Attention

Toddler screen time has been associated with poorer sleep and differences in attention. Understanding the causal impact of screen time on early development is of the highest importance.

Toddler Screen Use Before Bed and Its Effect on Sleep and Attention

Toddler screen time has been associated with poorer sleep and differences in attention. Understanding the causal impact of screen time on early development is of the highest importance.

Child self-generated indecent imagery (sexting)

Explaining the law on child self-generated indecent imagery, formerly known as ‘sexting’, the sharing of indecent images, videos or other sexual content of children.

#likestolines: protect your child from countylines online exploitation

While parents and professionals working with children are uniquely positioned to identify and safeguard children at risk, our research reveals that a third (32%) of UK adults do not know what county lines is.

Learning time and disciplinary climate

On average across OECD countries, one in three students reported that they get distracted using digital devices and around one of four students indicated that they get distracted by other students who are using digital devices.

Study to examine four-fold rise in self-generated child abuse images

A study has been launched to examine a “disturbing” increase in sexual abuse images self-generated by children aged between 11 and 13 over the last three years.

An examination of bedtime media and excessive screen time by Canadian preschoolers during the COVID-19 pandemic

We examine patterns of media use in pre-school children and the extent to which child and family characteristics contribute to media use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The National Parent Survey

This year we have asked parents to tell us more about the challenges they face themselves.

New WHO/HBSC report sheds light on adolescent digital behaviours across Europe, Central Asia and Canada

It off ers a nuanced picture ofhow adolescents are engaging with social media anddigital games, highlighting both concerning trendsand positive aspects of digital engagement.

International study reveals insights into young people’s online habits in Scotland

The report shows that Scotland saw a notable increase in problematic social media use among 13-year-old girls, rising from 11% in 2018 to 22% in 2022 – an increase which is nearly double the report’s average for this group.

Five commitments that will transform children’s online safety and well-being

In this manifesto, Molly Rose Foundation sets out five bold policies that can have a transformational impact on children’s online safety and well-being. Put simply, regulation can work – recent research has shown over 100 product changes have been made by platforms in response to UK regulation safety.

Screen time: impacts on education and wellbeing

We strongly welcome the Government’s decision to implement a tougher mobile phone ban in schools in England.