Digital technology has become an indispensable aspect of children's lives, providing unparalleled prospects for learning, entertainment, and social interaction. Nonetheless, the excessive and problematic utilization of digital devices has emerged as a prominent global concern. Based on the statement of the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP), children aged two years or older were recommended to limit the amount of total entertainment screen time to no more than two hours. Excessive screen time may lead to harmful health outcomes among children and adolescents, including mental health problems.
However, whether the link between screen time and mental health is causal is questionable. There may be bidirectional associations, with poor mental health affecting screen time and vice versa. And associations may be affected by gene-environment correlations/genetic confounding.