We live in a technological age where screens, devices, and smartphones are now part of our everyday life. But what is the impact of this on our physical and mental health – particularly when it comes to young people?
On the back of the Western Australian Government’s recent announcement of its ‘Back to Basics’ program, which will be trialled next year to limit unnecessary screen time in the classroom, we thought we’d look at the health impacts of screen use on our children and adolescents.
Current Australian Guidelines
Modern screen use covers a broad range of technologies, including phones, tablets, computers, television, and gaming consoles.
Current guidelines for screen use, outlined in the Australian 24-hour movement guidelines, recommends the following screen time by age:
- Children younger than 2 years: no sedentary screen time.
- Children aged 2–5 years: no more than one hour per day.
- Children and young people aged 5–17 years: no more than 2 hours of sedentary recreational screen time per day. This does not include required schoolwork.
So how does Australia currently stack up against these guidelines? Well, it appears there’s a bit of work to do, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey indicating that only:
- 29% of 2–5 year olds and 28% of 5–17 year olds met the sedentary screen time recommendation.
- 30% of 2–5 year olds and 60% of 5–17 year olds used screen-based devices in the hour before they went to bed.
Health Implications
We know that screens and technology are an important part of modern life for children and teens and can help to support connection, creativity, learning, and entertainment.
On the flip side, however, spending too much time on screens can have worrying health implications for young people and impact on their mental health, physical health, and sleep.
Mental health
Many studies have found a link between screen time and mental health, with those spending more time on screens reporting greater signs of poor mental health, including:
- Depression and anxiety
- Hyperactivity and fidgetiness
- Low self esteem
- Feeling socially isolated
- Overall dissatisfaction with life
These feelings can be exacerbated if a young person is experiencing any form of cyberbullying online.
The Black Dog Institute’s 2023 Future Proofing Study – the largest and most comprehensive longitudinal study of adolescent mental health in Australia – found a clear correlation between increased screen use and declining mental health.
Physical health
Too much screen time can also have a negative impact on a young person’s physical health, including:
- Spending less time playing sports and being active
- Spending more time lying or sitting down without moving
- Eating less nutritious food
- Eating more food than needed
- Eye strain and dry eyes
In fact, a 2025 study has shown that a daily 1-hour increment of digital screen time increases the odds of developing myopia – or near sightedness – by 21%.
The ABS National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey also indicates a decline in physical activity as children get older. Their results showed that while 68% of 2–5 year olds met the physical activity recommendation from the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Australians, only 18% of 5–17 year olds met the requirements. This can be partly attributed to increased screen usage as children get older.
Sleep
One of the greatest implications of screen time for young people is on their sleep.
Getting enough quality sleep is vital to a young person’s growth and development. It is well documented through numerous studies that screen time before bed can reduce overall sleep time and make it much harder to both fall asleep and get a good quality sleep. In a nutshell, more screen time equals worse sleep!
This is because:
- Screen use can stimulate the brain, making it harder to fall asleep in the first place.
- The blue light of screens is known to delay the release of melatonin and disrupt the body’s normal circadian rhythms.
- Many people lose track of time scrolling social media when they should be sleeping.
To help stop screen usage impacting on sleep, it is recommended putting screens away at least an hour before you go to sleep.
Signs of screen use impacting mental and physical health
Some of the warning signs of screen use impacting on a young person’s mental and physical health, include:
- Lower interest in social activities, such as meeting friends or playing sport
- A drop in school performance
- Experiencing tiredness, sleep disturbance, headaches, and eye strain
- Changes in eating patterns
- Reduced personal hygiene
- Obsession with particular websites and games
- Extreme anger when asked to take a break from screens and online activity
- Appearing anxious and irritable when away from screens
- Becoming withdrawn from friends and family
While some of these behavioural changes may be a normal part of growing up, they could also indicate that screen time is having a negative impact on their overall health and wellbeing.
How to find a balance
With technology and screens playing an important role in every day modern life, how do children and adolescents find a good balance?
There is no magic answer to this, and the right amount of screen time can depend on a range of factors, including a person’s age, maturity, kind of content being consumed, learning needs, and family routine.
However, there are a few simple and important things that can help to mitigate the risks of screen use on a young person’s mental and physical health.
These include:
- Spending time with people in-person and off screens
- Getting outdoors and spend some screen-free time in nature
- Staying active and aiming for at least an hour of exercise a day – whether that’s participating in sports or group activities, hitting the gym, or just taking the dog for a walk.
- Following the 20-20-20 rule to help protect your eyes. This means taking a break every 20 minutes for 20 seconds when using the screen and looking at something 20 feet away (i.e. 6 metre) in the distance.
- Limiting screen time outside of schoolwork to two hours a day
- Keeping devices out of bedrooms overnight.
The Western Australian government is also introducing its Back to Basics program in 2027, to help reduce screen usage in schools. The six-month program will see screen time limits being trialled in classes from Kindergarten to Year 2.
Where to go for help if you have concerns about screen usage?
If you or your child have any concerns or need help with screen use, make an appointment with your GP. Appointments at Illawarra Medical Centre can be made online or by phoning (08) 9208 6400.
There are also a range of support services and resources available, including through the eSafety Commissioner and Black Dog Institute.
For more information on this topic, visit:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics – https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/childrens-physical-activity-screen-time-and-sleep
- Black Dog Institute – https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/teens-screens/parents/
- eSafety Commissioner – Screen time | How much is too much? | eSafety Commissioner
- Headspace – https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/for-young-people/screen-time/
- The Guardian Newspaper – ‘It’s the most urgent public health issue’: Dr Rangan Chatterjee on screen time, mental health – and banning social media until 18 | Health & wellbeing | The Guardian
- The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne – https://www.rch.org.au/teeninfo/fact-sheets/Screen_time_and_social_media/
- The Sydney Children’s Health Network – https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/kids-health-hub/screen-time/recommended-screen-time