A leading Priory psychiatrist has warned of the dangers of excessive screen time for children ahead of the annual summer spike in usage.
Children aged six to 14 spend approximately two-and-a-half hours a day on screens on average, with 25% of children and young people using smartphones in a way that is consistent with a behavioural addiction.
Dr Himanshu Shekhar, a consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry at Priory who is based at Priory Wellbeing Centre Birmingham, said too much screen time can “rewire” a child’s brain and has issued guidance to parents to help manage exposure.
Excessive screen time can impact a child's brain, leading to changes in both structure and function. Neurologically, this means shifts in brain areas responsible for critical thinking, language, and emotional regulation,
“Many children experience a significant increase in screen time during summer as the structured routine of school and the support of after school clubs fades away and the workload of exam season ends for older children, so it is an important time to step in and ensure a balance is struck.”
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Samir Shah, medical director at Priory Hospital Altrincham, likened the impact on the brain to redirecting traffic.
“Regular and excessive screen time can change both the physical structure of the brain such as areas responsible for memory and planning, and how different parts of the brain communicate with each other,” he said.
“We sometimes call this brain network connectivity. It’s a bit like redirecting traffic during roadworks; the routes change and sometimes this leads to unexpected consequences.”
The science explained: what happens inside a child’s brain
Dr Shekhar explained exactly what happens inside a child’s brain as a result of sustained overconsumption of digital screens.
He said: “Changes to the structure of the brain particularly occurs in areas like the prefrontal cortex – which is involved in memory, planning, and flexibility - and the parietal lobe - involved in processing sensory information.
“Studies have also linked screen time to alterations in the thickness of the cerebral cortex, a region crucial for higher cognitive functions like critical thinking. Additionally, excessive screen time has been associated with damage to the areas of the brain that support language and literacy skills.”
Dr Shah added: “Excessive screen time has been linked to shorter attention spans, weaker problem solving abilities and difficulty switching between tasks. It can affect attention shifting, focus and cognitive abilities.
“It is similar to only exercising one muscle group, and other important mental muscles like focus, delayed gratification and self-control can weaken if they are not used enough.
Does this apply to people of all ages?
Dr Shah said: “A child's brain is generally considered more vulnerable to the effects of excessive screen exposure than an adult's brain. This is because the child's brain is still developing rapidly, especially during the first few years of life, and is therefore more sensitive to external stimuli, including those from screens.”
While too much screen time is most harmful in younger children, adolescents and adults are also at risk.
“There is credible evidence of the harmful effect of problematic smartphone use in adolescent and adult studies,” said Dr Shekhar. “Adolescent studies have shown that digital technology exposure is linked to lower grey matter density in specific brain areas.
“Problematic internet use in young individuals has been connected to reduced grey matter in brain regions responsible for reward processing and inhibitory control.”
Dr Shah added: “Research has shown us that teenagers and children who spend more than four hours per day on screens are more likely to experience higher levels of anxiety and depression. The constant and persistent stimulation of digital screens can leave young minds feeling overstimulated with higher dopamine levels but emotionally unfulfilled.”
Dr Shekhar’s top tips to reduce screen time
Discuss the issue
“Talk to your children about why we’re limiting screen time so there’s a shared understanding in the household,” Dr Shekhar said.
Use device time limits
“Time limits can be a helpful way for parents to keep track of how much screen time has been consumed so we don’t accidentally overdo it, and it can be very helpful to have clearly defined limits to provide healthy boundaries for teenage children. Most devices have tools to help you set these time limits too; let the technology help you achieve a reduction, Dr Shekhar said.”
Do it as a family
“As adults, most of us would acknowledge that our own screen time has increased dramatically in recent years too, perhaps as a result of remote working devices or addictive social media and messaging apps,” said Dr Shekhar: “We can set an example by taking steps to reduce our own usage, like putting your phone in another room when you’re with children, to create clearly defined screen-free family time.”