A recent study from Singapore warns that excessive screen time for children under two years old may alter brain development, leading to decision-making delays and increased anxiety in adolescence.
A new study conducted in Singapore highlights the potential risks of excessive screen exposure for infants, emphasizing that such exposure before the age of two can lead to significant changes in brain growth. Researchers observed that children who spent substantial amounts of time in front of screens during early infancy exhibited accelerated growth in certain brain areas, particularly those linked to visual processing and self-regulation. This phenomenon likely stems from the intense sensory stimulation provided by digital screens, which could foster neural development in unexpected ways.
The study, led by Assistant Professor Tan Ai Ping and her team from the A*STAR Institute of Human Development, in collaboration with the National University of Singapore, involved a longitudinal analysis of 168 children over a span of more than ten years. These children underwent brain imaging assessments at ages 4.5, 6, and 7.5 years, allowing researchers to track the evolution of neural networks across different developmental stages. The conclusions drawn from this extensive monitoring raise concerns about the long-term cognitive and emotional impacts of early screen exposure on children's development.
Published in the scientific journal eBioMedicine, the findings of this research add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that early exposure to screens may predispose children to cognitive challenges as they reach adolescence, including slower decision-making capabilities and higher levels of anxiety. These implications underscore the need for parents and caregivers to regulate screen time for young children to foster healthier developmental outcomes.
