It’s a scene familiar in many households. A child is crying, overwhelmed, inconsolable. The parent, out of patience and ideas, reaches for the one thing that reliably works: a screen. A few swipes later, peace is restored. The moment passes, the noise fades, and life moves on. But according to a new study, what looks like a harmless fix might quietly be making things worse.
Researchers tracking the emotional development of children over time say screen time isn’t just a distraction—it’s becoming an emotional habit. The study, which pooled data from nearly 300,000 children across several countries, suggests that children aren’t merely affected by screen use. They’re also reaching for screens to cope with the very feelings those screens may be helping to create.
This doesn’t mean screens are ruining childhood. But it does suggest that our growing reliance on digital devices as a solution to emotional upset is creating a cycle that feeds itself. Children who spend more time on screens tend to develop more emotional or behavioral issues. Then, when they feel overwhelmed by those feelings, they turn to the same screens again for comfort. It’s a loop that quietly tightens.
What sets this research apart is its scale and its design. Rather than taking isolated snapshots, it followed children over months and years. That allowed scientists to ask a more difficult question—not just whether screen time and emotional issues are linked, but which comes first. The answer, it seems, is both.
One of the clearest patterns emerged around video games. Among the screen activities children engaged in, gaming stood out as the one most strongly connected with emotional difficulty later on. It also turned out to be the activity most frequently chosen by children who were already struggling. For them, the pull toward gaming was more than fun—it was emotional escape. But that escape had consequences.
Parents often make careful choices for younger children, selecting wholesome content or limiting access entirely. But as children grow older, the rules often loosen. The study found that it’s in these later years—between six and ten—that the risks actually rise. Children in this age group have more control over their screen use and are better able to seek out content that suits their mood. A child upset after school may not want to talk. They might just want to be left alone with a game. The problem is that this choice, repeated over time, can displace the kinds of experiences that build resilience.
What gets lost is easy to overlook. A conversation with a parent. Time outside. The trial and error of figuring out how to feel better without a device. Researchers call this the displacement effect—the idea that screen use doesn’t just add something to a child’s day, it replaces something else. That something, in many cases, is the quiet work of growing up.
Across the studies, gender differences also emerged. Girls seemed more affected by overall screen use, especially in the general entertainment category. Boys, particularly older ones, showed more pronounced effects from gaming. But the common thread wasn’t gender. It was how children use screens in response to discomfort—and what happens when screens become their first line of defense.
The study also offers perspective for weary parents. The effects observed were real but relatively small. They don’t suggest catastrophe, but they do highlight a trend. Not every child who spends time on a tablet will develop anxiety or struggle with behavior. But across large groups of children, patterns appear. And they’re patterns that parents, teachers and policymakers should pay attention to.
One of the more hopeful findings was that screen use done alongside parents—especially when educational or guided—showed little to no harmful effect. The danger wasn’t in the presence of screens, but in their role as an emotional placeholder. When screens become a substitute for human contact, especially during moments of distress, children may miss out on learning how to cope.
There’s no need to panic. Devices aren’t going away. Nor does the solution lie in banning them altogether. But parents who notice when their child is using a screen as a shield rather than a tool may have an opportunity. An invitation to step in. To talk, to play, to listen—even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
What this research asks us to do is not abandon technology but to look more closely at how it fits into our family life. Screens may offer peace in the moment, but over time, they may quietly shape the way children deal with the world. And when it comes to emotional development, that shaping matters.
Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next: OpenAI Reaches $10 Billion Annual Revenue Mark as User Base Swells
Researchers tracking the emotional development of children over time say screen time isn’t just a distraction—it’s becoming an emotional habit. The study, which pooled data from nearly 300,000 children across several countries, suggests that children aren’t merely affected by screen use. They’re also reaching for screens to cope with the very feelings those screens may be helping to create.
This doesn’t mean screens are ruining childhood. But it does suggest that our growing reliance on digital devices as a solution to emotional upset is creating a cycle that feeds itself. Children who spend more time on screens tend to develop more emotional or behavioral issues. Then, when they feel overwhelmed by those feelings, they turn to the same screens again for comfort. It’s a loop that quietly tightens.
What sets this research apart is its scale and its design. Rather than taking isolated snapshots, it followed children over months and years. That allowed scientists to ask a more difficult question—not just whether screen time and emotional issues are linked, but which comes first. The answer, it seems, is both.
One of the clearest patterns emerged around video games. Among the screen activities children engaged in, gaming stood out as the one most strongly connected with emotional difficulty later on. It also turned out to be the activity most frequently chosen by children who were already struggling. For them, the pull toward gaming was more than fun—it was emotional escape. But that escape had consequences.
Parents often make careful choices for younger children, selecting wholesome content or limiting access entirely. But as children grow older, the rules often loosen. The study found that it’s in these later years—between six and ten—that the risks actually rise. Children in this age group have more control over their screen use and are better able to seek out content that suits their mood. A child upset after school may not want to talk. They might just want to be left alone with a game. The problem is that this choice, repeated over time, can displace the kinds of experiences that build resilience.
What gets lost is easy to overlook. A conversation with a parent. Time outside. The trial and error of figuring out how to feel better without a device. Researchers call this the displacement effect—the idea that screen use doesn’t just add something to a child’s day, it replaces something else. That something, in many cases, is the quiet work of growing up.
Across the studies, gender differences also emerged. Girls seemed more affected by overall screen use, especially in the general entertainment category. Boys, particularly older ones, showed more pronounced effects from gaming. But the common thread wasn’t gender. It was how children use screens in response to discomfort—and what happens when screens become their first line of defense.
The study also offers perspective for weary parents. The effects observed were real but relatively small. They don’t suggest catastrophe, but they do highlight a trend. Not every child who spends time on a tablet will develop anxiety or struggle with behavior. But across large groups of children, patterns appear. And they’re patterns that parents, teachers and policymakers should pay attention to.
One of the more hopeful findings was that screen use done alongside parents—especially when educational or guided—showed little to no harmful effect. The danger wasn’t in the presence of screens, but in their role as an emotional placeholder. When screens become a substitute for human contact, especially during moments of distress, children may miss out on learning how to cope.
There’s no need to panic. Devices aren’t going away. Nor does the solution lie in banning them altogether. But parents who notice when their child is using a screen as a shield rather than a tool may have an opportunity. An invitation to step in. To talk, to play, to listen—even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
What this research asks us to do is not abandon technology but to look more closely at how it fits into our family life. Screens may offer peace in the moment, but over time, they may quietly shape the way children deal with the world. And when it comes to emotional development, that shaping matters.
Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next: OpenAI Reaches $10 Billion Annual Revenue Mark as User Base Swells
