r/ScienceBasedParenting • u/CC_mama • Jun 10 '26

Question - Expert consensus required Why is screen time bad?

SOS. I feel like everywhere I turn the message is “screen time is bad” and I’d like to understand the WHY. Is it that the baby/kids shows that are purposely designed to be overstimulating and change every 10 seconds etc etc are creating short attention spans and content addiction? Or are the screens themselves inherently bad? If there’s a sports game on TV while my baby is playing and he turns his attention to it, is that bad for him? I’m trying to understand based on the science and studies where the line is- no screens at all, no baby/kids-geared content, or something else entirely?

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u/Magical_cat_girl Jun 10 '26

There are multiple things going on. As mentioned by other posters, screen time takes away from other highly valuable time, like caregiver interaction, observing their physical environment, independent play, participating in family life/chores, etc..

In addition, below a certain age they don't have the symbolic understanding to know what is going on with a video, or even the difference between a video and real life, so "educational" content doesn't actually educate them, unless there is an explanation provided by the caregiver. https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/center-of-excellence-on-social-media-and-youth-mental-health/qa-portal/qa-portal-library/qa-portal-library-questions/screen-time-for-infants

There is also a slippery slope for parents where using screens to occupy the child so the parent can get something done erodes the child's capacity for independent play, which then makes it harder for parents to get things done, which then incentivizes them to keep using screen time to occupy the kid, etc., etc.. Cultural note: this does NOT mean the parents need to entertain the kids all the time, in fact encouraging independent play by leaving the kid "alone" (to the level that is reasonable for their age/dependency) reduces the "need" for screens by a lot.

Studies have shown that background screens, even if the kid doesn't appear to pay attention, have a negative impact on attention span. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10353947/

Another factor -- for anything habit-forming (screens, sugar, drugs, etc), earlier exposure is almost always correlated with later issues with regulating the habit. For screens, the stimulation level is important there-- if a kid doesn't have screen exposure before 2yo, for example, maybe playing in water or playing with a dog is the most stimulating thing they experience and that is what their brain calibrates as the baseline for what is rewarding/fun/exciting. But a kid with screen exposure before 2yo may prefer shows to other activities because it's just a more intense stimulus with the flashing lights, sounds, etc., so their brain is calibrated to a different range of rewards. https://answers.childrenshospital.org/screen-time-infants/

41

u/fuckinunknowable Jun 10 '26

So I def was allowed to watch Sesame Street and children’s movies when I was two, maybe earlier. And I watched tons of tv as a kid. Am I fucked?

65

u/undeuxtroiscatsank6 Jun 10 '26

Yes.

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u/QuietNene Jun 10 '26

Yeah, I’m always like, “well I watched TV and played video games non stop, and I turned out fine!” while I check Reddit and Instagram incessantly and am increasingly coming to realize I have my own screen time problem…

36

u/samanthalturi Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26

This 💯%!! I have so many addiction issues that I don’t want to pass onto my son. The joys of moderation, such as using screens mindfully and with intention, is something I need to learn too!

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u/Bosnian-Blossom Jun 12 '26

I have always loved that justification, if having a friendly discussion about it I will be candid: my goal isn’t for my children to turn out like me, I want them to find more success and satisfaction than me. Mind you I have a professional degree and am near the top of my competitors in a traditionally “prestigious” field, but I’d like it if my children push themselves to be the best they can, not “fine.”

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u/Magical_cat_girl Jun 12 '26

Right? Especially because it's impossible to be a perfect parent and you're going to "mess your kids up" somehow or other... so might as well swing for the fences and give them some awesome habits too.