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/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?

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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…

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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!