The following is a summary of “An umbrella review of the benefits and risks associated with youths’ interactions with electronic screens,” published in the November 2023 Pediatrics issue by Sanders et al.

The impact of electronic screen usage on the well-being and educational development of children and adolescents remains considerably complex and insufficiently comprehended. In this meticulously designed umbrella review, researchers conducted a comprehensive synthesis of findings sourced from 102 meta-analyses, encompassing an array of primary studies (totaling 2,451) and participants (reaching 1,937,501 individuals), all investigating the correlations between screen time and diverse outcomes.

Following stringent criteria, the analysis revealed 43 effects derived from 32 meta-analyses that met their thresholds for statistical reliability. The meta-analyses demonstrated small-to-moderate effects (ranging from r = –0.14 to 0.33) in evaluating the associations between screen utilization and various outcomes. In the realm of education, findings presented a mixed panorama. For instance, while screen use showcased a negative correlation with literacy (r = –0.14, 95% CI = –0.20 to –0.09, P ≤ 0.001, k = 38, N = 18,318), a contrasting positive effect surfaced when parental involvement accompanied children’s screen engagement (r = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.02 to 0.28, P = 0.028, k = 12, N = 6,083).

In the domain of health, their investigation disclosed several minor adverse associations. Notably, the use of social media exhibited a modest correlation with depression (r = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.05 to 0.19, P ≤ 0.001, k = 12, N = 93,740). It’s imperative to acknowledge limitations inherent in the review, notably the restricted number of studies for each outcome, a medium-to-high risk of bias observed in 95 out of 102 included meta-analyses, and substantial heterogeneity observed in a significant portion of the studies (17 out of 22 in education and 20 out of 21 in health, where I² > 50%).

Given these findings, the study group advocates for careful consideration by caregivers and policymakers in evaluating the nuanced evidence pertaining to potential advantages and drawbacks associated with specific forms of screen engagement. This comprehensive evaluation highlights the intricate dynamics surrounding screen usage and emphasizes the critical need for informed decision-making to mitigate potential harms while harnessing the benefits effectively.

Source: nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01712-8