5 Signs Your Child May Be Addicted to Screens

Identifying when internet use is becoming excessive or even addictive is essential to ensuring the health and safety of children and adolescents online. This concern is not exaggerated; after all, the proportion of children and adolescents using the internet has increased across all age groups over the last decade—as highlighted by a recent study by the Regional Center for Studies for the Development of the Information Society (Cetic), based on the TIC Domicílios and TIC Kids Online Brasil surveys covering the period between 2015 and 2024.

The results show that in the 0-2 age group, the number of children connected to the internet grew from 9% to 44%, while among children aged 3-5, the proportion rose from 26% to 71% over the same period. In the 6-8 age group, the percentage of users doubled, rising from 41% to 82% in ten years.

Excessive screen time is harmful to the development of children and adolescents and can exacerbate psychological problems, issues proven by numerous scientific studies over the past few years. A recent global meta-analysis of approximately 293,000 children (under 10 years old), for example, found a bidirectional relationship: excessive screen time can lead to emotional and behavioral problems. Conducted by the University of Queensland in Australia, the study also showed that children with these issues tend to use more screens, especially digital games, creating a vicious cycle.

To explain the main signs of screen addiction and how to act, IstoÉ spoke with pediatrician Eduardo Custódio, professor in the pediatrics department at UERJ and member of the Digital Health Working Group of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (SBP), and with psychologist Rodrigo Nejm, a specialist in digital education at the Alana Institute, an NGO focused on protecting children's rights.

The child wants to always be connected

" A classic sign is anxiety and the need to stay connected," says Eduardo Custódio of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (SBP). This complication can manifest itself in a variety of ways, including:

• the child gets irritated when a device's battery runs out;

• she needs to connect to Wi-Fi anywhere;

• She doesn't want to leave her device at home when she goes out or prefers not to go out at all to be entertained by some kind of screen.

The child has problems with school performance

Another major warning sign for parents and educators is when screen time begins to negatively impact a child or adolescent's academic performance.

" It's possible to notice severe consequences in a child's ability to wake up ready to study, as well as to demonstrate concentration and availability to participate in school activities," notes psychologist Rodrigo Nejm. This can also eventually influence their report card grades.

One of the causes of this interference in school life is directly linked to the use of screens at night or in the early morning, which ends up affecting sleep and, consequently, mood the next day.

The child only wants to know about cell phones and tablets in their free time

A sudden loss of interest in activities outside of the cell phone, such as playing sports or extracurricular activities, is also a point of concern for those responsible.

" This happens because social media and screens are super stimulating and generate an immediate reward in the brain. Over time, this conditions the child's brain to these stimuli and makes them find anything that doesn't have these same incentives boring. So, they start to abandon activities and just want to spend their free time in front of screens," explains Rodrigo Nejm of the Alana Institute.

The child prefers to interact with friends virtually

The same applies to the lack of interest in playing with children and adolescents offline, explains digital education specialist Rodrigo Nejm. "This occurs because there's no way to control the play or interrupt the conversation, as is possible in the digital world. This discourages children from developing social and emotional skills," he says.

The child presents changes in behavior

Mood and behavior changes are also affected by screen time and can manifest as irritability, inattention, anxiety, memory problems, and lack of impulse control. According to pediatrician Eduardo Custódio of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, the reason lies in the still incomplete brain development of children and adolescents. "Screen time harms the formation of the prefrontal cortex (responsible for emotional regulation). This can cause them to exhibit behaviors without rational filters," he explains.

It's also important to be vigilant if children and adolescents begin to change the way they dress, wear their hair, or speak. "In more severe cases, you see them losing their accent or adopting slang from other regions, wanting plastic surgery to resemble their filtered images, and even changing eating habits. There's plenty of evidence that digital media intensifies or accelerates serious disorders," warns the psychologist at the Alana Institute.

What to do when faced with signs of screen addiction?

Once the signs have been identified, the experts consulted by IstoÉ recommend breaking the cycle with rules for accessing cell phones, television, games, and other devices. These include:

• limit the use of devices with specific tools and applications

• establish physical boundaries, such as not using screens during meals or removing cell phones from the bedroom at bedtime.

• offer alternatives beyond the digital world: reading, playing, going to the movies, playing sports and other extracurricular activities.

Devices shouldn't be completely removed overnight, however, as Eduardo Custódio of the Brazilian Society of Blood and Blood Pressure (SBP) warns. "Screen addiction behaves like any other addiction, such as alcohol or substance addiction. So, abruptly removing them can cause withdrawal," he explains.

It's also worth observing the family's customs as a whole. "Adults model these digital habits, and children and adolescents mirror them. So, sometimes, it's necessary to restructure habits at the family level," adds Custódio. Finally, experts remind us that change must be constantly reinforced and become a habit, with the help of a healthcare professional if necessary.

How many hours can your child use their cell phone per day?

Screen time should be avoided until the age of 2, as recommended by the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics in its manual "Less Screen Time, More Health ." After that, the recommendation is a maximum of:

• 1 hour per day for children between 2 and 5 years old , always under the supervision of parents and guardians;

• 2 hours per day for children between 6 and 10 years old , always under the supervision of guardians;

• For teenagers aged 11 to 18, 2 to 3 hours a day , and never stay connected to the internet all night.