A new icddr,b study has found that schoolchildren in Dhaka are spending an average of five hours a day on digital screens, exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of no more than two hours daily.

The findings have raised concerns over the impact of excessive screen use on children’s sleep, physical activity, eyesight and mental health.

To understand the findings and their implications, The Daily Star spoke with Shahria Hafiz Kakon, assistant scientist at icddr,b and lead researcher of the study.

Daily Star: Why are children in Dhaka exposed to high levels of digital screen time?

Shahria: Children’s excessive exposure to digital screens largely began during the Covid-19 pandemic, when lockdowns forced education, socialisation, and entertainment to move online -- prompting parents to hand digital devices to children.

Caption

Shahria Hafiz Kakon

When we collected data, we found that even after the pandemic situation ended and everything returned to normal, children could not overcome the addiction to mobile phones and digital devices they developed during that period. Schools and studies went offline again, but children continued the habit, while parents and teachers largely ignored it.

The situation gradually worsened to a stage where reducing children’s dependence on screens has become difficult. Children are now spending an average of five hours daily on digital devices. Some children spend three hours, while others spend eight to 10 hours a day. But the WHO recommendation for those below 17 years is not more than two hours daily. We are already seeing more than double that limit.

Technology is unavoidable in modern life as people now rely on laptops and mobile phones for daily activities, but usage must remain within limits. If screen exposure becomes two or three times higher than recommended levels, it will ultimately affect children physically, mentally, and socially.

The study found evidence that excessive screen exposure is causing eye problems, physical complications, and mental health issues among children. This is also the age when children’s brains are developing. If the problem continues to worsen, this condition may become even worse.

Daily Star: The study shows that parents’ average daily screen time was 3.9 hours. Could parents’ screen habits also be contributing to the rise in children’s screen time?

Shahria: Parents’ own screen habits are also contributing to rising screen time among children.

When parents return home from work and continue using laptops or mobile phones for office work, entertainment, or other activities, they fail to give quality time to their children. As the emotional distance between parents and children gradually widens, children ultimately remain attached to screens all the time.

Daily Star: You mentioned that rapid urbanisation, a lack of recreational spaces and safety concerns are pushing children indoors and contributing to more screen-based activities. Could you explain how these factors are affecting children’s daily routines?

Shahria: The study was conducted among students of Bangla- and English-medium schools in Dhaka due to funding constraints. Future research, however, could compare digital screen exposure among children in urban and rural areas.

In urban areas, there are very few playgrounds, and many schools do not even have play spaces. Children naturally have a desire to play, but when they do not get that opportunity, they gradually become addicted to mobile games.

Children are increasingly occupied with coaching centres and private tutors in the afternoons, leaving little time for outdoor recreation. After studies, they again use mobile devices for games and entertainment. Their entire routine becomes centred around screens, which significantly increases their daily screen time.

The Daily Star: What steps should parents, schools and policymakers take now to address this situation?

Shahria: The WHO recommendation of no more than two hours of daily screen time should be made known not only to children but also to parents and teachers.

Awareness programmes and seminars can be organised in schools and other relevant settings to spread this message. Researchers should also conduct further studies to help develop guidelines on healthy screen use.

The importance of encouraging children to engage in physical activities such as outdoor games and exercise is also very important. Screens should be avoided at least three to four hours before sleep.

Instead of constantly watching television or using devices, children can listen to music after finishing studies. There are also many indoor games and alternative activities such as caring for plants or raising birds that can help reduce screen dependency.

Most importantly, parents need to spend more quality time with their children.

They should set aside at least an hour after returning from work, or at any other convenient time, to talk and connect with them. This time should not revolve around schoolwork or studies, but around friendly conversations, listening and bonding. If parents make this a regular habit, children will gradually feel more emotionally connected to them.

Parents should reduce their own screen use after office hours and devote more time to their children. This can gradually build healthy and lasting parent-child interaction, which is very important for the future of the children.

When children spend most of their time on mobile phones, they fail to build friendships like we used to while playing outdoors. After putting away their phones, many children experience loneliness because they may find neither parents nor friends around them. This can lead to anxiety, depression, emotional instability, social phobia, and other mental health issues. Many children are also developing communication problems.

We often see children retreating to another room with a mobile phone when guests visit the house. Yet, this behaviour is largely ignored.

It should not be overlooked any longer, as excessive screen use among children is gradually emerging as a “hidden pandemic”.