A new icddr,b study has found alarmingly high levels of digital screen time among school children in Dhaka, raising concerns over sleep deprivation, obesity, headaches, eye problems and mental health issues.
The study found that more than four out of every five children (around 83 percent), spend over two hours on screens every day, exceeding the internationally recommended limit for recreational screen time.
On average, children spent about 4.6 hours a day using smartphones, televisions, tablets, computers and gaming devices.
The research was conducted between 2022 and 2024 among 420 children aged between 6 and 14 years from six schools in Dhaka, including three Bangla-medium and three English-medium institutions.
The findings were recently published in the Human Factors journal JMIR Human Factors, according to an icddr,b press release.
Researchers assessed children’s screen-use patterns, sleep quality, physical symptoms, body weight, behaviour and mental wellbeing through face-to-face interviews, physical measurements and internationally recognised assessment tools.
The study found that more than one-third of the children experienced eye problems, while 80 percent frequently suffered from headaches.
Children using screens for more than two hours daily also slept significantly less, averaging only 7.3 hours per night, below the recommended 8 to 10 hours needed for healthy growth and brain development.
Researchers also found that around 14 percent of the participating children were overweight or obese showing a correlation with excessive screen exposure.
Health experts warned that long-term sleep deprivation during childhood may affect memory, concentration, learning ability, emotional regulation, physical growth and overall mental wellbeing.
The findings further showed that around two out of every five children were experiencing one or more mental health-related problems, including anxiety, hyperactivity, behavioural difficulties and emotional distress.
Researchers said excessive screen exposure may affect children through multiple pathways.
Late-night screen use can disrupt sleep by overstimulating the brain, interfering with natural sleep cycles, while long hours spent sitting with devices may reduce physical activity and outdoor play, increasing the risk of obesity.
Extended screen use may also cause eye strain, headaches and reduced concentration, while excessive digital stimulation and reduced face-to-face interaction can negatively affect emotional and mental wellbeing.
The study noted that similar concerns have been reported globally, with international research linking excessive screen exposure among children to sleep problems, obesity, anxiety, reduced physical activity and poorer academic performance.
Shahria Hafiz Kakon, assistant scientist at icddr,b and lead researcher of the study, said parents should not ignore signs such as late sleeping, headaches, eye discomfort, irritability, withdrawal from activities, or difficulty concentrating.
“These may indicate that screen exposure is beginning to affect children’s physical and mental health,” he said.
Researchers also encouraged families to follow the “20-20-20” eye-care practice — after every 20 minutes of screen use, children should look at something about 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds to reduce eye strain.
Tahmeed Ahmed,executive director of icddr,b, said, digital devices are now part of modern life and education, but children need healthy boundaries.
He said the World Health Organization recommends limiting recreational screen time for school-aged children to about two hours per day.
Parents should encourage outdoor play, physical activity, proper sleep and device-free family time, he added. He also stressed the importance of extracurricular activities such as debates, group reading, library activities and caring for plants.
Researchers emphasised that the solution is not to completely ban technology, but to promote healthier and more balanced digital habits at home and in schools.
They recommended developing guidelines and awareness programmes for students, teachers and guardians to encourage safe and responsible use of technology.
