Screen use causes anger and frustration in young children

A studypublished in the journal JAMA Networks, reveals that early exposure to screensespecially tablets, can cause more anger and frustration in children as they get older.

The researchers followed 315 children over several years, collecting reports from their parents when the children were 3.5 years old (in 2020), 4.5 years old (in 2021) and 5.5 years old (in 2022), respectively.

The results show that at age 3.5, daily tablet use of about 1.15 hours was associated with a 22% increase in anger and frustration levels one year later, at age 4.5. This trend continued for 4.5-year-olds, who also showed increased expression of anger and frustration at age 5.5.

The study highlights the fact that tablets are often used by young children as a solitary, everyday activity, or by parents to soothe and manage their children’s emotions. While this method may seem convenient in the short term, it can have long-term negative effects on children’s ability to regulate their emotions.

In France, despite the recommendations of experts and the commission launched in May 2024 by Emmanuel Macron, which highlight the harmful effects of screens for children from the age of 3, and recommend “Ban screens in the absence of parental interaction”, according to the HCSPmany parents continue to use them for convenience. As a result, 45% of children spend their summer vacation car journeys in front of a screen.

While teenagers are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of screen time and are trying to limit their addiction to social media, young children cannot self-regulate. It is therefore up to parents to put controls and limits in place.

“Our study suggests that parents should be made aware that tablet use from early childhood can disrupt the ability to manage anger and frustration, and lead to an increase in tantrums in young children,” conclude the authors of the study.