Objectives
In response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), most countries have instituted school closures and stay-at-home orders. As a result, there has been a significant increase in the use of technology. This literature review examines COVID-19–related changes in the role of electronic devices and the impact of screen time for children and adolescents worldwide.
Methods
A search of Google Scholar and PubMed electronic databases was conducted using search terms including “COVID-19,” “electronic device,” “screen time,” and “social media” in various permutations. We chose 9 articles from 49 search results that directly address the use of technology during COVID-19 by youth worldwide, which included 8 commentary articles and one literature review, and performed a narrative review.
Results
Many studies have shown significantly increased screen time in children and adolescents worldwide. The impact of electronic devices on education, and physical and mental well-being, has changed significantly in the context of COVID-19. Schools using video chat have made learning materials and educators more accessible. Alternatively, screen time can be distracting or impersonal for certain children, especially those with learning disabilities. Increased electronic device usage may also negatively impact physical well-being by increasing eye strain, unhealthy eating habits, and poor sleep hygiene. However, the use of technology may also promote physical activity through online exercise classes or even video games that require movement. Regarding mental health, maintaining social support has been made significantly easier by the widespread usage of cell phones and computers for social media, video gaming, and messaging. There has also been a wide dissemination of mental health services and public health information over popular youth platforms such as WeChat and TikTok. These benefits are not universal: the pervasive and often sensationalized information online coupled with physical isolation can be a potential source of anxiety, stress, and loneliness.
Conclusions
In light of these changes, prior guidelines regarding screen time set by organizations such as AACAP should be reevaluated; for example, screen time content should be examined more than screen time quantity. Providers should be aware of this rapidly shifting role of technology during and after this global pandemic in order to better understand and educate their patients.
COMP, STRESS, WL