Study Links Nighttime Screen Use in Bedrooms to Increased Risks for Children

Many parents are aware that experts recommend not allowing children to keep phones in their bedrooms overnight, yet this practice remains common in most households. New research offers an additional reason—and possibly a strong justification—for changing this habit.

A national American study involving approximately 8,000 children aged 12 to 14, published in June in the medical journal Acta Paediatrica, found that children who use screens in their bedrooms at night tend to use them for longer periods and are more likely to develop problematic screen use after one year.

Another study released on Tuesday in the Journal of Adolescent Health indicated that children who use screens in their bedrooms during nighttime are more vulnerable to cyberbullying. Both studies relied on data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study, the largest ongoing national longitudinal research on children's health and brain development.

Dr. Jason Nagata, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, and the lead author of both studies, explained that the higher rates of cyberbullying among children using phones at night might be due to less parental monitoring when children are inside their bedrooms.

Nagata also noted a limitation of the research: children self-reported their experiences with cyberbullying, either as victims or perpetrators, suggesting that actual figures could be higher than reported.

The studies further reveal that children spend significant time on their phones during hours typically reserved for sleep. On school nights, the average child spends about an hour on their phone between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., with most using their phones between midnight and 4 a.m.

Despite longstanding recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and other experts to keep phones out of children's bedrooms at night, these new findings provide parents with stronger evidence to enforce this guideline.

Importance of Limiting Screen Use at Night

Nagata emphasized that bedtime is a critical period to reduce screen use because sleep is essential for both mental and physical health. He suggested that if parents must choose one battle, reducing screen time during sleep hours should be prioritized.

He added that the best approach is to keep phones entirely outside bedrooms at night. If that is not feasible, phones should be turned off during nighttime.

To avoid major conflicts with children, Anna Siewald, a psychologist in Princeton, New Jersey, recommends discussing with children the benefits of sleep for brain development, mental health, and overall family well-being. She also suggests reading articles or listening to audio materials together about the importance of sleep.

Screen-Free Mealtimes and Family Interaction

The research also found that using screens during meals is linked to a higher likelihood of experiencing cyberbullying. This may occur because children miss opportunities to communicate with their parents or guardians and discuss daily events.

Meals serve as an important time to check in on family members. Additionally, eating in front of screens may contribute to weight gain, as children become more distracted and tend to eat more than needed, according to Nagata.

Siewald proposes designating a spot where everyone, including parents, places their phones during meals. She stresses that this should not be presented as a punishment but as a way to enhance family communication.

Mealtimes can be made more enjoyable by asking questions that encourage conversation, sharing what each person is grateful for, discussing the best and worst moments of the day, or playing simple games.

Siewald explained that when children turn to their phones, they often seek to fulfill basic emotional needs such as belonging, connection, or appreciation. If these needs are met at home through dialogue, laughter, music, and shared activities, their reliance on phones decreases.

Parental Screen Use Influences Children

The studies also highlighted that excessive screen use by parents is one of the strongest predictors of problematic screen use in children. Nagata stressed that one of the best actions parents can take is to model healthy screen habits.

Adhering to these rules may not always be easy. Parents sometimes need to use phones during meals or family time for necessary reasons such as work or emergencies. In such cases, Nagata advises explaining the reason clearly to children.

Good role modeling does not require perfection but involves setting clear rules, explaining exceptions, and striving to protect sleep and mealtime from screen dominance.

The findings suggest that keeping phones away during nighttime and meals can help improve children's experiences with screens and may provide parents with more restful sleep, knowing they are shielding their children from some of the negative effects.