Global Experts Urge Coordinated Action on Digital Media's Harmful Impact on Youth Mental Health
A new three-paper series published in The Lancet, authored by 13 global experts, highlights the significant health risks associated with excessive digital media use among young people. The research, which includes a meta-analysis of 121 global studies covering 9 million individuals under 25, identifies consistent associations between problematic digital media use and increased risks of mental health problems, sleep disruption, and reduced physical activity. The experts argue that technology companies have prioritized commercial growth over public health, designing platforms with features like infinite scroll and autoplay that capture attention and collect data. Professor Ilona Kickbusch of the Digital Transformations for Health Lab (DTH-Lab) in Switzerland states that governments have allowed tech companies to self-regulate, leading to business models where health is an afterthought. The study estimates that spending over two hours daily on screens could be linked globally to approximately 2.8 million heal...
