Scientists have warned that excessive use of phones and screens may increase the risk of depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and physical inactivity.
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They pointed out that long hours in front of screens may cut into time for sleep, exercise, and direct social interaction.
A scientific review published in The Lancet showed consistent links between problematic screen use, which can be addictive, and a number of health problems, based on data from 121 previous studies involving nearly 9 million young men and women.
The review estimated that excessive screen use is linked to psychological problems that represent a health burden equivalent to about 2.8 million years globally, in addition to the loss of about 240,000 years of healthy life due to obesity.
The researchers pointed out that spending more than two hours a day in front of screens was linked to a decline in mental health and an increased risk of depression, warning that some digital platforms employ features designed to attract users' attention and keep them engaged for longer periods, which may encourage excessive use.
Concerns also include the impact of these habits on children and adolescents, especially as they gain access to smartphones and use social media at early ages.
The review found a link between problematic screen use and problems such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders, along with some neurodevelopmental conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism.
These findings come in light of a previous study published in the journal "JAMA Pediatrics" which found that intensive use of screens is associated with declining academic performance and an increased risk of emotional and language difficulties.
The researchers called for coordinated global action to reduce the health risks associated with digital media, including requiring technology companies to disclose the impact of certain digital features that may encourage compulsive use.
Professor Ilona Kickbusch, who led the Lancet review, said that "the use of digital media has become an integral part of the lives of children and young people," adding that governments have allowed technology companies to set their own rules, while "treating health as a secondary concern."
Despite platforms like Instagram and TikTok beginning to introduce parental control tools and age verification procedures for users, researchers believe that age restrictions alone are not enough, calling for specialized international oversight to monitor potential harm to children and young people.
Experts who were not involved in the review welcomed the findings, but stressed the need for further research to determine the causal relationship between screen use and health problems.
Dr. Teodora Glega, a neuroscientist at the University of East Anglia, said that adopting a public health approach to dealing with exposure to digital media is "essential," noting that the rapid evolution of technology makes some research findings susceptible to becoming obsolete quickly.
She added that continued research in this area is important to reduce potential harm, as well as to avoid raising unwarranted fears or ignoring the benefits that technology can provide.
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