Doctors warn that widespread use of screens in schools is creating a child health and development “crisis.” They say about one million children are spending nearly every lesson using digital devices, with little time for non-screen learning and activities.
Clinicians raise concerns that the reliance on education technology (“EdTech”) products and related software is occurring without sufficient evidence of benefits and safety for children. They argue that this overuse can deny children “vital development opportunities,” such as hands-on learning and other activities that support physical, social, and cognitive development.
Different outlets focus on the scale of use and the framing of the issue. One outlet highlights the estimated number of affected pupils, while another stresses that more than 150 clinicians have issued the warning and points to the role of untested EdTech products. Both report that the concern is current classroom practice and its potential impact on children’s health.
