Story perspectives

Screen Time Reduces Academic Scores, Memory in Children

6/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

A study of 502 children linked screen time to poorer academic performance at age 9 and weaker working memory at age 10.5.
Infancy and school-entry period showed the strongest negative links between screen exposure and later cognition.
Higher overall screen exposure across childhood also corresponded with lower academic scores.
Researchers note timing may matter as amount, echoing WHO and AAP recommendations of no screens before 18–24 months and under one hour daily for ages 2-5.

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Story summary

A study of 502 children linked screen time to poorer academic performance at age 9 and weaker working memory at age 10.5.
Infancy and school-entry period showed the strongest negative links between screen exposure and later cognition.
Higher overall screen exposure across childhood also corresponded with lower academic scores.
Researchers note timing may matter as amount, echoing WHO and AAP recommendations of no screens before 18–24 months and under one hour daily for ages 2-5.