Digital media and cognitive development: a longitudinal study of screen time in children

Abstract

This longitudinal study investigates the impact of screen time on cognitive development in Pakistani children aged 3–12 years from 2018 to 2023. Using a multi-method approach involving standardized assessments, parental surveys, and observational studies, the research explores relationships between screen duration, content type, and cognitive outcomes across urban and rural settings. The findings reveal a significant correlation between excessive screen use and decreased attention span, memory, and language performance. However, content quality and parental mediation emerged as strong moderators of cognitive outcomes. These results have crucial implications for digital literacy education, parenting practices, and national policy on early childhood development.