Digital media use by young children: Learning, effects, and health outcomes

Young children’s access to digital screen media has grown steeply in the past decade, with nearly all American children under the age of 8 years now living in a home with at least one touchscreen device. This chapter offers a review of the research literature on the impact of media use on young children, covering television and more recent devices and including content from linear video programming to interactive features and games. Findings are organized into three main areas: learning and cognitive development, socioemotional development, and impact on physical health, including topics such as obesity and sleep. We end with recommendations for future research.