NEUROPLASTICITY, BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL INTERACTION: HOW SCREEN TIME AFFECTS CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT
NEUROPLASTICITY, BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL INTERACTION: HOW SCREEN TIME AFFECTS CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1595292515085
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Palavras-chave: Neuroplasticidade, desenvolvimento infantil, tempo de tela, cognição, políticas públicas
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Keywords: Neuroplasticity, child development, screen time, cognition, public policies
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Abstract: The digital revolution has exposed children at an increasingly early age to the use of electronic devices, raising concerns about their effects on neurological, behavioral and social development. This article, through an integrative literature review of the last 12 years (2013-2025), analyzed 18 scientific studies investigating the repercussions of excessive screen time during childhood, with an emphasis on neuroplasticity, cognition, language, social interaction and emotional health. The findings indicate that prolonged use of devices is associated with structural changes in children's brains, including a reduction in frontal white matter and functional connectivity, as well as impairments in executive functions such as attention, memory and emotional regulation. Children with more than two hours of daily exposure showed up to a 15% reduction in vocabulary and 8.3% in working memory, as well as an increase in behavioral and emotional disorders, such as aggression, impulsivity and depressive symptoms. In the social field, a decrease of up to 28% in family interaction time was observed in homes with high screen use. On the other hand, protective practices such as shared reading and active supervision have been shown to significantly reduce the negative impacts of digital exposure, highlighting the role of parental mediation and the quality of the content accessed. The study concludes that although moderate and supervised use of technology can bring benefits, early and excessive use poses significant risks to child development. In view of this, it is recommended that public policies, family guidelines and evidence-based educational strategies be strengthened in order to promote the conscious, healthy and balanced use of digital technologies during childhood.
- Matheus Jubini Celestino
- Camila dos Santos Bertoldi
- Maria Júlia Faber Bauer de Carvalho
- Pietra Massariol Bottan
- Elisa de Freitas Corrêa
- Júlia Comerio
- Júlia Lorenzoni
- Bruna dos Santos Zanette
- Daniela dos Santos Godoy