Children’s use of digital devices to be probed in world-first $35m study

A landmark $35 million Australian study is set to investigate the damaging effects of children’s smartphone usage, as concerns about the links to anxiety, insomnia and poor physical health grow.

The growing epidemic of Australian children using smartphones, tablets and other digital technology will be investigated by a new world-first research centre.

The digital lives of Australian children — from birth to eight years of age — will be tracked as part of the study.

Excessive screen time has already been linked to anxiety, insomnia and poor physical health, but there is considerable disagreement about the extent of the damage as well as the benefits of digital technology on young children.

Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan will on Sunday announce that the Morrison Government will provide $34.9 million to establish the research centre, which will collect data from parents and children to get a better understanding of the effect of digital technology.

Digital devices distract from homework.

The Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, which will be located at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, will include family cohort studies, run children’s technology laboratories and lead innovate research programs looking at the effects of screen time on young children.

Mr Tehan said Australian children were growing up with an “unprecedented access to technology” and the effect it was having on them needed to be better understood.

“The results of this research will benefit parents and inform improvements to children’s health and education policy,” Mr Tehan said.

“The centre will also develop open access resources and professional training to help minimise digital risks and encourage positive digital experiences.”

Experts have warned excessive screen time is exacerbating sleep problems and causing family disputes.

It is estimated that about one in seven Australian children experience mental health issues and about half of all serious mental health issues in adulthood begin before the age of 14.

Experts have already warned that excessive screen time is exacerbating sleep problems, increasing homework distractions and causing family disputes.

QUT Professor Susan Danby, who will lead the research centre, said there was a lot of conflicting information about the role of digital technology in young children’s lives.

“Through the centre, Australia will be better able to respond to national issues and problems related to young children and digital technology including amount of screen time use, social media and digital gaming, and online safety, and develop a better understanding of how children live in a digital world,” Professor Danby said.

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“This will involve improving curriculum and learning materials for educators so they can better enable students’ digital learning as well as designing innovations to ensure children are learning in safe digital environments.”

Science Minister Karen Andrews said the rapid evolution of digital technology made it vital to understand its impact on the lives of children.

“Digital technology can improve our quality of life and drive economic growth, but we need to shape how our kids grow up in a digital world,” Ms Andrews said.

HOW TO LIMIT SCREEN TIME

Negotiate a plan and set strict time limits for devices.

Take control of the internet and wi-fi access.

Become a role model for healthy electronic use.

Spend time using a device together to demonstrate good behaviour.

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