Digital Health

Rethinking Screen Time for Filipino Children and Adolescents: Impacts on Development

Excessive screen media use among Filipino youth is a growing concern, with nearly all preschoolers exceeding WHO screen time recommendations. High parental screen habits and little regulation outside of school hours exacerbate excessive screen use, which is linked to developmental delays, poor sleep, and decreased social contact. This policy brief describes multi-sectoral approaches to encourage better digital behaviors and lower screen-related hazards from early infancy to adolescence, including public awareness campaigns, school-based initiatives, and tech industry engagement.

By Angel Belle Dy, MD, MBA