The Effects of Digital Addiction on Brain Function and Structure of Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The escalating prevalence of studies investigating digital addiction (DA) and its detrimental impact on the human brain’s structure and functionality has been noticeable in recent years. Yet, an overwhelming majority of these reviews have been predominantly geared towards samples comprising college students or adults and have only inspected a single variant of DA, such as internet gaming disorder, internet addiction disorder, problematic smartphone use, tablet overuse, and so forth. Reviews focusing on young children and adolescents (ages 0–18), or those which amalgamate various types of DA, are decidedly scarce. Given this context, summarizing the effects of DA on brain structure and functionality during the vital developmental stage (0–18 years) is of immense significance. A scoping review, complying with the PRISMA extension for such reviews, was conducted to amalgamate findings from 28 studies spanning a decade (2013–2023) and to examine the influence of assorted forms of DA on the brains of children and adolescents (0–18 years). The synthesized evidence indicated two primary results: (1) DA exerts harmful effects on the structure and functionality of the brains of children and adolescents, and (2) the prefrontal lobe is the region most consistently reported as impacted across all research. Furthermore, this review discerned a notable void of studies investigating the neural indices of digital addiction, along with a shortage of studies focusing on young children (0–6 years old) and longitudinal evidence. This research could provide the necessary theoretical basis for the thwarting and intervention of digital addiction, a measure indispensable for ensuring healthy brain development in children and adolescents.

Interplay between Children’s Electronic Media Use and Prosocial Behavior: The Chain Mediating Role of Parent–Child Closeness and Emotion Regulation

“…Structural equation modeling unveiled that prosocial behavior tends to diminish as electronic media use escalates. This phenomenon may be attributed to the pervasive nature of electronic media, which, as documented by Ding et al, is becoming a significant health concern globally, increasingly affecting younger populations [ 76 ]. The World Health Organization, in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) published in 2018, has recognized video game addiction as a mental health disorder.…”

“…The World Health Organization, in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) published in 2018, has recognized video game addiction as a mental health disorder. Children, with their developmental cognitive and neural mechanisms, are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of electronic media [ 23 , 76 ]. Excessive engagement with electronic media may disrupt crucial real-life interactions that foster the development of communication skills and prosocial behaviors such as empathy, sharing, and cooperation [ 22 , 77 ].…”

Digital Addiction in Children and Affecting Factors

“…They also found that intervention programs significantly reduced digital addiction symptoms, depression and anxiety levels, and further studies with prevention programs are needed [12]. Ding et al (2024) stated in another study that it would be more beneficial for parents to spend more face-to-face time with their children by reducing the use of digital tools outside working hours [13].…”