Australian children are now spending more than four hours a day on screens, with new figures revealing a growing health crisis.
The alarming statistics show teenagers are among the worst affected, with some admitting to spending up to 11 hours daily on their devices. Fewer than one in five are getting more than 60 minutes of exercise as a result.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Screen addiction threatens Australian children’s health
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“I listen to like rain music at night, so that could be a reason,” one teen told 7NEWS.
Adults aren’t faring much better, with many admitting to spending between three to eight hours a day on their phones as doom scrolling becomes increasingly difficult to escape.
Health experts say the excessive screen time is having serious consequences for children’s development.
“These are kids coming to us with real challenges around meltdowns, already falling behind in their language development or their new skill learning. It’s really heartbreaking for us to see,” RACGP Child Health Specialist Dr Tim Jones said.
Researchers warn that social media platforms are deliberately designed to keep users engaged, making it harder to break free from the cycle.
“It’s a new sort of slot machine, if you like. It basically keeps us engaged and engaged and is relentless at doing that. It is such an addiction,” explained Professor Ken Purnell, from CQUniversity’s educational neuroscience department.
Experts say the biggest concern isn’t just the hours lost to screens, but what Australians are missing out on in real life, warning it could become the country’s next big health emergency.
“The loss of engagement with partners, with grandchildren, whoever it might be, just simply the world,” Purnell cautioned.
The advice for families is simple: create phone-free times and phone-free spaces, especially at the dinner table and before bedtime.
It’s not about banning technology. It’s about taking back control.
“There is nothing wrong with rugging your child up against the cold, getting to the local playground, getting to the local nature park,” Jones said.
