Children and Screens is pleased to announce the release of a special report of what is currently known and what we need to learn about the effects of digital media on toddlers, children and adolescents in the highly-regarded journal Pediatrics. The Supplement is the result of a collaboration of more than 130 recognized experts in the field from a diverse background of disciplines, institutions and perspectives organized into 22 workgroups. Research spanning the fields of psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience, pediatrics, sociology, anthropology, communications, education, law, public health, and public policy informed their work.

The Supplement addresses three broad yet interconnected areas on topics related to the field of children and media:

Cognitive, Psychosocial, and Physical Effects: Topic areas include how screen time and media affect learning, attention, obesity, sleep, youths’ sense of self, youth well-being, and risky behaviors such as addiction and screen use while driving.

Effects on Family, Society, and Culture: Topic areas include how screen time and media affect the parent–child relationship, privacy in the era of “Big Data,” digital media literacy, youth civic engagement, and digital inequality.

Media Content: Topic areas include how screen time and media affect aggressive behavior, sexuality and sexual behavior, cyberbullying, children’s perceptions of advertising and marketing, and children’s views of themselves and others via media stereotypes

In addition to laying out what is scientifically known about each topic area, each article outlines future research priorities and suggest actionable recommendations that policymakers, parents, clinicians, and teachers can use to make digital media a more consistently constructive influence in children’s lives.

Key Findings and Takeaways as well as Frequently Asked Questions can be found here.