There are 7 risks of Excess use of digital technology , including:

Strong increased risk of Depression Brain system	3 studies Use of multiple social media platforms and symptoms of depression a... Study in 2016 +200% with High evidence in 6 months 1,787 subjects Video gaming in a hyperconnected world: A cross-sectional study of ... Study in 2017 +121% with Moderate evidence 9,733 subjects Relationship of smartphone use severity with sleep quality, depress... Study in 2015 +75% with Moderate evidence 319 subjects
Increased risk of Obesity Musculoskeletal system	1 study United States Adolescents' Television, Computer, Videogame, Smartph... Study in 2016 +88% with High evidence in 3 years 29,207 subjects
Increased risk of Anxiety Brain system	2 studies Use of multiple social media platforms and symptoms of depression a... Study in 2016 +220% with High evidence in 6 months 1,787 subjects Video gaming in a hyperconnected world: A cross-sectional study of ... Study in 2017 +24% with Moderate evidence 9,733 subjects
Increased risk of Poor sleep Musculoskeletal system	3 studies Sleepless in school? The social dimensions of young people’s bedtim... Study in 2017 +200% with Low evidence 900 subjects United States Adolescents' Television, Computer, Videogame, Smartph... Study in 2016 +79% with Moderate evidence 29,207 subjects Relationship of smartphone use severity with sleep quality, depress... Study in 2015 +25% with Low evidence 319 subjects
Minor increase risk of Fatigue Musculoskeletal system	1 study Sleepless in school? The social dimensions of young people’s bedtim... Study in 2017 +200% with Low evidence 900 subjects
Minor increase risk of Fall Musculoskeletal system	1 study The impact of different cell phone functions and their effects on p... Study in 2016 +8% with Low evidence 45 subjects
Minor increase risk of Stress Brain system	1 study Relationship of smartphone use severity with sleep quality, depress... Study in 2015 +3% with Low evidence 319 subjects

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Caution

The additional associations between other screen device use (such as smartphones or latpops in sedentary lifetyle) and sleep and physical activity suggest that these devices may have unique, and broader, impacts on health. Newer screen devices may have a stronger impact on sleep in particular because of the ease with which youth and adults can bring the devices into their bedrooms, even having them near or in their beds; this can harm sleep both because of the displacement of sleep hours (ie, spending time texting rather than sleeping) and because of potential disruptions to circadian rhythms because of exposure to light from screens. Given that both sleep and physical activity also are linked with psychosocial well-being, and given preliminary evidence linking mobile phone use to depressive symptoms, additional research should more fully evaluate the linkages between other screen device use and psychosocial well-being.

Related to Excess use of digital technology

User Reports