Systematic Review Reveals Dramatic Post-Pandemic Surge in Screen Time Among Children and Adolescents

A University of Turku review finds a dramatic rise in screen use among youth aged 0-19. Discover how the pandemic accelerated a 30-year trend in digital growth.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 8:55 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the University of Turku.

Three Decades of Shifting Digital Consumption Patterns

The landscape of childhood leisure has undergone a fundamental transformation since the early 1990s, moving from passive media consumption toward high-intensity interactive digital engagement. A new systematic review conducted at the University of Turku, Finland, analyzed 60 peer-reviewed studies published between 1991 and 2022 to map these long-term trends. Researchers found that screen time among children and adolescents has increased significantly over the past thirty years, with a pronounced acceleration occurring after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is the first to comprehensively bridge the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods to evaluate how global lockdowns permanently altered youth digital habits.

The Decline of Television and the Rise of Personal Devices

The nature of screen use has shifted away from shared household appliances toward more interactive and personalized digital tools. According to Postdoctoral Researcher Yuko Mori, earlier research focused almost exclusively on television viewing; however, from the mid-2010s onward, the focus shifted toward smartphones, tablets, and video games. Interestingly, even as total screen time surged during the pandemic, traditional television viewing continued its steady decline. This suggests that the modern digital experience for youth is characterized by individualized, portable technology rather than the scheduled, communal broadcasts of previous generations.

Pandemic School Closures as a Catalyst for Digital Dependence

The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a massive accelerant for screen dependence, as school closures and social distancing mandates moved education and peer interaction almost entirely online. While pre-pandemic research showed a varied picture of screen time trends, studies conducted after the pandemic began show a dramatic and sustained increase in both total and leisure-related screen use. Across all age groups, older children and adolescents reported the highest usage rates. This demographic shift reflects developmental factors, as adolescence is a period where online social interactions and romantic relationships become central to a young person's life.