Highlights
- A study published by the Journal of the American Medical Associations (JAMA) shows that a pattern of addictive screen use is linked to higher risks of suicidal behavior among youth.
- Children with addictive behaviors surrounding technology may face other risks as well, including sleep disturbance, musculoskeletal injuries, ocular disorders, and more.
- Public health advocates, including law firms like Schlesinger Law Offices, play a role in holding corporations accountable for designing intentionally addictive products.
Introduction: Beyond “Screen Time”
For years, the debate around technology’s effect on youth mental health has centered on one question: How much time should young people spend looking at screens? Parents, teachers, and policymakers often worry about the total daily exposure to phones, video games, and social media.
A study published in JAMA in June 2025 suggests that the problem may not be the duration of screen time, but rather the addictive patterns of use when it comes to technology. Children who showed compulsive behaviors, including trouble putting devices down, distress when disconnected, or escalating use, were at significantly higher risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors than those that did not exhibit addiction-like symptoms.
Rather than treating “screen time” as the only villain, addressing the harmful design of many technology platforms, which aim to keep users online and can encourage addictive behavior, is an important next step in reducing the negative effects technology can have on developing brains.
Addiction and the Developing Brain
Addictive technology taps into the same reward pathways in the brain as substances like nicotine or alcohol. For children, this can be especially dangerous because their prefrontal cortex (essentially the control system for impulsivity) is still developing.
Symptoms of technology addiction in youth include:
- Difficulty stopping technology use, even when they want to.
- Anxiety or distress when the device is taken away.
- Using screens to escape problems or regulate emotions.
- A growing need for more time online to feel satisfied.
These patterns can interfere with sleep, academics, family relationships, and mental health stability.
Key Findings of the JAMA Study
The JAMA researchers followed 4,285 U.S. adolescents starting at around age 10 and tracked them for four years. They studied technology in a variety of forms (smartphones, computers, video games, etc.) and found the following:
- Nearly one third of children showed increasing addictive use between ages 11 and 15. Those on this trajectory had more than double the risk of suicidal behaviors compared with peers on a low-use path.
- Almost half of participants were already on a high-addiction trajectory by age 11.
- 41% fell into the high addictive use group, which correlated with elevated risks of suicidal ideation and internalizing symptoms like depression and anxiety.
- Importantly, total hours of screen time at age 10 were not predictive of suicidal behavior at age 14. It was the compulsive, escalating patterns, that carried risk.
This study took a deeper look at technology use, going past measuring screen time in order to look at underlying behaviors associated with the use. While excessive screen time can still lead to health problems, addictive behavior (regardless of use duration) seems to lead to serious mental health issues.
Harms Linked to Addictive Screen Use
One of the most serious documented consequences of addictive screen use is suicidal ideation and behavior, as described above. A 2020 article from Health Affairs also correlated screen use with mental health or addiction–related emergency department visits. However, this is far from the only potential harm associated with addictive technology use.
Other documented harms include:
- Sleep disruption and fatigue: Compulsive late-night screen time interferes with circadian rhythms and reduces REM sleep, leading to poor concentration, among other problems, during the day.
- Musculoskeletal injuries: Prolonged device use has been linked to “text neck” and carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Ocular disorders: excessive technology use can lead to eye fatigue, dry eyes (a result of blinking less), blurry vision, and myopia.
- Accidents and fatalities: Walking, cycling, and driving while distracted by technology causes thousands of injuries and fatalities every year.
- Academic and occupational harm: Compulsive technology use can pull focus from school and work, resulting in reduced performance and impaired productivity.
- Exposure to harmful advertisements: younger children are more susceptible to influence and may not be able to identify targeted advertising embedded in the content they consume. For instance, ads for weight-loss fads, tanning services, hair straightening tools, and body-enhancement products can reinforce unrealistic ideals and contribute to anxiety, eating disorders, and poor self-image
These harms show that addictive screen use is more than a lifestyle issue; it’s a public health threat. Its consequences can be just as severe and far-reaching as other well-recognized addictions.
Deceptive Design
Tracking screen time is convenient but does not take into account the possible origins of addictive behavior. This measure shifts the blame onto the youth or their parents for not being able to control the use of technology. Additionally, focusing only on screen time overlooks the true issue: corporate design that fuels addiction.
Many social media apps, games, and devices are designed to keep users online. Children are more susceptible to these design practices. Platforms like Tik Tok, Instagram and Facebook leverage likes and reactions as a way to hook users on positive interactions and draw them back to their app via notifications. Targeted ad material may give a platform a tailored-feel that can encourage users to stay online. “Infinite scroll” can make users unaware of just how much content they are seeing and how much time they are spending online. Other interface features can include making it difficult to log out or delete an account, or rewarding users with a “streak” of days they use the app.
Policy can play a powerful role in reshaping how technology is designed. For example:
- Age-Appropriate Design: The U.K. already requires online platforms to limit features that exploit children’s vulnerabilities. The U.S. has yet to follow.
- Transparency Requirements: Companies should be required to disclose data on addictive use patterns and make it accessible to researchers. Reporting is currently voluntary and incomplete.
- Algorithmic Accountability: Platforms should be required to curb recommendation engines that drive compulsive use among children under 16.
As Mitch Prinstein of the American Psychological Association put it, “We have baked addictive use into the design of the product.” To protect current and future generations from the detrimental effects, this must change.
What Parents Can Do
Structural changes are essential, but parents can still play a role in mitigating risks. Experts recommend that caregivers:
- Watch for warning signs: these could include irritability when offline, loss of interest in other activities, or secrecy around device use.
- Set clear expectations: don’t just set limits on time but provide guidelines for how devices are used. Organizations like the Child Mind Institute and the American Psychological Association have technology use guidelines for children of all ages.
- Encourage alternatives: sports, arts, outdoor time, and face-to-face social opportunities help counterbalance addictive tendencies.
- Seek professional help early: Addictive behaviors may require cognitive behavioral therapy, rather than simple device removal.
Technology addiction isn’t the fault of the child; punishment is never the best response to addictive behavior. Supportive, structured intervention works better and can help avoid conflict in the home.
How Schlesinger Law Offices Can Help
At Schlesinger Law Offices, we view this issue not only as a family concern but as a public health problem. Corporations should be held accountable for intentionally designing addictive features into their platforms while knowing the risks to children’s mental health.
Our social media addiction lawyers, will:
- Investigate corporate practices that put children at risk.
- Advocate for regulatory reforms to require safer design standards.
- Pursue litigation when companies fail to warn users or intentionally exploit children’s vulnerabilities.
- Support families navigating the legal system when harm has occurred.
Just as legal action has been critical in holding Big Tobacco accountable for youth addiction, litigation may be necessary to curb the harmful practices of Big Tech.
At Schlesinger Law Offices, we are committed to standing with families and communities on this issue, whether through advocacy, litigation, or public education. Protecting children’s mental health isn’t just a private matter: it’s a public responsibility.
Frequently Asked Questions About Addictive Screen Use
- What is “addictive screen use”?
This refers to compulsive patterns of technology use (including social media, video games, and more) where users feel unable to stop, become distressed without access, or need to increase use over time to feel satisfied. - What mental health risks are associated with addictive use?
According to a study published in JAMA, youth with high or increasing addictive use were two to three times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts or behaviors compared with peers who did not experience the same use patterns. - Are some children more vulnerable?
The study found higher addictive use among Black and Hispanic adolescents, those from lower-income households, and children of single parents. - Can removing devices solve the problem?
Not always. Experts warn that simply taking away phones may not help. Therapy (such as cognitive behavioral therapy) and structured guidance may be a more effective strategy for helping your child. - What can parents do right now?
- Look for signs of distress or compulsive patterns
- Encourage offline activities
- Set clear expectations about how devices are used
- Proactively seek professional help if addiction is suspected
- How can Schlesinger Law Offices help?
Law firms like Schlesinger Law Offices act as public health advocates: pushing for safer technology design, investigating corporate misconduct, and holding companies accountable when children are harmed by intentionally addictive.
