SynthesisFrontiers in psychology2025
The impact of touchscreen digital exposure on children's social development and communication: a systematic review.
Synthesis in Frontiers in psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Mediating role of sleep duration in the association between problematic media use and sleep disturbance in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.Irish journal of medical science · 2026Article
- Executive Functioning as a Mediator Between Digital Media Exposure and Communication Outcomes in Children and Adolescents.Journal of Intelligence · 2026Article
- Improving Interviews with Children in Abuse Cases: Current Perspectives from Police and Forensic Interviewers.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Touchscreen technologies-ranging from smartphones and tablets to interactive whiteboards and tabletops-are increasingly embedded in the daily lives of young children, shaping how they communicate and interact socially. The present systematic review aims to understand aspects of touchscreen use that support, hinder or explain changes in how young children (ages 1-6) develop social functioning skills such as peer interaction, cooperation, collaboration and communication. Specifically, it explores: (1) the types of touchscreen devices used, (2) their influence on peer interaction, cooperation and collaboration, (3) their effects on communication skills and (4) the developmental, educational, and policy recommendations emerging from the literature. A comprehensive search across Web of Science, ERIC, and Scopus yielded 365 studies, of which 82 met inclusion criteria following PRISMA guidelines. Using a theoretically grounded definition of social functioning and communication, we conducted a content analysis of empirical studies across social sciences, psychology, art and humanities, and computer science. Findings reveal a pervasive presence of touchscreen media in early childhood, with varied impacts shaped by device type, content quality, adult mediation, and contextual factors. This review offers evidence-based insights for educators, parents, and policymakers, emphasizing the value of interactive engagement, teacher training, public education efforts, and community-based approaches in promoting meaningful digital experiences. It stressed the importance of intentional, guided and contextual use of touchscreen technologies in early childhood and family settings. This review offers evidence-based insights for educators, parents, and policymakers, emphasizing the value of interactive engagement, teacher training, public education efforts, and community-based approaches in promoting meaningful digital experiences. It stressed the importance of intentional, guided and contextual use of touchscreen technologies in early childhood and family settings. Systematic review registration: Open Science Framework https://osf.io/9athz/?view_only=1fa731457d7e48248b7482bca02793f9.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.