screen time

A large global study has examined how screen time affects children's wellbeing, according to reporting carried by Yahoo News New Zealand. The findings address an ongoing debate among parents, educators and health researchers over how digital device use shapes children's mental and physical health. Details of the study's size, methodology and conclusions were not included in the available report.

A major new study reported by the Guardian finds that high screen usage in children is linked to poorer developmental outcomes. Researchers suggest the effect of elevated screen exposure could be as significant as parental behaviour and premature birth. The findings add weight to ongoing concerns among parents, educators and health experts about how much time children spend on phones, tablets and other devices.

UF Health researchers report that cancer diagnoses in the United States drop sharply during holiday periods, while outcomes for patients diagnosed around those dates are worse. The findings suggest holiday disruptions delay screenings and follow-up care, allowing cancers to be caught at later, harder-to-treat stages, and raise questions about how seasonal healthcare patterns affect patient survival.

A newly published book argues that digital screens are driving growing social disconnection, examining how constant device use reshapes relationships, attention and everyday face-to-face interaction. The work adds to ongoing public debate about the psychological and social costs of screen time, joining a wider wave of recent writing on technology's effects on community and mental health.

The Thomas B. Fordham Institute has launched Wonkathon 2026, posing a central question about education policy: what rules should govern the use of digital technology in schools, and which authorities—federal, state, or local—should set them. The education think tank is inviting policy thinkers to weigh in on how devices, apps, and digital learning tools should be regulated in classrooms.

A new study concludes that screen time affects children's development to a similar degree as major risk factors such as poverty and premature birth. Researchers reportedly found heavy device use linked with slower developmental outcomes in young children, placing digital habits alongside well-established social and medical risks. The comparison is prompting renewed debate among parents and experts about how much screen use is acceptable for young children.

A newly formed parent group in the Park Hill school district is advocating for reduced use of technology in classrooms. The effort, reported by the Kansas City Star, adds to a wider national debate among parents and educators over how much screen time and digital learning belongs in schools.

Psychology Today has published a piece arguing that children need parents who 'look up' — a call for adults to lift their gaze away from screens and daily distraction and give children fuller attention. The article frames parental presence and attentive engagement as central to children's emotional development and behaviour, prompting discussion about smartphone use and distraction in modern family life.

The Los Angeles Times has published a guide to sports bars across Southern California where fans can watch their college football teams. The roundup points viewers to venues catering to followers of specific schools, helping transplanted fans and locals find their team's games on screen during the college football season.

The Florida Times-Union examines how faithfully the new production 'Primetime' depicts the Florida settings where its story takes place, comparing on-screen scenes with real-life locations and details. The piece has prompted readers to debate whether the show captures the state authentically or leans on familiar stereotypes.