A study by a Singapore government agency has found that children exposed to high levels of screen time before age two showed brain development changes linked to slower decision-making and higher anxiety in adolescence, adding to concerns about early digital exposure. It tracked 168 children for more than a decade, and conducted brain scans on them at three time points. Heavier screen exposure among very young children was associated with "accelerated maturation of brain networks” responsible for vision and cognitive control, the study found. Those children with "altered brain networks” took longer to make decisions when they were 8.5, and also had higher anxiety symptoms at age 13, the study said. Singapore’s education ministry recently announced that it will curb the use of smartphones and smartwatches in secondary schools starting in January.

Source: The Star February 02, 2026 19:02 UTC