A comprehensive analysis of internet exposure’s growing influence on children’s mental health, social development, and wellbeing
With 36.2 million children aged 11 and under using the internet in 2024—12 million more users than those aged 12-17—America’s youngest generation is experiencing unprecedented digital immersion that is reshaping their development, relationships, and mental health in both promising and concerning ways.
Teenagers are increasingly bearing the brunt of internet addiction, with recent research painting a concerning picture of their digital habits.
According to a study published in the Australian Medical Journal, older teens in Australia now spend over six hours daily juggling multiple media platforms—ranging from web browsing and instant messaging to streaming television.
Social media is a major contributor. Teens average 2.7 hours per day on social platforms, outpacing adults who average 2.1 hours.
More than half (56%) of teens qualify as heavy social media users, logging in more than five times a day, and nearly a quarter (24%) report being online almost constantly.
The Kids Are Not Alright: Internet Addiction on the Rise Among Teens
The Australian Institute of Family Studies reports that 97% of households with children under the age of 15 have internet access. On average, each home has seven connected electronic devices, and virtually all teenagers aged 15 to 17—an overwhelming 99%—are regularly online.
Research by Dr. Mubarak Ali of Flinders University in Adelaide further underscores the psychological toll.
His study found that one-third of Australian teens are “in the process of becoming psychologically addicted.” On average, teens spend about 13 hours per week online.
Disturbingly, 7% of teens aged 13 to 17 self-identified as “becoming addicted” to internet use, while 26% admitted to daily use and described it as “an important part of their lives.
Digital Dependence: The Dopamine-Driven Pull of the Internet
Internet addiction, like other forms of dependency, taps into our brain’s reward system—particularly the neurochemical dopamine, which plays a central role in motivation and pleasure-seeking behaviors.
Dr. David Greenfield, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and founder of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction, explains it this way:
“If you get a notification, your dopamine level goes up, and if you check it and it’s really good it reinforces that dopamine hit with a little bit more. If something’s pleasurable you’re more likely to repeat it. When the pleasure is variable, you’re more likely to do it in a compulsive manner.”
This cycle of digital stimulation becomes a deeply embedded part of daily life. With 24/7 access through smartphones and computers, the constant checking of notifications—from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep—can evolve into an automatic and unhealthy habit.
Perth-based psychologist Marny Lishman points out the physiological toll of digital overload:
“(You are) getting messages all the time. The minute that happens, your senses take in the information, and your brain has to do something with that information. And if it is stressful content, then there is a change physiologically; your brain is going to release adrenalin and cortisol before you go to bed.”
The internet’s design compounds its addictive potential: always-on access, the blurred sense of time, the hypnotic glow of the screen, and the endless flow of unfinished, bite-sized content.
Over time, the brains of habitual users become neurologically conditioned by their online experiences—trapped in a loop of scrolling, checking, and refreshing.
Unprecedented Digital Immersion
The statistics paint a stark picture of how deeply embedded internet technology has become in children’s lives. According to recent federal data, 97% of children and teenagers aged 3-18 have internet access at home, with 93% accessing the internet through computers.
The youngest users, increasingly referred to as Generation Alpha, are driving much of this growth. These children under 11 are spending substantial portions of their unstructured time consuming digital video content and gaming, establishing patterns of internet use that begin before they can even read fluently.
However, significant disparities persist across demographic lines. While 97% of Asian children aged 3-18 have home internet access through computers, only 83% of American Indian and Alaska Native children enjoy the same access, highlighting the ongoing digital divide that affects educational and social opportunities.
The Mental Health Connection
Perhaps the most alarming findings emerging from recent research concern the relationship between internet usage and children’s psychological wellbeing.
A comprehensive analysis of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, tracking 9,538 adolescents over two years, revealed that youth who spent the most time on digital technology were statistically more likely to exhibit higher levels of depression, anxiety, social anxiety, and somatic complaints.
The research indicates that after just one hour per day of screen use, additional hours of daily screen time correlate with measurably lower psychological wellbeing.
Children experiencing higher screen time demonstrate less curiosity, reduced self-control, increased distractibility, greater difficulty forming friendships, decreased emotional stability, and challenges completing tasks.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reinforces these concerns, showing that teenagers with higher daily screen time were significantly more likely to experience both anxiety and depression symptoms.
The implications are particularly troubling given that children’s average daily screen time reached 4.40 hours during the pandemic, though it has since decreased to 3.89 hours—still substantially higher than recommended guidelines.
The Sleep Crisis
Internet usage is also driving a sleep crisis among children that has far-reaching developmental consequences.
Research published in Pediatrics demonstrates that increased screen time is directly associated with delayed bedtimes and fewer total hours of sleep. The blue light emitted by screens interferes with melatonin production, the hormone crucial for regulating healthy sleep-wake cycles.
This sleep disruption creates a cascading effect on children’s physical health, academic performance, and emotional regulation. Sleep-deprived children show increased behavioral problems, difficulty concentrating in school, and heightened susceptibility to anxiety and depression.
Children who use media devices in their bedrooms often struggle to get adequate sleep. Beyond sleep disruption, digital media can expose kids to risks like cyberbullying—an experience strongly linked to depression and even suicide in some cases.
Excessive media use can also interfere with academic responsibilities, distracting children from homework and negatively affecting school performance. It may reduce meaningful family interactions and contribute to feelings of loneliness and social isolation.
Commercial Exploitation and Digital Marketing
The commercial dimensions of children’s internet usage reveal another concerning trend. In May 2024, 53% of children aged 2-12 reported seeing advertisements on YouTube, significantly outpacing exposure on other platforms like TikTok or traditional broadcast television.
The extensive advertising exposure is generating real-world behavioral changes, with 16% of children in this age group actively asking parents to purchase products they encountered online.
This represents a fundamental shift in how children are targeted by marketers, with sophisticated algorithms designed to capture and maintain young attention spans for commercial purposes. The long-term implications of this early and intensive commercial conditioning remain largely unknown.
Academic and Social Development Impacts
Beyond mental health concerns, excessive internet usage is reshaping fundamental aspects of childhood development.
Children with high screen time show increased difficulty with face-to-face social interactions, reduced attention spans for non-digital activities, and challenges developing the patience required for sustained academic work.
However, the relationship between internet usage and child development is not entirely negative. When used appropriately, digital technologies can enhance learning opportunities, provide access to educational resources, and help children develop technological literacy essential for future success.
The Path Forward
Mental health experts and child development specialists emphasize that the solution is not to eliminate internet access entirely, but rather to establish healthier patterns of usage.
Research suggests that co-viewing—when parents actively engage with children during screen time—can significantly mitigate negative effects while preserving beneficial aspects of digital technology.
The data underscores the need for comprehensive approaches that include parental education, improved digital literacy programs, and potentially regulatory frameworks that better protect children from exploitative digital marketing practices.
As Dr. Sarah Chen, a developmental psychologist specialising in digital technology’s impact on children, noted in a recent interview:
“We’re essentially conducting a massive, uncontrolled experiment on an entire generation. The preliminary results suggest we need to be much more intentional about how we integrate these powerful technologies into children’s lives.” she said.
What Australia’s Social Media Age Ban Could Mean for Kids Under 16
In late November 2024, the Australian federal government made a bold move: it changed the Online Safety Act to officially ban children under 16 from having social media accounts. Under the new law, platforms are now required to take “reasonable steps” to enforce the ban—or risk fines of up to AUD$50 million.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the goal is simple: to protect children from the harms of social media and, as he put it, to “give kids back their childhood and parents their peace of mind.”
So, how did we get here?
Earlier in 2024, the government launched a Joint Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate social media’s impact on Australians.
Around the same time, major players like News Corp and a social movement called 36months started campaigns to raise the minimum social media age to 16.
The efforts tied the rise in teenage mental health issues to social media use, and their message clearly struck a chord—127,000 people signed a petition supporting the cause. The push gained support from parents, teachers, doctors, and politicians alike. But not everyone agreed.
More than 140 Australian and international academics, along with some mental health groups and human rights advocates, signed an open letter criticising the ban.
Their concern? That it oversimplifies a complex issue and could infringe on young people’s rights—like access to information and online privacy. They argue that systemic regulation, not just age restrictions, is what’s really needed.
Despite these objections, the ban gained bipartisan political support, and by November 2024, 77% of Australians polled were in favor of the idea.
Interestingly, the official government committee investigating social media didn’t recommend an age ban in their final report—but the Prime Minister went ahead with it anyway. The bill was fast-tracked through Parliament and passed on November 29, with very little time for public input.
The ban is set to take effect by the end of 2025.
For many parents, this will likely feel like a win. A survey by the eSafety Commissioner found that 95% of Australian caregivers see online safety as a major challenge. The new law may offer a sense of relief and give them firmer ground to stand on when limiting their kids’ screen time.
But it’s important to note: the legal responsibility now lies with the platforms, not parents or children. How effectively these companies can enforce the ban—and whether it actually protects kids—remains to be seen.
Looking Ahead
The statistics reveal that America’s children are more connected than ever before, but this connectivity comes with unprecedented challenges that society is only beginning to understand.
With 97% of children having home internet access and screen time averaging nearly four hours daily, the question is no longer whether internet technology will shape childhood development, but how society will respond to ensure that influence is primarily positive.
The data suggests that without thoughtful intervention, the current trajectory could result in a generation of children facing higher rates of anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and social difficulties.
However, with appropriate safeguards, digital literacy education, and responsible usage patterns, the same technologies that pose risks could become powerful tools for learning, creativity, and healthy development.
As policymakers, educators, and parents grapple with these realities, the urgency of developing evidence-based approaches to children’s internet usage has never been clearer.
The statistics tell a story of profound transformation—one that demands immediate attention and thoughtful response to protect the wellbeing of America’s digital natives.
