Nearly half of teenagers report being online nearly constantly, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center. And “screen-time” is pervasive among younger children, surveys show.
There’s no question that today’s youth are growing up in a culture ruled by digital technology. This phenomenon affects almost every aspect of their lives, including educational opportunities, social interactions, and personal development. Self-regulation—the ability to control impulses, organize behavior, and problem-solve constructively—is an important aspect that affects how young people interact with digital technology.
When examining the connections between self-regulation and digital device use among kids, researchers have found data showing that young people with higher self-regulation skills are better able to step away from digital devices, such as turning the TV off before dinner or taking turns on a shared device. We also know that most digital applications are designed to keep children engaged, making self-regulation more difficult. The fast-paced, highly stimulating nature of many shows, apps, and games can deplete young people’s ability to self-regulate.
On the other hand, there is some evidence that digital platforms may help self-regulation through cognitive benefits, achievable challenges, and fostering enjoyment and connection with others.
A new meta-analysis seeks to untangle these theories and quantify the relationship between technology use and self-regulation among kids. The analysis combines data from 183 studies that included more than 234,000 youth ages 0 to 17. The paper gives a nuanced look at the connection between self-regulation and digital recreation—technology use not related to school or education—including problematic use of the Internet, mobile phones, social media, and gaming.
Not surprisingly, youth with higher levels of self-regulation spent slightly less time overall on screens and had less use of TV, video games, the Internet, and social media. They did not use smartphones any less.
Importantly, the data linked poor self-regulation skills with significantly more problematic digital device use, including mobile device use, sexting, and video gaming. Youth with poor self-regulation were also more likely to interact with strangers online and more likely to multitask on different devices.
This analysis does not demonstrate that digital recreation is inherently harmful; the researchers point to other work that highlights cognitive, educational, and social benefits of technology use among kids.
Overall, this research paints a complicated picture of self-regulation and technology use among kids, researchers wrote in their analysis. “Our findings suggest that concerns for and about children’s self-regulation in digital contexts may be overblown, at least within a normal distribution of digital recreation activity,” they wrote. “Those with higher self-regulation were not engaging in meaningfully less time or frequency on digital recreation.”
But self-regulation does appear to be an important factor in problematic use of digital technologies. Kids with lower levels of self-regulation appear more likely to engage in problematic technology use.
There are ways to help youth of all ages develop self-regulation skills. The non-profit Child Mind Institute offers the following tips:
- Scaffolding, or supporting a young person while they deal with a frustrating situation, is a good way for kids to practice self-regulation in a supportive environment. For example, if a student is frustrated with a homework problem, a teacher may help them figure out a strategy to use, but then have them finish the problem independently. The teacher may suggest taking a break to get a drink of water, then coming back to look at the problem again.
- Practicing difficult situations can also be a helpful tool in promoting self-regulation. For example, if your toddler struggles to leave the grocery store without getting a treat, make quick stops at the store when you don’t have any shopping to do, and leave without a treat.
- Teaching kids how to reflect and think about their behavior also encourages self-regulation. This means waiting until the child is calm, then discussing what went wrong, why, and how they can fix it next time. Meditation and mindfulness practices also help teach self-/regulation.
The take-home message: Self-regulation skills link slightly to lower digital technology use in youth. More importantly, evidence shows that higher levels of self-regulation reduce the risks of problematic technology use, such as excessive or dysfunctional patterns of video gaming, sexting, and interactions with strangers online.
