This report describes the evolving landscape of children’s digital lives, documenting what we know about their access, digital skills and impacts on mental health.
Presenting global and comparative data that have not been previously analysed together, it explores how lack of digital access can influence a child’s digital skills development and highlights the potential for digital technology to exacerbate inequalities.
The report also responds to ongoing debates about screen time by providing robust evidence on when and how digital technologies can undermine children’s mental health.
Methodology
The study utilises cross-sectional data from EU Kids Online (19 European countries) and Disrupting Harm (12 countries). The reviewed survey show a geographic bias toward wealthier nations in connectivity analysis, though Disrupting Harm data provides valuable Global South perspectives.
Citation
UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight, Childhood in a Digital World: Screen time, skills and mental health, UNICEF Innocenti, Florence, June 2025.
Record created:
15 September 2026
This report describes the evolving landscape of children’s digital lives, documenting what we know about their access, digital skills and impacts on mental health.
Presenting global and comparative data that have not been previously analysed together, it explores how lack of digital access can influence a child’s digital skills development and highlights the potential for digital technology to exacerbate inequalities.
The report also responds to ongoing debates about screen time by providing robust evidence on when and how digital technologies can undermine children’s mental health.
Methodology
The study utilises cross-sectional data from EU Kids Online (19 European countries) and Disrupting Harm (12 countries). The reviewed survey show a geographic bias toward wealthier nations in connectivity analysis, though Disrupting Harm data provides valuable Global South perspectives.
Citation
UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight, Childhood in a Digital World: Screen time, skills and mental health, UNICEF Innocenti, Florence, June 2025.
Record created:
15 September 2026- screen time mental health
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