Virtual Autism and the Influence of Screens on Children’s Development

The growing abusive use of screens, such as smartphones, tablets and computers, has increased during and after the pandemic, raising concerns about its impact on children's healthy development. This scenario is a concern in contemporary society, especially when evaluating its potential impact on children. This article addresses the implications of excessive screen use on child development, including its relationship with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Excessive time spent on electronic devices has been linked to negative effects on social skills. Additionally, intensive screen use can delay language development, negatively affecting communication skills in children aged 6 to 24 months. Furthermore, excessive use of screens can impair cognitive abilities, such as attention, memory and executive function, and also presents problems related to sleep, due to exposure to blue light that affects the production of melatonin, a sleep-regulating hormone. The findings suggest that excessive screen use can lead to changes in the development of the prefrontal cortex, an area crucial for executive functions. In the context of ASD, excessive screen use can worsen symptoms, including sensory sensitivity, sensory overload, stereotypical behaviors, and attention disorders. To promote healthy screen use, it is essential that parents establish appropriate limits, monitor the content accessed and encourage physical, social and educational activities outside the digital environment, in addition to seeking professional guidance with individualized assessment and the development of balanced strategies to the use of screens, ensuring the general well-being of children in their cognitive and social development. Considering that, although screens offer educational opportunities, their use must be balanced with face-to-face social interactions, which are fundamental for the healthy development of children.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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The datasets used in this study are openly available at [repository link] and the source code is available on GitHub at [GitHub link].

This work did not receive any external funding.