Teens unharmed by screen time: study

Using smartphones and other screens has little impact on the wellbeing of teenagers even before they go to sleep, according to a study.

Using data from more than 17,000 teenagers, Oxford University researchers said they found little evidence to support fears that screen time could damage young people's mental health.

"Implementing best practice statistical and methodological techniques we found little evidence for substantial negative associations between digital-screen engagement and adolescent wellbeing," Oxford Internet Institute researcher Amy Orben said.

Time-use diaries and self-reported measures were used in the study from almost 12,000 adolescents in the UK, more than 4500 from Ireland and 790 in the US.

Results suggest that the total amount of time spent on screens per a day had a limited impact on teenager's mental health, regardless of it being a weekend or a weekday.

It also notes that digital screen usage two hours, one hour or even 30 minutes before sleeping presented no clear associations with a drop in wellbeing among teenagers.

Co-author of the study, Oxford Internet Institute research director Andrew Przybylskiand study said it "found little clear-cut evidence that screen time decreases adolescent wellbeing, even if the use of digital technology occurs directly before bedtime."

The findings come as the British government prepares to release its white paper on online harms on Monday, which could make social media bosses personally accountable for harmful content published on their platforms.

Ministers will legislate for a new "duty of care" to be policed by an independent regulator, according to the proposals leaked to the Guardian.

The watchdog will have powers to impose substantial fines for breaches by companies and hold executives personally liable, the newspaper reported.