J Child Psychol Psychiatry May 2024 PMID 37644361

Associations of screen use with cognitive development in early childhood: the ELFE birth cohort.

Shuai Yang, Mélèa Saïd, Hugo Peyre, Franck Ramus, Marion Taine, Evelyn C Law, Marie-Noëlle Dufourg, Barbara Heude, Marie-Aline Charles, Jonathan Y Bernard

Mentions

110
Peak: 26 in Sep 2023
across 4 sources since Sep 2023

Extended reach

493,672
potential audience

Total likes

165

Video views

3,081

Mentions per month

Sep 2023 – May 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News62 articles
  • X / Twitter43 posts
  • YouTube4 videos
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Discussions frequently reference the variability of screen usage, emphasizing that the context—active versus passive use—affects cognitive development. For example, some posts highlight the study's large sample size of over 13,700 children and note that the findings suggest weakened links between screen time and cognitive abilities. The tone varies from cautious skepticism to acknowledgment of the study's contributions, with phrases like 'weak associations' and 'context matters,' reflecting a nuanced approach to interpreting the research.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions recognize that the impact of screen time on early childhood cognitive development is weak or minimal, reflecting a tentative consensus that context matters more than duration alone.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high curiosity, especially through references to large, rigorous studies and summaries of scientific findings, indicating a strong interest in understanding research implications.

EngagementModerate engagement

Several comments analyze methodological aspects and highlight the importance of context, demonstrating moderate but thoughtful engagement. Some posts debate interpretations and stress nuances in research results.

ImpactModerate impact

The overall perception is that this research influences discussions on parenting and policy, but its impact is seen as moderate since it challenges simplistic notions about screen time effects without dismissing concerns entirely.

Abstract in brief

  • A study was conducted in France to explore the relationship between children's screen use and cognitive development using data from a nationwide birth cohort of 13,763 children.
  • Parents reported children’s screen time at ages 2, 3.5, and 5.5, while cognitive abilities were measured through standardized assessments.
  • The results showed that while watching TV during family meals correlated with lower vocabulary scores at age 2 and some negative associations with cognitive scores at ages 3.5 and 5.5, the overall impact of screen time on cognitive development was found to be weak after adjusting for various confounding factors.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Daniel Willingham
@DTWillingham · X

Large study (N=13k) of screen time in French children (age 2-5.5) finds "weak associations of screen use with cognition after controlling for sociodemographic and children's birth factors and lifestyle confounders" https://t.co/GLBekZhI6P

Sep 7, 2023 · 36 likes · 11 shares · 52,298 followers View post →
Elisabeth Piotelat
@piotelat · X

@M6 Ce que dit la science : Peu d'impact du temps d'écran sur le développement cognitif de l'enfant quand on prend en compte d'autres facteurs. https://t.co/II9SPRpxpE

Sep 24, 2023 · 12 likes · 1 share · 1,593 followers View post →
Marieke Kuypers
@KuypersMarieke · X

Losse studies moet je in de context van alle research bekijken, maar sowieso interessant: “Our study suggests that the context of screen use matters, not solely screen time, in children's cognitive development.” https://t.co/OF3pZI0Quh

Sep 14, 2023 · 6 likes · 1 share · 19,624 followers View post →
Vanessa Lalo ✏️
@Vanessa_Lalo · X

3/3 Source ici (en): https://t.co/o4h7enUXaQ "Notre étude a révélé de faibles associa° entre l'utilisa° d'un écran et la cogni° et suggère que le contexte de l'utilisa° de l'écran est important, et pas seulement le temps passé devant un écran, dans le dév cognitif des enfants."

Sep 19, 2023 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 14,103 followers View post →
puer&sucette
@PuerSucette · X

@Ozm_Chris @MarineMgd https://t.co/ICzdwotFHF

Sep 25, 2023 · 3 likes · 2 shares · 10,082 followers View post →
@benavent
@Benavent · X

Cette étude fait jaser : la durée passée par les petits enfants devant les écrans ne les rend pas beaucoup plus idiots, en revanche manger devant la TV dégrade le langage.

Sep 14, 2023 · 3 likes · 1 share · 7,444 followers View post →

All mentions

Jonathan Chan 
@ChanPerco · X

L’usage des écrans est ainsi indissociable du contexte dans lequel il a lieu. L’étude Associations of screen use with cognitive development in early childhood: the ELFE birth cohort met notamment en exergue la différence entre une consommation passive et un usage actif de l’écran

May 12, 2025 · 61,677 followers View post →
s243a from pearltrees
@s243a_PT · X

RT @patricelamothe: Puisqu’on se pose beaucoup la question en ce moment… la plus large étude scientifique sur le « temps d’écran » conclut…

Jul 21, 2024 · 5 shares · 110 followers View post →
Niels Weber
@nielsweber.bsky.social · Bluesky

6/9 ... (Yang, S., Saïd, M., Peyre, H., Ramus, F., Taine, M., Law, E. C., & Bernard, J. Y. (2024). Associations of screen use with cognitive development in early childhood: The ELFE birth cohort. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 65(5), 680-693.)) qui montre que ...

Jun 1, 2024 · 1 share View post →
Niels Weber
@niels_weber · X

6/9 ... (Yang, S., Saïd, M., Peyre, H., Ramus, F., Taine, M., Law, E. C., & Bernard, J. Y. (2024). Associations of screen use with cognitive development in early childhood: The ELFE birth cohort. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 65(5), 680-693.)) qui montre que ...

Jun 1, 2024 · 755 followers View post →
Nicolas Cynober
@cyno · X

RT @patricelamothe: Puisqu’on se pose beaucoup la question en ce moment… la plus large étude scientifique sur le « temps d’écran » conclut…

May 8, 2024 · 5 shares · 484 followers View post →
CapEdu_Podcast
@CapEdu_Podcast · X

RT @patricelamothe: Puisqu’on se pose beaucoup la question en ce moment… la plus large étude scientifique sur le « temps d’écran » conclut…

May 5, 2024 · 5 shares · 934 followers View post →
Pearltrees
@pearltrees · X

RT @patricelamothe: Puisqu’on se pose beaucoup la question en ce moment… la plus large étude scientifique sur le « temps d’écran » conclut…

May 5, 2024 · 5 shares · 9,857 followers View post →
Henri ISAAC
@hisaac25 · X

RT @patricelamothe: Puisqu’on se pose beaucoup la question en ce moment… la plus large étude scientifique sur le « temps d’écran » conclut…

May 4, 2024 · 5 shares · 3,356 followers View post →
Patrice Lamothe
@patricelamothe · X

@HummelV @pearltrees @education_gouv @SUD_education https://t.co/4Zyrec4Cmn

May 4, 2024 · 2,633 followers View post →
Patrice Lamothe
@patricelamothe · X

Puisqu’on se pose beaucoup la question en ce moment… la plus large étude scientifique sur le « temps d’écran » conclut que ce n’est pas le temps d’usage, mais bien le contexte, qui compte pour le développement d’un enfant : https://t.co/4Zyrec4Cmn

May 4, 2024 · 3 likes · 5 shares · 2,633 followers View post →
Teacher EcoSystems Matter
@CreditFlex · X

@jillbarshay @HKorbey https://t.co/7tflV9s1zG Shared from Science of Reading app

Apr 2, 2024 · 1,623 followers View post →
Simple Science
@SimpleScienceX · X

Discover how and to what extent screen time can affect your child’s brain development! #ParentingTips #ChildDevelopment #ScreenTime https://t.co/i07zEfwlhl

Mar 8, 2024 · 2 followers View post →
Teacher EcoSystems Matter
@CreditFlex · X

@glassbeadsdev @HKorbey This was a longitudinal study in France. https://t.co/7tflV9s1zG Shared from Science of Reading app

Jan 18, 2024 · 2 likes · 1,623 followers View post →
henriparisien
@henriparisien · X

@AntoninAtger @ChrisMcCandl Vraiment, il n'y a pas de consensus. Et donc chacun fait comme il eut (ou peut). https://t.co/gIK3He0YGT

Jan 11, 2024 · 209 followers View post →
Nolwenn Guellec
@Nolwenn_Guellec · X

@loysbonod Parce que vous avez raté l'article qui décrit la méthodologie, qui est tout à fait hors de ma portée, et encore plus de la vôtre (je doute que vous sachiez ce qu'est un modèle de régression linéaire, par exemple) https://t.co/tYuQufJqbY

Jan 8, 2024 · 1 like · 1,831 followers View post →
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
@TheJCPP · X

.@TheJCPP 2023 Top 10 Downloaded Papers #OpenAccess 'Associations of screen use with cognitive development in early childhood: the ELFE birth cohort’ by Shuai Yang (@univ_spn) et al. Read the full paper, & see who else made the list at https://t.co/usjn2wa3oZ .

Jan 3, 2024 · 1 like · 14,746 followers View post →
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
@TheJCPP · X

.@TheJCPP 2023 Top 10 Downloaded Papers #OpenAccess 'Associations of screen use with cognitive development in early childhood: the ELFE birth cohort’ by Shuai Yang (@univ_spn) et al. Read the full paper, & see who else made the list at https://t.co/usjn2wa3oZ .

Dec 23, 2023 · 1 like · 14,746 followers View post →
Wiley Psychology
@WileyPsychology · X

A new study in ELFE birth cohort assesses associations between screen use and cognitive development in early childhood. Read now in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. @ACAMH@TheJCPP

Nov 20, 2023 · 1 like · 97,407 followers View post →
Vetgerval
@GValeau · X

RT @PuerSucette: @Ozm_Chris @MarineMgd https://t.co/ICzdwotFHF

Sep 29, 2023 · 2 shares · 1,106 followers View post →
Fa
@fannylaurent27 · X

RT @PuerSucette: @Ozm_Chris @MarineMgd https://t.co/ICzdwotFHF

Sep 25, 2023 · 2 shares · 163 followers View post →
puer&sucette
@PuerSucette · X

@Ozm_Chris @MarineMgd https://t.co/ICzdwotFHF

Sep 25, 2023 · 3 likes · 2 shares · 10,082 followers View post →
Jérôme
@Playmogeek · X

RT @piotelat: @M6 Ce que dit la science : Peu d'impact du temps d'écran sur le développement cognitif de l'enfant quand on prend en compte…

Sep 24, 2023 · 1 share · 2,611 followers View post →
Elisabeth Piotelat
@piotelat · X

@M6 Ce que dit la science : Peu d'impact du temps d'écran sur le développement cognitif de l'enfant quand on prend en compte d'autres facteurs. https://t.co/II9SPRpxpE

Sep 24, 2023 · 12 likes · 1 share · 1,593 followers View post →
The CAMH journal
@TheCAMH · X

In this #OpenAccess @TheJCPP paper, Shuai Yang (@univ_spn) et al. aimed to assess the associations between screen use and cognitive development in the French nationwide birth cohort. Read the full paper to learn more. https://t.co/jXpymlF3YI @WileyPsychology

Sep 22, 2023 · 1 like · 7,959 followers View post →
Stéphanie de Vanssay 
@2vanssay · X

RT @Vanessa_Lalo: 3/3 Source ici (en): https://t.co/o4h7enUXaQ "Notre étude a révélé de faibles associa° entre l'utilisa° d'un écran et l…

Sep 19, 2023 · 2 shares · 14,435 followers View post →
Vanessa Lalo ✏️
@Vanessa_Lalo · X

3/3 Source ici (en): https://t.co/o4h7enUXaQ "Notre étude a révélé de faibles associa° entre l'utilisa° d'un écran et la cogni° et suggère que le contexte de l'utilisa° de l'écran est important, et pas seulement le temps passé devant un écran, dans le dév cognitif des enfants."

Sep 19, 2023 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 14,103 followers View post →
TrabajarenEuropa
@TrabajarEuropa · X

Nuevo estudio sobre el efecto en el desarrollo de pantallas en menores de 5 años…. No las deja demasiado bien Via: https://t.co/XTHVcoQ4u8 Cc @lucas_gortazar @sanz_ismael https://t.co/L6yd2iNG7x

Sep 15, 2023 · 1 share · 18,030 followers View post →
Sébastien Salerno
@SalernoSebi · X

Screens and children's development. Shuai Yang et al. (2023:13): "The context, not solely the screen time, matters in children’s cognitive development." French nationwide birth cohort, N=13763. https://t.co/Mgjs0PqIRI https://t.co/T2x47yOxFi

Sep 14, 2023 · 1 like · 374 followers View post →
Elisabeth Piotelat
@piotelat · X

@HashtagAutismeF @lemondefr L'étude dont il est question : https://t.co/II9SPRq5fc

Sep 14, 2023 · 1,593 followers View post →
Egide Royer
@EgideRoyer · X

«..les facteurs liés à la naissance des enfants et de confusion liés au mode de vie, et suggère que le contexte de l'utilisation des écrans a une incidence sur le développement cognitif des enfants, et pas seulement le temps passé devant l'écran.» https://t.co/NsIYp7kOCa

Sep 14, 2023 · 1 like · 5,726 followers View post →
Florentina Lore
@lore_florentina · X

RT @KuypersMarieke: Losse studies moet je in de context van alle research bekijken, maar sowieso interessant: “Our study suggests that the…

Sep 14, 2023 · 1 share · 3,052 followers View post →
Marieke Kuypers
@KuypersMarieke · X

Losse studies moet je in de context van alle research bekijken, maar sowieso interessant: “Our study suggests that the context of screen use matters, not solely screen time, in children's cognitive development.” https://t.co/OF3pZI0Quh

Sep 14, 2023 · 6 likes · 1 share · 19,624 followers View post →
Cécile Pineau
@CcilePineau · X

RT @Benavent: Cette étude fait jaser : la durée passée par les petits enfants devant les écrans ne les rend pas beaucoup plus idiots, en re…

Sep 14, 2023 · 1 share · 605 followers View post →
@benavent
@Benavent · X

Cette étude fait jaser : la durée passée par les petits enfants devant les écrans ne les rend pas beaucoup plus idiots, en revanche manger devant la TV dégrade le langage.

Sep 14, 2023 · 3 likes · 1 share · 7,444 followers View post →
Juan (el del blog) Fernández
@JuanEldelblog · X

RT @DTWillingham: Large study (N=13k) of screen time in French children (age 2-5.5) finds "weak associations of screen use with cognition a…

Sep 10, 2023 · 11 shares · 28,785 followers View post →
Franck Martin
@donatienmartin · X

RT @DTWillingham: Large study (N=13k) of screen time in French children (age 2-5.5) finds "weak associations of screen use with cognition a…

Sep 8, 2023 · 11 shares · 267 followers View post →
LaPsyDÉ
@lapsyde · X

RT @DTWillingham: Large study (N=13k) of screen time in French children (age 2-5.5) finds "weak associations of screen use with cognition a…

Sep 8, 2023 · 11 shares · 4,908 followers View post →
John Wilkins
@JohnWilkinspsyc · X

RT @DTWillingham: Large study (N=13k) of screen time in French children (age 2-5.5) finds "weak associations of screen use with cognition a…

Sep 7, 2023 · 11 shares · 1,598 followers View post →
Berthier-Bonfigli
@BerthierBonfig2 · X

RT @DTWillingham: Large study (N=13k) of screen time in French children (age 2-5.5) finds "weak associations of screen use with cognition a…

Sep 7, 2023 · 11 shares · 3,571 followers View post →
oliver caviglioli
@olicav · X

RT @DTWillingham: Large study (N=13k) of screen time in French children (age 2-5.5) finds "weak associations of screen use with cognition a…

Sep 7, 2023 · 11 shares · 36,598 followers View post →
Boycott Teslas Now
@inchargeofmei · X

RT @DTWillingham: Large study (N=13k) of screen time in French children (age 2-5.5) finds "weak associations of screen use with cognition a…

Sep 7, 2023 · 11 shares · 46 followers View post →
Cheryl Durwin
@CherylDurwin · X

RT @DTWillingham: Large study (N=13k) of screen time in French children (age 2-5.5) finds "weak associations of screen use with cognition a…

Sep 7, 2023 · 11 shares · 1,046 followers View post →
Carl Hendrick
@C_Hendrick · X

RT @DTWillingham: Large study (N=13k) of screen time in French children (age 2-5.5) finds "weak associations of screen use with cognition a…

Sep 7, 2023 · 11 shares · 38,033 followers View post →
Daniel Willingham
@DTWillingham · X

Large study (N=13k) of screen time in French children (age 2-5.5) finds "weak associations of screen use with cognition after controlling for sociodemographic and children's birth factors and lifestyle confounders" https://t.co/GLBekZhI6P

Sep 7, 2023 · 36 likes · 11 shares · 52,298 followers View post →