Impactos gerados pela exposição às mídias sociais no desenvolvimento infantil

Abstract

Introduction: Development is inherent to human nature and represents a continuous learning process. A child is defined as an individual from 0 to 12 years of age, with childhood being divided into stages: the first from gestation to six years of age, and the second up to the onset of adolescence. In a globalized world with widespread internet access, it has become increasingly common for children to use technological devices such as video games, smartphones, tablets, and social media platforms, particularly those offering video entertainment, at an earlier age. Objective: To analyze the impact of social media use on child development, considering the increasingly early exposure of children to the digital world. Methodology: This study is an integrative literature review guided by the question: “What are the impacts of social media exposure on child development?” The literature search was conducted in the following databases: National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health (Medline/PubMed), Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS-BVS), Banco de dados de Enfermagem (BDENF-BVS), Índice Bibliográfico Espanhol em Ciências da Saúde (IBECS-BVS), and SciELO. Results/Discussion: The final sample consisted of seven articles retrieved from the LILACS and PubMed databases. The oldest publication was from 2014, and the most recent from 2024, with most studies published in English. Cross-sectional and cohort studies were the most prevalent methodologies. The impacts of social media use on child development included positive effects, such as improvements in language (e.g., foreign language acquisition), cognitive development, and motor skills. However, negative associations were also identified, including symptoms of inattention/hyperactivity, delays or impairments in development and/or language, cognitive deficits, and a tendency toward behavioral problems. Conclusion: This study identified various impacts of social media use on child development, encompassing both positive and negative aspects.