Protect Your Child from Digital Threat: A Comprehensive Medical Reference for Researchers and Clinicians

The pervasive integration of digital technology into the daily lives of children and adolescents has emerged as a significant public health concern, particularly regarding its deleterious effects on sleep. Empirical evidence consistently demonstrates that a substantial proportion of young people worldwide fail to achieve adequate sleep. This narrative review synthesises current evidence on the biological, behavioural, and psychological mechanisms through which digital device use disrupts sleep architecture and circadian rhythmicity in young populations. Literature was identified through searches of major academic databases covering the period January 2000 to March 2026. The prevalence of digital device use in the bedroom is particularly noteworthy as an epidemiological risk factor. Exposure to short-wavelength (blue-spectrum) light emitted by screens suppresses melatonin secretion and delays circadian phase, while interactive and emotionally stimulating content engenders physiological and cognitive arousal that prolongs sleep-onset latency. The displacement of sleep time by device use and the social pressures propagated through social media further compound these effects. Inadequate sleep has far-reaching consequences for paediatric health, encompassing impaired neurocognitive development, diminished academic performance, heightened risk of obesity and metabolic dysregulation, compromised immune function, and increased prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders. Vulnerable sub-populations, including adolescent females, children with neurodevelopmental conditions, and those from lower socioeconomic strata, bear a disproportionate burden. Prevention and intervention approaches range from individual-level sleep hygiene education and family-based screen-time management to school-level policy reform and technology-design modifications. Whilst evidence for specific interventions remains emergent, a multi-level strategy incorporating clinicians, educators, families, and technology developers offers the most promising pathway toward mitigating digital sleep disruption. This review highlights critical knowledge gaps and recommends directions for future research, including longitudinal studies employing objective sleep measurement and co-designed interventions with young people.