Online Safety and Children

Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and gaming systems are now part of everyday life for many children in Los Angeles and Orange County. Whether used for homework, entertainment, or staying connected with friends, technology is easy to access both at school and at home. Many children start using it at very young ages, often before they fully understand the risks involved.

Technology can support learning and creativity, but it also exposes children to real safety concerns. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that unsupervised or excessive technology use can negatively affect children’s physical health, mental well-being, and safety.¹ Understanding how technology affects children and how they can use it safely is an important step toward keeping them healthy and secure. 

What Counts as Online Technology Use? 

Online technology use includes any activity that connects a child to the internet or digital networks, such as:

• Smartphones and tablets 

• Computers and school-issued devices 

• Social media platforms (TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat) 

• Online gaming and chat features 

• Video streaming (YouTube, Twitch) 

• Educational apps and websites 

Most children move between several of these throughout the day, switching from schoolwork to entertainment. These tools can be genuinely helpful, but without limits and safeguards in place, they can also expose kids to risk.²

How Technology Affects a Child’s Body and Mind

Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and gaming systems are now part of everyday life for many children in Los Angeles and Orange County. Whether used for homework, entertainment, or staying connected with friends, technology is easy to access both at school and at home. Many children start using it at very young ages, often before they fully understand the risks involved.

Technology can support learning and creativity, but it also exposes children to real safety concerns. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that unsupervised or excessive technology use can negatively affect children’s physical health, mental well-being, and safety.¹ Understanding how technology affects children and how they can use it safely is an important step toward keeping them healthy and secure. 

What Counts as Online Technology Use? 

Online technology use includes any activity that connects a child to the internet or digital networks, such as:

• Smartphones and tablets 

• Computers and school-issued devices 

• Social media platforms (TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat) 

• Online gaming and chat features 

• Video streaming (YouTube, Twitch) 

• Educational apps and websites 

Most children move between several of these throughout the day, switching from schoolwork to entertainment. These tools can be genuinely helpful, but without limits and safeguards in place, they can also expose kids to risk.²

How Technology Affects a Child’s Body and Mind

1. Brain and Mental Health 

   A child's brain is still developing, especially the parts responsible for attention, impulse control, and emotional regulation. Excessive screen time has been linked to increased anxiety, depression, and mood changes in children and teens.¹ Constant notifications and fast-paced content can make it harder for kids to focus, stay patient, or sit with boredom. Social media can contribute to low self-esteem through comparison, cyberbullying, and pressure to look "perfect" online.³

2. Sleep

   Blue light from screens reduces melatonin, the hormone that helps the body fall asleep.¹ Kids who use screens late at night tend to sleep less and wake up more tired. Poor sleep affects memory, learning, behavior, and emotional regulation at school.

3. Physical Health

   Long periods of sitting reduce physical activity, increasing the risk of obesity and related health conditions.² Prolonged device use can cause headaches, eye strain, and neck or back pain. Screen time can crowd out important activities like outdoor play, sports, and in-person social time.

Online Safety Risks for Children 

• Cyberbullying

Children may receive mean messages, threats, or rumors that spread quickly online. Unlike in-person bullying, cyberbullying can follow kids home and happen at any hour. Children who experience cyberbullying have higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.³ Many don't tell a trusted adult because they're afraid of losing access to their device.

• Exposure to Inappropriate Content

Violence, sexual content, and hateful language can appear through ads, videos, or links, sometimes even without a child seeking it out. Algorithms can push increasingly extreme content over time, and exposure at a young age can affect a child's emotional development and sense of safety.¹

• Online Predators and Privacy Risks

Some adults use games, social media, or chat features to build trust with children before asking them to share personal information, photos, or their location. Once something is shared online, it can be difficult or impossible to fully remove.²

How Technology Affects School and Learning

Research links excessive or unsafe technology use to:

• Difficulty concentrating in class

• Lower academic performance

• More behavior problems

• Reduced face-to-face social skills

• Higher stress and emotional exhaustion

Technology can support learning, but too much unsupervised use can make it harder for kids to succeed in school.³

Healthy Technology Use vs. Unsafe Technology Use

Supporting Online Safety at Home and School

Practical steps:

• Set clear rules for screen time and device use

• Use parental controls and privacy settings

• Keep devices in shared family spaces when possible

• Talk regularly with kids about their online experiences without judgment

• Teach children to tell a trusted adult if something feels wrong

Healthier alternatives to screen time:

• Outdoor play or sports

• Arts, music, or creative projects

• Reading together

• Board games or family activities

• Community programs and clubs

Technology is a powerful tool, but children need guidance to use it safely. By setting boundaries, staying involved, and encouraging healthy habits, families and schools can protect kids from online risks while still letting them benefit from digital learning and connection. Small changes today can make a meaningful difference in children's safety, health, and success.

Sources 

1. American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). Media and young minds. Pediatrics, 138(5). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-2591 

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Children’s mental health and screen time. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov 

3. Common Sense Media. (2023). Social media, teens, and mental health. https://www.commonsensemedia.org