Using screens to soothe children may weaken their ability to handle difficult feelings

A psychotherapist warns that relying on devices to calm boredom, sadness or uncertainty can leave children less able to regulate emotions and make smartphones harder to control.

When children are repeatedly soothed with a screen, they may miss chances to learn how to handle discomfort for themselves, according to Dominik Batthyány, a psychotherapist who works mainly on addiction. In an interview with Der Standard, Batthyány said early reliance on devices to calm boredom, sadness or uncertainty can make the smartphone feel like the default answer to difficult feelings, even though that habit may later make media use harder to control.

Batthyány said social media can play a real part in identity formation during adolescence, when young people are working out who they are and how they want to be seen. But he warned that the process becomes risky when self-worth depends too heavily on likes, comments and followers. In his view, the constant comparison built into social platforms can push teenagers to measure themselves against carefully staged images, which may intensify insecurity and distract them from their own needs and strengths.

His concerns are echoed by recent research in the United States. An advisory from the US Surgeon General says social media can offer connection and self-expression, but also carries risks including depression, anxiety and disturbed sleep. A separate scoping review published in 2026 found that passive scrolling and short-form video use were strongly linked with poorer mental health in adolescents, alongside weaker attention and concentration. For younger children, a narrative review has also linked media use with self-regulation, suggesting that screen habits can shape emotional control both directly and through parent-child interaction.

Batthyány said one of the clearest warning signs of problematic use is loss of control. If a child cannot stop, gives up hobbies or friendships, or becomes increasingly isolated, he said parents should take notice. He added that school difficulties, family conflict and withdrawal can be related signs, although not every heavy user is addicted and other pressures may also be involved. He also warned that algorithms can steadily feed more extreme material back to children and teenagers, reinforcing narrow views and, in some cases, pushing attitudes towards greater extremity.

The psychotherapist argued that parents need a relationship with their children that is open enough for them to talk about what they encounter online without fear of being punished or shamed. He said clear, age-appropriate limits still matter, including rules on timing, apps and content, but those limits should sit alongside trust and conversation rather than replace them. Batthyány also called for a wider social response, saying families are often asked to manage a digital environment that can overwhelm both children and adults, while awareness of the problem is only now beginning to catch up.