Study raises concerns over early digital exposure among Malaysian children

A study has found that most children in Peninsular Malaysia are engaging with digital devices at an early age, prompting experts to call for guidelines to limit screen time and safeguard their holistic development.

According to a 2021 study conducted by Dr. Rozita Wahab, a lecturer at Universiti Malaya, 51.6% of children in Peninsular Malaysia were already using digital devices independently before reaching the age of four.

The study also revealed that 31.7% of children began using digital devices such as smartphones or tablets before reaching the age of two, although under adult supervision.

“On average, children start using smartphones or tablets with adults at around three years and four months, and begin independent use at approximately four years and four months,” she said, as quoted by The Vibes. 

Rozita noted that these showed children were being exposed to digital devices as early as eight months old, highlighting a worrying trend among toddlers and pre-schoolers. 

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Screen time among children rises as more own personal devices 

The research further revealed that pre-schoolers spend an average of 3.7 hours daily on smartphones or tablets, rising to approximately 6.2 hours during holidays.

Meanwhile, some children use digital devices for up to nine hours on school days and as much as 14 hours during holidays.

She noted that the figures far exceeded the American Academy of Paediatrics’ recommendation that children aged five to six should spend no more than two hours daily on screens.

In addition, the study showed that 24.2% of pre-school children aged five and six already own their own smartphone or tablet, meaning nearly one in four pre-schoolers has a personal digital device at an early stage of development.

COVID-19 fuels the worrying trend 

Rozita observed that the trend accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when children’s digital device usage surged dramatically, with 74.1% of pre-schoolers using smartphones and 39.1% using tablets. 

“The trend has surged sharply after the COVID-19 pandemic, as digital device use became part of home-based learning and entertainment due to movement restrictions,” she said, as quoted by the New Straits Times. 

The study also found that smartphones had become the most frequently used device, with 68.5% of children using them daily, surpassing television at 47.5%.

She attributed the growing reliance on smartphones to changing family lifestyles and busy schedules that leave parents and children spending less time together.

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Mental health concerns linked to excessive internet use 

Beyond concerns over young children’s screen habits, lawmakers and experts have also raised alarm over the broader psychological and social effects of excessive internet use among adolescents.

In early December 2025, Special Select Committee on Women, Children and Community Development chairman Yeo Bee Yin told the Dewan Rakyat that adolescents today face various mental health problems due to excessive internet use.

Citing a study involving 5,290 adolescents across seven states, Yeo said around 3.5% were diagnosed with Internet gaming disorder, equivalent to approximately 315,000 children nationwide.

She also said that 48.1% of adolescents experienced severe anxiety, while 37.4% suffered from severe depression and 18.2% were under severe stress, underscoring the adverse effects of excessive internet use.

Aside from mental health concerns, Yeo noted that almost half of sexual crime cases involved children, with 68.1% being consensual cases in which both parties agreed to engage in sexual activity.

She added that nearly 90 per cent of adolescents who repeatedly engaged in sexual activity were heavily influenced by early exposure to pornography, digital sexual content and social media. 

Calls for guidelines to safeguard children’s development 

In response, Rozita urged the federal government and relevant authorities to introduce guidelines on children’s use of personal digital devices to safeguard their development and protection in the long term.

She stressed that national guidelines could help parents, guardians and educators set age-appropriate restrictions on device ownership, daily usage and online content.

Rozita warned that if the trend continues, excessive digital device use could affect children’s well-being, safety and overall development, while making it harder for them to regulate their emotions in the future.

However, she emphasised that parents still play a pivotal role, as children spend most of their time at home.

She expressed optimism that families could strike a healthier balance between digital device usage and physical activities to ensure healthier child development in Malaysia.

READ MORE BY THIS AUTHOR: Jheruleene Anne Ramos