This article has been fact-checked

Children are spending more time in digital environments than in the physical world, the Senedd has heard, with excessive screen use shaping behaviour and health in ways society cannot ignore.

Labour’s John Griffiths raised concerns about the impact of smartphones and online gaming on young people amid what he described as an “epidemic of screen use” in Wales.

Debate on Screen Use Among Young People

Mr Griffiths titled the debate “Locked in, Bruh!” – a phrase describing the state of being extremely focused or committed, and “in the zone” for a specific task, goal, or activity, shutting out distractions for total concentration, often used in sports, gaming, or for studying.

He cited research from the Centre for Social Justice, which estimates that up to 814,000 UK children aged three to five are already engaging with social media.

The Newport East Senedd member told the chamber that two-thirds of primary school pupils in Wales own a smartphone by the age of 11.

Gaming, Social Media and Behaviour

Mr Griffiths said boys spend around two hours more per day on online gaming, while girls spend more time on social media and “reel scrolling”, which he said has been linked to lower self-esteem.

He told Senedd members:

“Boys are becoming more short-tempered and violent when exposed to violent video games and there is, rightly, much concern that children in more deprived families are particularly vulnerable.”

Mr Griffiths, first elected in 1999 and due to stand down in 2026, said children aged five to 16 spend at least six hours a day looking at a screen. For those aged 11 to 14, he said screen time rises to around nine hours a day.

He also highlighted research suggesting more than 70% of young people in the UK do not complete an hour of physical activity per day, despite spending at least six hours on screens.

“Children are sat inside with a screen at the end of their nose and are not spending time outside enjoying their local communities or playing and interacting with friends,” he said.

Health, Education and Mental Wellbeing

Mr Griffiths warned of rising obesity levels and increasing reports of vision problems, noting that one in three children globally is now short-sighted.

He added:

“As for the mental health and wider social impacts, anxiety and depression are increasingly linked to excessive screen use as is sleep disruption – with social media interfering with rest and emotional development.”

He referred to a New Zealand study of more than 6,000 children, which found a correlation between high screen time and below-average performance in literacy and numeracy. He said research also suggests children are experiencing shortened attention spans and difficulty concentrating.

Constituents’ Experiences

Mr Griffiths shared accounts from constituents to illustrate the issue. Danielle, a constituent, said her son becomes more aggressive and irritable after extended periods of gaming. Another constituent, Lucy, said her children find social media’s endless reels addictive.

“Once they start scrolling, it’s hard to break that cycle,” Mr Griffiths said.
“And when she and her husband take the devices away, it often results in tantrums and tears.”

Policy Responses and International Examples

Mr Griffiths pointed to countries including Australia, France and Italy, which have introduced strict age checks or bans on social media use for under-16s.

He acknowledged such measures would require action from the UK Government, as internet regulation is not devolved. However, he said Wales could act through education policy, for example by setting rules on smartphone use in schools.

Concerns Over Algorithms and Harmful Content

Conservative Senedd member Sam Rowlands warned that social media algorithms can have a damaging impact on teenagers.

He said young people exposed to self-harm-related content are significantly more likely to act on harmful urges, adding:

“TikTok users with eating disorders receive over 4,000% more toxic content.”

Welsh Government Response

Responding to the debate on Wednesday (December 17), Wales’ social justice secretary Jane Hutt acknowledged the harmful effects of excessive “doom scrolling” on young people.

She told the Senedd:

“We are living through profound change. Childhood today is shaped by technology in ways that were unimaginable a generation ago… For many young people, screens, smartphones and online gaming are part of everyday life.”

by Chris Haines ICNN Senedd Reporter

Fact-Check

At Carmarthenshire News Online we take every piece of information given to us extremely seriously. We ensure that all your news is fact-checked and verified before publication. So when we spot things that don’t seem right or need further investigation, we commit ourselves to ensuring all the facts are in-front of our reader-base.

In this article, the Member of Senedd John Griffith makes the claim that violent video games are one of the causes of violent behaviour and shorter tempers in young boys. He also claims that more than 70% of young people in the UK do not complete even an hour of physical exercise a day.

Violence from Video Games Claim:

research from the University of Oxford using nationally representative data found no link between the amount of time teenagers spend playing violent video games and their real-world aggression.

• Claim that violent video games cause violent behaviour: Not supported by strong scientific evidence.

• Link to mild increases in aggression or hostile thoughts in controlled studies: Supported by some research, but effects are typically small and don’t necessarily translate to real violence.

• Real-world violence has many causes — video game exposure is at best a minor risk factor if at all.

• There may be a link to increases in aggression or hostile thinking in some people

• The effect sizes are generally small and vary by study design

• There is no reliable evidence that violent video games directly lead to serious violent acts

• Other factors (individual personality, family, social environment) are crucial determinants of violent behaviour

Physical Activity Claim:

Current data does not support the claim that over 70% of young people fall short of the daily 60-minute exercise guideline in the UK.
Latest surveys indicate that around half of children and young people in England meet the UK Chief Medical Officers’ guideline of at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day, meaning roughly around 50–55% do not meet it, not 70% or more.

Around 49.1% of children met the daily 60-minute guideline in the most recent Active Lives survey, the highest since data began, meaning approximately about 50.9% did not or were not recorded doing so.

• The general UK statistic that over 70% of young people do not complete the recommended one hour of physical activity a day is not accurate when looking at current England/UK survey data.

• However, Wales-specific figures suggest a large majority of adolescents in Wales are not achieving daily targets, which aligns more closely with the claim.

Devil’s Advocate: Rethinking Concerns About Children and Screens

While worries about children’s screen time are widespread, it’s worth considering the argument that these concerns may be overstated. In today’s world, digital technology is deeply integrated into everyday life. Education, communication, and even social interaction increasingly rely on screens, meaning that attempts to strictly limit access could leave children socially or academically disadvantaged.

Moreover, not all screen use is harmful. Educational apps, creative platforms, and cooperative games can help develop problem-solving, collaboration, and technical skills. Screens can also provide access to online communities and mental health resources, which can be beneficial rather than damaging.

Many studies linking screen time to aggression, anxiety, or poor academic performance demonstrate correlations rather than direct causation, and other factors, such as family environment or socioeconomic conditions may play a far larger role.

Children are capable of learning self-regulation, particularly when guided in digital literacy and responsible usage. Overly restrictive approaches may create conflict or increase the appeal of forbidden content, whereas teaching balance and mindful use can empower children to navigate the digital world safely.

Technology itself continues to evolve, offering tools for monitoring and managing usage constructively. By focusing on guidance and balance rather than elimination, children can develop the skills and resilience needed to thrive in a screen-centric society.

-The Carms News Team