Science: According to an international study, exposure to screens like television and smartphone can reduce language development skills in children. Conclusions made by researchers from 20 Latin American countries found that staying in contact with books and spending time on screen with adults can increase language skills in children. Researchers analyzed data of 1,878 children between the ages of 12 to 48 months in Latin America between August 2021 and March 2023. Children were evaluated by parents based on screen use, shared media engagement, book contact, language skills and developmental mile stones.

The team also examined the socio-economic status of the participants to understand basic needs, parents' education and business. The results published in the Plos One magazine showed that TV and background TVs were the most commonly used media, whose average daily contact was more than an hour. This reduced language development skills in children. The team also found that children consume the entertainment material the most. This was followed by music and educational programming. In addition, families with low socio-economic status reported low use of books and low educational resources. Children with high screen exposure achieved the language milestone due to low literal density and delay. On the other hand, people who were in more contact with books or screens with adults were better, their language skills were better. The relationship between was not important.