How Does Screen Time Affect Kids With OCD? What Every Parent Should Know

In today’s world, screens are everywhere—phones, tablets, and computers have all become big parts of our kids’ daily lives. And as research has come out on the effects of childhood tech use, many parents and caregivers have begun to wonder how much screen time is too much, but these questions can feel especially pressing for those raising children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Whether it’s social media fueling a child’s anxiety or online searches becoming compulsive, the constant connection to technology can worsen a child’s OCD symptoms, potentially leaving their parents and caregivers unsure of how to step in without causing more stress.

But while screens can present challenges for kids with OCD, they don’t have to be the enemy. There are ways to set healthy boundaries around technology while still allowing your child to engage with the digital world—so let’s explore how screen time can affect kids with OCD, and what you can do to help your child develop healthier tech habits.

How screen time can affect OCD symptoms

The mind of a child with OCD tends to be flooded with worries and intrusive thoughts, which can make them more susceptible to anxiety and overwhelm from the constant flood of information available through their devices. Even seemingly innocent cartoons can become fodder for obsessions.

Here are several ways that screen time can worsen symptoms of OCD:

1. Increased intrusive thoughts: Kids’ minds are like sponges, soaking up everything they see online or on TV. When they’re exposed to a lot of negative or frightening content via television, video games, the internet, it can make the world seem scarier than it is. For kids with OCD, who tend to already have elevated levels of anxiety, this can add fuel to the fire, potentially leading to an increase in intrusive thoughts.
2. Increased rituals, such as checking: The digital world can amplify feelings of doubt and uncertainty, which OCD thrives on. As a result, your child might feel compelled to constantly check social media for the latest posts and updates, worried they’ll miss something important—a fear that can also be linked to OCD.
3. Reinforcement of the OCD cycle: Think about how many times we tap, swipe, or click to get what we want on our devices. For a child with OCD, this constant cause-and-effect can unintentionally strengthen the belief that they need to perform certain actions to achieve a desired outcome or a certain feeling.
4. Difficulty with concentration: Too much screen time can make it hard for any child to concentrate, but for kids with OCD, it can make managing their anxiety even tougher. This can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms like avoidance and dissociation.
5. Decreased sleep: Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial for managing OCD symptoms, but the excitement and stimulation from screens can make it hard for your child’s brain to “power down” at bedtime. This can increase anxiety and stress.
6. Decreased physical activity: When screens take up more time in a child’s day, physical activity often takes a backseat. Since exercise can be a helpful tool for managing OCD symptoms alongside proper treatment, encouraging your child to balance screen time with active play can make a big difference in their mental health.
7. Decreased social interaction: From a developmental standpoint, children learn crucial social skills through in-person play and interactions. They can struggle later in life if these skills aren’t developed—so while online connections can be great, they shouldn’t replace real-life friendships. Without these in-person experiences, kids with OCD might feel more isolated, potentially increasing feelings of anxiety and sadness.
8. Social comparison: Social media can have a negative impact on any child’s self-worth and self-esteem, but this impact can be especially severe among kids with OCD, who might already struggle with perfectionism. The tendency to treat social media as a carefully curated “highlight reel,” only showing the most glamorous or exciting moments, has the potential to make children feel inadequate or increase self-doubt.

Tips for helping kids with OCD develop healthier screen habits

While technology is here to stay, so is your ability to help your child manage it in a way that supports their mental health. Here are some tips that can make a huge difference in how your child relates to screens and how they manage their OCD symptoms.

1. Be a digital detective. Most devices have built-in safety tools that can help you be aware of what your children are viewing and filter out harmful or triggering content. Setting these up and activating them can save a lot of time and energy in the long run, but remember to check on them occasionally, since tech-savvy kids can find ways around these safety nets.
2. Don’t be afraid to set limits and boundaries. Set clear, consistent limits on both content and time spent on devices with your child so they understand your expectations. This might look like having time set aside specifically for screens and/or utilizing automatic shut-off times on devices. Reducing screen time through limits like these can play a pivotal role in reducing stress and anxiety in kids and teens.
3. Make the real world just as exciting. Remember life before screens? You can bring that magic back for your child by getting them involved in playgroups if they’re younger, attending community events with them, and signing them up for activities that encourage their interests, like sports teams or art classes. Having more to do in the offline world can reduce the appeal of screens.
4. Bring in a professional. When it comes to mental health, professional guidance is key. If your child’s screen time seems to be worsening their OCD symptoms, it’s always helpful to consult with an OCD-specialty therapist, whose extensive training allows them to provide care that’s designed specifically for what your child is experiencing.

Getting your child care for what they’re experiencing

Helping your child with OCD manage their screen time might take some trial and error, but you don’t have to figure it out on your own. If your child’s screen time seems to be worsening their OCD symptoms, NOCD can help. Every NOCD Therapist is extensively trained by leading OCD experts, giving them a deep understanding of OCD’s many different symptoms and subtypes and how to personalize exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, the most effective treatment for OCD, to your child’s unique needs.

Through live video therapy sessions, highly personalized treatment, and powerful in-app support between sessions, the NOCD Therapist your child is matched with will help them develop the skills to tackle any challenge OCD throws their way, both online and offline.

To learn more about working with a NOCD Therapist, book a free 15-minute call with our team. On your call, we’ll answer any questions you have and help you find the right therapist match for your child so they can start reclaiming their life from OCD. We accept many major insurance plans to make treatment more affordable and work with members not using insurance to manage costs in a way that meets their needs.