Some research show that young people in developed Asian economies have very high digital media use. International organizations like UNESCO, advocate maximizing children's digital opportunities in an attempt to ameliorate the digital divide with some caution and concern for the inimical consequences of excessive daily indulgence in digital media.

 

As research lags significantly behind the ubiquity of digital media use among preschool children, more research is needed before the issue is in a sharper focus. The purpose of the research is to examine the comparative impact of digital media use by preschool children and its association with digital and non-digital behaviours, play, sleep and eyesight outside of school on weekdays and weekend days across selected urban cities in Asia and Europe, over a period of 36 months. Measurements are conducted at 12-monthly intervals. These findings are benchmarked against the 2019 WHO 24-hour guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour (including screen media use) and sleep among preschool children. 

 

The findings allow for comparisons of pre-schoolers use of screen media within and across Asian and European cities. These data could inform the formulation or refinement of guidelines on screen media use, physical activity and sleep among the preschool children, within the countries involved and seed further research in the area.