International Research Journal of Education and Technology

Virtual autism, a term used to describe autism-like symptoms in children due to excessive exposure to screen time, is gaining attention in the field of developmental psychology and pediatrics. This review aims to synthesize current research on virtual autism, its potential causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and management strategies. By examining existing literature, we seek to provide a comprehensive understanding of how digital media exposure impacts early childhood development and to offer guidelines for clinicians and parents to mitigate these effects.

Date of publication: 06/06/2023

Keywords: virtual autism, screen time, digital media, early childhood development, autism spectrum disorder, pediatric psychology