Screen Time and Young People

Source: www.pexels.com

By Sam Piha

There’s a general consensus that too much screen time is bad for kids. While limiting screen time and establishing healthy digital habits has long been seen as the responsibility of parents, experts say that the burden should be shared by educators, youth program leaders and policymakers, too. In fact, Meta just settled a 17 billion-dollar lawsuit from several states claiming that their social media was intentionally designed to be addictive. Many school are restricting access to smart phones. Let’s take a closer look.



What is screen time? 
Screen time often refers to the total amount of time spent using devices with screens, such as smartphones, computers, televisions, and tablets. Too much screen use can lead to poor sleep, eye strain, and lower focus. 

“There is no single, universal definition for screen time, but generally watching TV, playing on video game consoles, and using computers, tablets, and smartphones for entertainment count as screen time. Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that researches and advocates for healthy technology use among youth, further breaks screen time into four different categories: passive, interactive, communication, and content creation.” [i]

Social Media
A large concern of screen time involves social media. These are “forms of electronic communication (such as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (such as videos).” [ii]

“Potential benefits of social media include:

• Staying connected to friends
• Finding community and support for shared interests
• Creative pursuits, such as sharing artwork or music
• Expressing themselves via posts or comments

Potential risks of social media include:

• Exposure to harmful or inappropriate content (e.g., sex, drugs, violence, etc.)
• Exposure to dangerous people (such as in the context of sextortion or trafficking)
• Cyberbullying, a risk factor for depression and suicide
• Radicalization or exposure to extreme ideas
• Oversharing personal information
• Exposure to inappropriate advertisements (e.g., cannabis, nicotine, fast food)
• Privacy concerns including the collection of data about teen users
• Comparison to unrealistic peer profiles, which damages self-esteem
• Interference with sleep, exercise, homework, or family activities.” [iii]

How much time do teens spend on their phones? 
“Data on this varies, but it’s fair to say that teens—and increasingly younger children— spend a lot of time on screens, especially on their smartphones. According to a 2023 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, half of adolescents ages 12-17 spend more than four hours a day on screens.” [iv] 

Source: www.pexels.com

How often should parents talk to their kids about screen use?
“Natural transition times, such as holidays and summer breaks, are good times to set expectations about screen use. Parents can create a schedule for that temporary time period, and it can include solo use but also ways to connect and interact such as playing online games together as a family, or making video calls to relatives who live far away.” [v]

Promoting Healthy Screen Use among Children
“Reducing the negative impacts of harmful screen use requires acting with urgency and empowering caregivers and communities by providing them with evidence-based tools and strategies organized around the 5 Ds.

• Discuss: Set expectations for all household members for healthy screen use. Discuss with youth what they are viewing, who they are interacting with, and how it makes them feel. Use parental controls and household rules that align with your goals.
• Do: Model the healthy screen use behaviors you would like to see. Children and adolescents pay attention to the actions of their caregivers and trusted adults. Be conscientious about how much time you spend on screens and what type of content you consume. When using screens, do so together.
• Delay: Delay screen time from the earliest age as long as possible and then establish and normalize age-appropriate limits on time and content accessible. Parents and caregivers can also delay access to different devices by age.
• Divert: Provide alternatives so screen use is not the default when children are bored. Redirect attention and provide opportunities for healthy activities, such as physical activity. Prioritize completion of desirable activities first, such as chores, homework, music, or sports before screen use.
• Disconnect: Create regularly scheduled, screen free times in everyone’s day, such as mealtimes where everyone disconnects. Practice screen free time before bedtime for better quality sleep and avoid sleeping next to devices. Avoid multitasking with screens during activities. Detox completely from certain devices, media, or platforms when they have become a problem or when another goal is more important.” [vi]

Source: www.pexels.com

Tips to Reduce Screen Time

• “No phones at meals: Keep phones and tablets away during breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Turn off screens early: Stop using devices one hour before going to bed to sleep better.
• Take regular eye breaks: Look away from your screen every 20 minutes at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.” [vii]

END NOTES
[i] Arianna Prothero, The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Screen Time: An Explainer
[ii] Merriam-Webster, Social Media
[iii] Google AI, What are the benefits and risks of social media on young people?
[iv] Arianna Prothero, The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Screen Time: An Explainer
[v] Jess Berthold, Is too much screen time bad for kids? It's complicated
[vi] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Harms of Screen Use
[vii] Google AI, What are some tips to reduce screen time?