A recent report reveals that adolescents in the U.S. are engaging with screens for more than seven hours daily, not counting the time they spend on school-related activities. If you have preteens or teens at home, the prevalence of screens is likely a familiar sight. A study conducted by Common Sense Media indicates that these young individuals are devoting nearly a third of their day to phones, computers, and other digital devices.
Preteens are not far behind, with an average of almost five hours of screen time each day. While it’s easy to convince ourselves that kids use their devices for educational purposes, the report clarifies that the seven hours for teens and five hours for tweens do not account for academic work. This is concerning, to say the least.
However, the findings are not entirely negative. Common Sense Media gathered data from over 1,600 children aged 8 to 18 in the U.S. to analyze media usage across various activities and devices. It’s worth noting that this screen time isn’t always continuous; adolescents likely multitask, engaging with multiple forms of media simultaneously.
Vicky Thompson, co-author of the study and founder of a family media research organization, pointed out potential benefits of media engagement. She mentioned that screens can offer young people resources for dealing with personal issues, apps for meditation or sleep, and platforms to connect with peers facing similar challenges.
On the flip side, the increase in screen time brings risks, such as exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, and social isolation. The report also highlights a significant rise in smartphone ownership among both teens and preteens—over 20% for the latter and nearly 20% for the former since 2015. Thompson stresses the importance of initiating early discussions about media literacy with children.
You might wonder how your child could possibly be spending seven hours daily on screens. The answer lies primarily in video consumption. Preteens dedicate 53% of their screen time to watching videos, while teens spend 39% of theirs on this activity, with YouTube being the most popular platform among young users.
Conversely, a separate study published in JAMA Pediatrics indicates that television viewing may be among the most detrimental screen activities regarding academic performance. This analysis examined 58 studies across the years and found that TV streaming correlates with poor school outcomes, alongside video gaming. Fortunately, there’s no evidence to suggest that general phone usage or web browsing significantly harms academic aspirations.
So, what should concerned parents do? Dr. Samuel Grant, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, advises parents to monitor specific screen activities and set limits, particularly on binge-watching platforms like YouTube. “Active involvement in your child’s screen activities is essential,” Grant emphasizes.
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In summary, while the statistics on screen time can be alarming, they also present opportunities for connection and learning. It’s crucial for parents to engage actively in their children’s media consumption to help navigate the benefits and pitfalls.