A US study from July 2021 to December 2023 asked teenagers aged 12–17 about their screen time on a typical weekday. This included time spent using phones, computers, tablets and televisions. It did not include time spent doing schoolwork.
About half of the teenagers said they spent four or more hours a day on screens. However, screen time was not the same for everyone. Older teenagers were more likely to spend four or more hours on screens than younger teenagers. Teenagers living in cities and the areas around them were also more likely to spend this much time on screens than those living in less urban areas.
The researchers also looked at teenagers’ mental health. Among those who spent four or more hours a day on screens, about one in four reported symptoms of anxiety, such as feeling very worried, during the previous two weeks. A similar number reported symptoms of depression, such as feeling very sad or losing interest in things. These problems were less common among teenagers who spent fewer than four hours a day on screens.
The results show a connection between longer screen time and mental health problems. However, they do not prove that screen time causes these problems. The study also relied on teenagers’ own answers, rather than measuring their screen time directly.
Discuss:
How much time did about half of the teenagers spend on screens each day, excluding schoolwork?
Which teenagers were more likely to spend four or more hours a day on screens?
Does the study prove that spending more time on screens causes mental health problems?