In an age where digital devices are ubiquitous, the term “screen time” has become a buzzword in discussions about the impact of technology on people’s lives. That’s parents concerned about their children’s screen habits. But what if this whole approach to screen time is fundamentally flawed?
Although researchers have made progress in measuring screen use, a detailed critique of the research follows in 2020 revealed major problems in how screen time is conceptualized, measured, and studied. I study how digital technology affects human cognition and emotions. My ongoing research with a cognitive psychologist Nelson Roque builds on the findings of that criticism.
We categorized existing screen time measurements and mapped them based on characteristics such as duration or context-specific. We investigate how these relate to health outcomes such as anxiety, stress, depression, loneliness, mood and sleep quality. a clearer framework for understanding screen time. We believe that grouping all digital activities together ignores how different types of screen use affect people.
By applying this framework, researchers can better identify which digital activities are helpful or potentially harmful, allowing people to adopt more intentional screen habits that support well-being and reduce negative mental and emotional health effects.
Screen time isn’t one thing
Screen time seems easy to understand at first glance: it’s simply time spent on devices with screens, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and TVs. But this basic definition hides the diversity within people’s digital activities. To truly understand the impact of screen time, you need to look deeper at specific digital activities and how they affect cognitive function and mental health.
In our research, we divide screen time into four broad categories: educational use, work-related use, social interaction and entertainment.
For education, activities such as online classes and reading articles can improve cognitive skills such as problem solving and critical thinking. Digital tools such as mobile apps can do that support learning by stimulating motivation, self-regulation and self-control.
But so do these tools pose challengessuch as distracting students and contributing to poorer recall compared to traditional learning methods. For young users, screen-based learning can even be that negative implications about development and their social environment.
Screen time for work, such as writing reports or attending virtual meetings, is a central part of modern life. It can improve productivity and enable remote working. However, prolonged screen exposure and multitasking can also lead to stress, anxiety and cognitive fatigue.
Screen use for social connections helps people communicate with others through video chats, social media or online communities. These interactions can promote social connectedness and even improve health outcomes such as reduced depressive symptoms and improved glycemic control for people with chronic conditions. But passive screen use, such as endless scrolling on social media, can lead to negative experiences such as cyberbullying, social comparison and loneliness, especially for teenagers.
Screen use for entertainment provides relaxation and stress relief. Mindfulness apps or meditation tools, for example, can do this reduce anxiety and improve emotional regulation. Creative digital activities, such as graphic design and music production, can reduce stress and improve mental health. However, too much screen use can occur reduce well-being by limiting physical activity and time for other rewarding activities.
Context is important
Screen time affects people differently depending on factors such as mood, social environment, age and family environment. Your emotions before and during screen use can determine your experience. Positive interactions can improve your mood loneliness could be deepen with certain online activities. We found that, for example differences in age and stress levels influence how quickly people become distracted by their devices. Alerts and other changes distract users, making it harder to focus on tasks.
The social context of screen use also matters. Watching a movie with family can strengthen bonds, while using screens alone can increase feelings of isolation, especially if it replaces face-to-face interactions.
Family influence also plays a role. For example, the screen behavior of parents influence their children’s screen behaviorand structured parental involvement can help reduce overuse. It highlights the positive effect of structured parental involvement, together with mindful social contexts, in managing screen time for healthier digital interactions.
(Credit: kate_sept2004/E+ via Getty Images) Shared screen time with family and friends can boost well-being.
Consistency and nuance
Technology now allows researchers to accurately track screen use, but simply counting hours doesn’t give us the full picture. Even when we measure specific activities, such as social media or gaming, surveys often do not reflect the level or intent of engagement. For example, someone may use social media to stay informed or to procrastinate.
Studies on screen time often vary in how they define and categorize it. Some focus on the total screen exposure without distinguishing between activities. Others explore specific types of uses but may not consider content or context. This lack of consistency in defining screen time makes it difficult to compare studies or generalize findings.
Understanding screen usage requires a more nuanced approach than tracking the amount of time people spend on their screens. Recognizing the different effects of specific digital activities and distinguishing between active and passive use are crucial steps. Using standardized definitions and combining quantitative data with personal insights would provide a more complete picture. Researchers can also study how screen use affects people over time.
For policymakers, this means developing guidelines that go beyond standard limits by focusing on recommendations appropriate for specific activities and individual needs. For the rest of us, this awareness encourages a balanced digital diet that combines enriching online and offline activities for better well-being.
Rinanda Shaleha is a doctoral student in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State. This article is republished from The conversation under one Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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