Screen Time

From tablets to television, everyone loves technology. But how much time do we spend on technology - and more importantly, how much tech time is too much tech time? The average person spends at least a total of eight hours on their devices each and every day - and that’s the bare minimum!

In 2016, we spent about 11 hours or more on our devices per day. In 2017, we had a surprising decrease in screen time. According to Tech Addiction By the Numbers: How Much Time We Spend Online, every day we spent only 5.9 hours on our devices. In 2018, we went back up to 12 hours per day. In 2019, the numbers dipped down again, spending 3.5 hours on screens. In 2020, it went back up to 7 hours, which, interestingly enough, is the amount of time you spend in school each day. If you run the numbers in a chart, it shows that we spend much more time on our devices than doing other things - at least for 2016, 2018, and 2020.

This surplus of device time is not healthy. According to UAB Medicine, it can seriously strain our eyes. Staring at screens for the greater part of the day can cause digital eye strain, or DES. UAB Medicine states that nearly 60% of Americans experience DES symptoms at some point in their lives.

And eye strain isn’t the only issue with screen time. Rally Health states that sitting in front of a screen increases the average adult’s risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Additionally, children who devote much of their time to electronics are twice as likely to develop attention disorders than children who don’t, and screen time can also impact a child’s sleep schedule.

Additionally, screen time has heavily impactful mental effects, especially on adolescents. Dictionary defines cyberbullying as “The use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature,” and unfortunately, we’re seeing lots of this on social media platforms today. According to First Site Guide, 70% of all young people experience some sort of cyberbullying between the ages of 10 and 18, and this can have seriously damaging effects on psychological wellness.

However, the device problem isn’t all on screens. According to Limelight, the average gamer spends at least 7+ hours on their gamer platform each week. This can cause illness and/or disorders. According to NPR, it can cause mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Disorders that may be caused by uncontrolled gaming are ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder) or ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder, which is a complex developmental that involves challenges in social interactions, speech communication and restricted/ repetitive behaviors).

Many people are also addicted to their gaming devices. We may not see this, but gaming platforms are extremely addictive. That’s how they get their money. At first when we play a new game we aren’t addicted, and we can put it down easily. After a while, we begin to get addicted. Instead of putting them down, we say to ourselves, “I’ll just play for a few more minutes,” and then those minutes turn into hours. And then, when we finally stop, it’s way past how long we said we’d be on.

As you go to sleep, turn off the television and do something else. That could be reading a book, drawing, writing, or playing a board game - anything with an electronic. As you wind down I suggest turning the television back on, but don’t have it blaring. Have it on the music choice channel, on the jazz or soft sounds channel. Or, you can get on your tablet and use (or download) the app spotify, amazon music, audible - or any other music app. Search up “Blur” or “Coldplay” -even songs like Bad Guy (the musical version, no lyrics!) could help you fall asleep. My suggestions are: “When the party’s over: Musical Version” “50 piano’s songs to listen to when going to sleep.” (these two are obviously on youtube.)” -and “Clair de lune” This will both improve your sleep and your eyes. This is also a way to focus while doing schoolwork, homework, or just work in general.

There are also ways to lessen your screen time. You can add the screen time feature to your phone, which will give you an update on your screen time every Sunday and will tell you down to the minute how much time you are spending on your screen. We could also time our screen time. Take five minutes to open the clock app on your tablet or iPhone, or search for a timer on your computer. Then set a timer for an hour (no more than 2-3 hours), and once it beeps, take control and put the device down. Continue to set a timer for the same amount of time. This way it gives your device time to charge. During this time you can study for a test, read, exercise, draw, or amuse yourself in any way you’d like - non-electronically. Just stay away from any device (that includes the Television.) until that timer turns off.

If uncontrolled, screen time is a real issue, but if you take initiative to limit your screen time, you can be safer and healthier, both physically and psychologically.