HOW MUCH TIME DO KIDS SPEND ON DEVICES – PLAYING GAMES, WATCHING VIDEOS, TEXTING AND USING THE PHONE?

Fri 10 October 2023:

Think about your favorite devices – your smartphone, laptop, tablet, computer or console – the things you use to play cool games, watch hilarious videos and connect and chat with friends.

Many young people spend a lot of free time looking at them. Turns out that teens spend an average of 8½ hours on screens per day, and tweens – that’s ages 8 to 12 – are not far behind, at 5½ hours daily.

Keep in mind those numbers are for only social media, gaming and texting. They do not include the time that kids used screens for schoolwork or homework.

What’s more, much of the time taken up by social media and texting is apparently not even enjoyable, much less productive. A 2017 study of teens ages 13 to 18 suggests they spend most of those hours on the phone in their bedroom, alone and distressed.

These lonely feelings correlate with the rise in the use of digital media. In 2022, 95% of teens had smartphones compared with only 23% in 2011. And 46% of today’s teens say they use the internet almost constantly, compared with 24% of teenagers who said the same in 2014 and 2015.

Our team of psychiatrists who treat young people with digital addiction have many patients who spend over 40 hours per week on screens – and some, up to 80 hours.

Think about it: If you spend “just” an average of 50 hours per week on devices from ages 13 to 18 – the total time you will spend on screens equates to more than 12 years of school!

The U.S. surgeon general says too much screen time can increase anxiety and depression in teens and tweens.

Find the right balance

All this is not to say that everything about devices is bad. In this digital age, people embark on exciting journeys through the screens of their devices. Sometimes, screens are the windows to a magical adventure.

But too much screen time can lead to problems. As human beings, we function best when we’re in a state of balance. That happens when we eat well, exercise regularly and get enough sleep.

But spending too much time using digital devices can cause changes in the way you think and behave. Many teens and tweens developed the “fear of missing out” – known as FOMO. And one study shows some people develop nomophobia, which is the fear of being without your phone, or feeling anxious when you can’t use it.

Moreover, digital addiction in high school may predict serious depression, anxiety and sleep disruption in college.

Rates of depression and anxiety are skyrocketing among college students. The fear of missing out is pervasive, resulting in sleep disruption; too many college students sleep with smartphones turned on and near their bed – and wake up to respond to texts and notifications during the night. Sleep disruption itself is a core symptom of both depression and anxiety.

How to avoid device addiction

A 2016 poll indicated that half of teens felt they were addicted to their mobile devices.

Getting hooked on screens means missing out on healthy activities. To achieve a better balance, some experts recommend the following: Turn off all screens during family meals and outings. Don’t complain when your parents use parental controls. And turn off all the screens in your bedroom 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime – this step will improve sleep.

You may be a “screen addict” if you:

Feel uneasy or grumpy when you can’t use your device.
Don’t take breaks while spending hours on your device.
Ignore other fun activities you enjoy, like going outside or reading a book.
Have trouble sleeping, or falling asleep, because your screen time is too close to bedtime.
Experience eye, lower back and neck strain.
Struggle with weight gain or obesity because you’re inactive.
Have difficulty with real-life, face-to-face social interactions.

If you notice these signs, do not dismiss them. But also realize you’re not alone and help is out there. You can find balance again.

A kid breaks his addiction to gaming and social media.

A healthy approach

Exercise – riding a bike, playing sports, lifting weights or going for a jog or walk – keeps your brain healthy and protects it against depression and anxiety, as well as limiting your screen time.

Another way to be happier and healthier is to spend time with people – face to face, not via a screen. Seeing people live and in person is the best way to bond with others, and it may be even better for life span than exercise.

Creative hobbies are good, too. Cooking, playing an instrument, dancing, any arts and crafts, and thousands of other fun things make people happier and more creative. What’s more, hobbies make you well rounded and more attractive to others – which leads to more face-to-face interactions.

It’s also critical for parents to practice healthy screen habits. But about one-third of adults say they use screens “constantly.” This is not exactly a great example for kids; when adults take responsibility to minimize their own screen time, the whole family gets better.

Our research team used magnetic resonance imaging, also known as MRI, to scan the brains of teens who had digital addiction. We found impairment in the brain’s decision-making, processing and reward centers. But after a digital fast – meaning the addicted teens unplugged for two weeks – those brain abnormalities reversed, and the damage was undone.

Our findings also showed that kids with a desire to overcome digital addiction did better with a digital fast than those who were less willing or who denied their addiction.

A balanced lifestyle in the digital age is all about finding joy in screenless activities – being active, connecting with others and exploring your offline interests.

Authors:

David Rosenberg

Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Wayne State University

David Rosenberg, M.D., is Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences.

The Miriam L. Hamburger Endowed Chair of Child Psychiatry and professor of Psychiatry, Dr. Rosenberg is a 15-year veteran of the School of Medicine faculty and the department.

Dr. Rosenberg also serves as the chief of Child Psychiatry and Psychology for the WSU School of Medicine and director of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatric Research at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. He is the director of the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Clinical Research Program and the Child and Adolescent Research Division, as well as medical director for Behavioral Health Research and Development for Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

He received his medical degree from the University of Michigan in 1988, followed by an internship and residency in general psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. He completed a fellowship in Child Psychiatry as well as a National Institute of Mental Health research fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry, respectively.

A strongly funded and widely published researcher, Dr. Rosenberg is often sought out by the national media as an expert on issues of child psychiatry. He wrote the first ever textbook on pediatric psychopharmacology, “Textbook of Pharmacotherapy for Childhood and Adolescent Psychiatric Disorders,” now in its third edition.

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Natalia Szura

(she/her)

Research Assistant in Psychiatry, Wayne State University

Natalia Szura is a Research Assistant at the Wayne State University Department of Psychiatry. She is based in Detroit, Michigan.

She graduated from the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor in 2022 with a BA in the English and Film, Television, and Media majors, as well as two minors, Writing and German.

During her time as an undergraduate student, she wrote for, and was promoted to Editor for, both the acclaimed
satirical newspaper, The Every Three Weekly, and feminist publication What the F magazine. Natalia has
over 30 written articles published by the former.

Natalia currently collaborates with scientists and doctors for academic and research writing for Wayne State University. Despite this, she holds experience writing for a range of audiences and contexts, including comedic writing, essay writing, persuasive writing, copywriting, blogging, and more.