Screentime

Screentime refers to the amount of time spent using devices with screens—such as smartphones, tablets, TVs, computers, and video game consoles. It is used across medicine, psychology, education, and media studies to quantify exposure to digital media and gauge potential effects on behavior, development, and well-being. Screentime can be passive (watching video) or interactive (gaming, social media, or educational apps), and it often occurs alone or with others in homes, schools, or public spaces.

Measurement and research methods include self-reported diaries, time-use surveys, and automated device logs. Researchers emphasize that duration alone may be insufficient; the content quality, context, age, and individual circumstances shape outcomes. Distinctions are made between overall daily screentime and contexts such as screen use during meals or before bedtime.

In children, associations have been found between high screen use and sleep disruption, reduced physical activity, and attentional or behavioral concerns in some studies, though findings are not uniform. In adults, high screen use is linked with sedentary behavior and mental health symptoms in some populations; causality is difficult to establish, and screens often reflect work, recreation, and social connection.

Guidance from health organizations generally calls for limiting screen exposure for young children, emphasizing high-quality, developmentally appropriate content and parental involvement. For older children and adults, recommendations focus on balancing screen time with sleep, physical activity, school, and offline interactions, and on building digital literacy and wellbeing.

Screentime remains a rapidly evolving field as devices proliferate and online environments change, with ongoing research exploring long-term developmental, educational, and health implications.