Screen time is the amount of time we spend using devices and technology. There are some concerns that we are spending too long looking at screens and many devices now provide tools to track our screen time.
Questions you may have
Definitely not! Technology and our devices allow us to do lots of great things. Whether it’s chatting with friends and family, using the internet for research, playing exciting video games, or just having some down time.
Whilst it’s really important to be aware of how much time you’re spending on devices, and to find a healthy balance between life online and offline, you don’t need to panic about screen time. There are lots of things that factor into whether screen time makes you feel better or worse, like what you’re doing online and whether your time online is getting in the way of other important things, like sleep.
There’s still research being done in this area, but currently there is no evidence that screen time is going to have long term consequences for our health. In fact, a study undertaken by researchers at Cardiff University and the University of Oxford proposed the Goldilocks theory:
“There is a point between low and high use of technology that is ‘just right’ for teenagers when their sense of wellbeing is boosted by having ‘moderate’ amounts of screen time.”
There are lots of signs you might pick up on if you’ve spent a long time on a device. From physical signs (like a headache or stiff neck), to emotional signs (feeling irritated or distracted), to signs from the world around you (running out of battery or a family member complaining about your time online), it’s important to notice how using devices makes you feel and to stop when the warning signs tell you it’s too much.
There’s lots you can do if you’re worried about your screen time. Talk to someone like a friend or family member for support and use screen time settings to monitor your time spent on devices. Turning off features like notifications can make a huge difference too!
It can be really tough if someone close to you spends a lot of time on their devices and you feel like this is distracting them from other things. It’s important to let them know how you feel, but try to be calm and clear during the conversation. Why not start by offering to put your own devices aside for a short period of time, and ask if they would consider doing the same whilst you talk?
Top Tips
- Buddy up with friends and family to manage screen time together. You could agree to set times when you won’t use devices or even try a digital detox together.
- Turn off notifications and other features you spot which are designed to draw you back to your device.
- Set a schedule. If you have something important to do, then give yourself a timetable for when you’re going to check your phone or other devices.
- Get an alarm clock and leave your devices to charge in another room overnight. This way your devices won’t be a distraction from getting a good night’s sleep!
- If being online is your favourite thing in the world, try and find something offline which brings you just as much joy. It’ll make finding a healthy balance much easier.