Did You Know This About Americans’ Screen Time Habits?
By Movieguide® Contributor
Screen time use continues to rise among children and adults, and the statistics are staggering.
Exploding Topics shared that “globally, people average 6 hours and 40 minutes of screen time per day,” and “daily screen time has increased by over 30 minutes per day since 2013.” Even babies are affected as 49% of children under 2 have regular time viewing smartphones.
In the United States, screens steel, on average, seven hours and three minutes per day. However, Americans fall slightly behind in social media use, with two hours and 14 minutes compared to two hours and 27 minutes as the global average.
Watching TV and videos dominate US screen time at three hours and 16 minutes per day. Gaming (one hour and 46 minutes) and social media (one hour and 27 minutes) hold the No. 2 and 3 spots for screen use.
READ MORE: HOW TO SET SCREEN TIME LIMITS FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN
Gen Z has the highest use per demographic, with up to nine hours per day, followed by Millennials who average around seven hours.
This time spent on screens should be cause for concern as it results in increased anxiety, especially among teens, Live Now Fox reported:
The CDC study found that nearly 27% of teens who reported four or more hours of daily screen time also reported experiencing anxiety in the past two weeks. In comparison, only 12.3% of teens with less screen exposure experienced similar symptoms.
Screen time also negatively affects young children’s cognitive abilities.
“Eighty percent of a child’s brain development occurs by the time they’re 3, and so those are really crucial years that we need that moving, playing, interacting, [having] face-to-face conversations,” Dr. Liz Placzek, a pediatrician at Children’s Minnesota, said. Screen time inhibits those interactions.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for children under 18 months. For 18 to 24 months, screen time should center around “high quality programming” that they watch with adults. By the time they’re 6, parents should make sure to establish firm boundaries surrounding screen use.
READ MORE: SET YOUR CHILD UP FOR SUCCESS WITH THESE SCREEN TIME FACTS
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