Teens get four or more hours screen time every day are more likely to experience tension And depressionaccording to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics.
Data shared by the agency on Wednesday showed that about half of teens aged 12 to 17 had four hours or more of daily screen time between July 2021 and December 2023. 22.8% had three hours of daily screen time, 17.8% had two hours, 6.1% had 1 hour and only 3% had less than 1 hour.
For the assignment, teens reported their own screen time use during a typical weekday, not including time spent on schoolwork, the authors noted.
During the same time frame, about 1 in 4 teens who reported 4 or more hours of screen time daily experienced anxiety symptoms (27.1%) or depression symptoms (25.9%) in the past two weeks. Anxiety and depression symptoms decreased significantly in teens who had less than 4 hours of daily screen time, 12.3% and 9.5%, respectively.
“Studies like this show the real amount of time our children spend in front of screens and the worrying consequences for their mental health and wellbeing,” said Dr. Neha Chaudhary, psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and Chief Medical Officer. at Modern Health, told CBS News.
Chaudhary, who was not involved in preparing the report, said she has seen firsthand the effects of technology on stress levels, anxiety and depression in children and parents she has worked with.
And while there is a growing body of research showing the correlation between social media and anxiety and depression, the reasons behind that are a little more complex, she said.
“Online bullying involves constant social comparison, such as missing out on things others have or do, frequently seeking validation, and effects on body image – it’s no wonder that increased time spent on social media can be linked to anxiety and depression,” she said. “At the same time, people struggling with their mental health are more likely to try to turn to social media to cope with their symptoms, hoping to find connection, validation, or sometimes even distraction.”
Even organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that teens be mindful of daily screen use, but keep in mind that “screen time” can include a range of content, including content that supports social connection or creativity.
That is why Chaudhary calls the technologist the ‘double-edged sword’ of our generation.
“While some may be able to find support and connection that makes them feel better, because they can find communities they might not otherwise have had access to, many end up feeling worse or just as bad,” she said. ‘The challenge for parents and children is how to balance it so we can reap the benefits without sacrificing our mental health.”
Although screen times were largely similar between boys and girls in the latest report, black teens and people living in metropolitan areas were more likely to have more than four hours of daily screen time than other groups.
“As technology and screens continue to evolve, their impact on children’s lives is changing, making it increasingly important to expand our understanding of screen time use patterns generally and among select subgroups,” the authors wrote.
