Young people are growing up in a world saturated by screens. Tablets, phones, gaming and social media are becoming increasingly more popular among young people and this appears to only be getting younger. It is not inherently a bad thing as screens can be useful tools when used correctly. The arising problem we are seeing however, is the sheer scale and constant connectivity. Studies have found that the average screen time for children has risen quickly, especially post-pandemic. Recent data indicates that children aged 5-16 spend at least 6 hours daily on screens, with this increasing to 9 hours when looking at the 11-14 age bracket. To put that into perspective, that is 38% of a day and 75% of their waking hours. Social media engagement is beginning as early as 8 years old, with the most common age of getting a first phone being 10 years old. How does that affect our young people’s attention, curiosity and wellbeing?

One of the most talked about topics in relation to teenagers and screens is sleep disruption. Blue light can be a mental stimulation, especially late at night meaning children are suffering from a lack of sleep which in turn leads to increasing anxiety, concentration difficulties and mood swings. That combined with rapid scrolling leaves little space for reflection, problem solving or emotional regulation. Particularly with the rise of TikTok, we are allowing our children into a space where their brain is being trained for short bursts of attention meaning they may find longer reading or study sessions more challenging. To add to this, the constant notification alerts, trains the brain for immediate responses which can make them feel ‘on call’ all the time, causing higher levels of stress and the inability to relax. Arguably one of the more damaging effects of consistent screen use is the problems it can cause with relationships. The more time spent on a screen can mean reduced face to face interactions and therefore missing out on the non-verbal cues that help to build social connections. As a result, relationships may not be as deep. This is particularly true for the use of social media which is often promoted as quantity over quality. Teens may feel that they have a great social life, but emotionally they may be more isolated as interactions are often short and performative. To add to this, when in moments of conflict, these may be more difficult to resolve when considering the lack of tone and nuance online, making misunderstandings more likely and escalation of arguments a more common occurrence. A combination of this and more frequent cyberbullying due to unrestricted access can lead to poorer mental health in young people.

With all of that being said, screen use does have its benefits too if used and monitored correctly. One way that parents can have that conversation is by explaining why tracked screen time is beneficial and needed to thrive. Rules are more effective when you have buy-in from a young person and so by making a plan together, this can make them feel more a part of the process, meaning they are more likely to engage better. The next step is auditing their current screen use. This is important to work out what areas of screens they spend the most time on and how that time is spent, particularly on different devices. Identify patterns such as late night use, social media binges, excessive gaming or passive scrolling. This will mean you have a baseline and are able to highlight areas to target. It is from here that you would set clear boundaries and limits. These may be daily or weekly limits and should be agreed with the young person. It’s important to hear each other out in regards to what they want and what you believe to be the healthiest option for them and don’t be afraid to compromise. This will only ensure that your child feels heard and respected. Create device free zones such as mealtimes or family time that are non-negotiable, alongside clear bedtime rules.

In all of these efforts, it is important to ensure that you are still prioritising purposeful use. Considering the world that we live in, technology can be used for some really meaningful activities

and it’s important for the young person to understand that it is still okay to use it in this way. Encourage them to distinguish between productive and passive screen time in the original plan. Perhaps counterproductively in this argument, there are technological tools that you can use such as screen time trackers which can be used to monitor and adjust usage if it is not working in the way that you want. This is a particularly important step as you need to ensure that you are reviewing and adapting on a regular basis to make sure that the plan is still effective and meeting their needs. Kids mature quickly so flexibility is key here to adapt to any changes that may be needed.

The overall key point of this exercise is to create a balanced daily schedule that works for both you and your child. Include offline activities such as reading, sports, arts and crafts, and social events. Try and model the behaviours you would like to see from your child as they notice hypocrisy. Show intentional use and hopefully they will mirror that too. Praise them when they use it responsibly and introduce incentives for more buy-in and you have a surefire way to implement a solid plan that will work! The goal isn’t to demonise screens, but to help children develop curiosity, resilience and balance in a digital world. Screens are a tool and what matters is how and why they are used. It is our job as parents, educators and role models to show them what healthy screen habits look like and support them to make the right choices.