JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – How much screen time is too much time for pre-teens and teenagers?
Should there be a limit or is it not that big of a deal?
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A CDC study from 2024 reveals that half of kids between 12 and 17 years old spend four or more hours every day on screens, whether that’s on a cell phone or social media.
Nicole Harshaw talked about this trend. She is a licensed mental health counselor with Dupont Counseling Group in Jacksonville.
“It is replacing proper sleep, proper hygiene, healthy, eating habits,” Harshaw said. “They are not socially engaging with their peers because they are using more of their personal time for screen time. In addition to that, they are distinctively less physically active.”
Researchers say a pattern of more than four hours a day on a screen over time can lead to higher rates of depression compared to their peers, along with cognitive and behavioral disorders.
Harshaw says screen time is not entirely a bad thing, especially if there is a good balance.
“Screen time allows kids to have more creativity, more social connections when the opportunity is available, and they know how to reach for it,” Harshaw said. “With certain devices, kids can read books, they can see videos that help them delve into their own creativity that makes them more viable to learn their individual who I am kind of moments.”
We asked our audience: how much screen time is too much screen time for kids age is 12 to 17?
Melissa and T said if their kids have their homework done and take care of chores, they can choose how they spend their free time, even if that means being on a screen.
Others said, “No more than an hour a day or between 1-2 hours a day.”
Others suggested, “Teenagers should enjoy time outside instead.”
T.A. said, “16 and 17 year olds should not be included in these studies because they are almost adults.”
“If you take your child’s device away, and it becomes a very distressful moment for them, that is a red flag,” Harshaw said about things parents should be looking out for and be prepared to address with their child. “Conflict arises, they are not focused on doing their chores or spending time with family and friends. They really just have to have that device. If you take it away, they are not able to function in the way that you would normally see that ability for them to do so.”
Harshaw said the biggest thing for parents is for them to be able to identify any warning signs that their child is being affected by being on a screen too long. She said parents should also keep checking in with their kids to see how they are doing mentally and emotionally.
Harshaw recommends creating screen-free times and zones, like no phones at the dinner table or before bed.
But she said it is also a good idea to create scheduled screen time.